App State / Advantage West

Building Regional

Entrepreneurship

Pam Lewis, AdvantageWest Economic Development Group

Julia Rowland, Appalachian State University

© AdvantageWest Economic Development Group

Western North

Carolna

• Regional Approach to Economic Development

• 23 Counties/10,000 square miles

• Two major interstates with easy access to three more

• 1 million citizens

• Extraordinary arts, music and crafts - local food movement

• Biologically diverse eco-system

• 1300 mfg. firms – 17% of workforce

• More than 300 IT companies

• Entrepreneurship higher than state – 17.5% workforce

AdvantageWest

Region


Higher Education


•McDowell Technical College

•Haywood Community College

•Western Piedmont Community

College

•Blue Ridge Community College

•Tri-County Technical College

•Southwestern Community College

•AB-Technical Community College

•Isothermal Community College

•Mayland Community College

•Wilkes Community College

•Caldwell Community College

11 Community Colleges 3 Universities

•UNC-Asheville

•Appalachian State University

•Western Carolina University

5 Private Colleges

•Brevard College

•Montreat College

•Lees McRae College

•Warren Wilson College

•Mars Hill College

Program of Work

• Advanced Manufacturing

• Agri-Business

• WNC Film Commission

• AdvantageGreen

• Entrepreneurship


Entrepreneurship

• Established BREC pilot project through funding from

Appalachian Regional Commission - 2004

• Create network of entrepreneurs (BREC)

• Established Angel Investors Network (BRAIN)

• Valuable lessons learned

• Entrepreneurship must be done on local level

• Established CEC SM program to expand BREC to

community level


Certified

Entrepreneurial

Community Program SM

To create communities of entrepreneurial

interest by promoting public and

governmental awareness of the need for

entrepreneurship through certifying

governmental bodies and local units of

government regarding their approach,

strategy and state of readiness with

respect to entrepreneurship


Certified

Entrepreneurial

Community Program SM (Process)

• Call for Letters of Interest through EDAC

• Loosely defined community

• Contracted with Center for Rural Entrepreneurship

• Developed Community Guidebook for Leadership Team


Step One:

Community Readiness

• Apply for designation

• Submit letter of intent

• Assemble leadership team according

to guidelines set forth in program

• Statement of broadened economic

development policy


Step Two:

Community Assessment

• Baseline Assessment Report

• Community Visioning

• Mapping of Development Assets

• Identification of Current e-Talent

• Plan for targeting e-Talent


Step Three:

Community Strategy

• Baseline Assessment Report

• Community Visioning

• Mapping of Development Assets

• Identification of Current e-Talent

• Plan for targeting e-Talent


Step Four:

Community Capacity

• Scanning Community and documenting capacity for business and entrepreneurial support services

• Development of plan of action to provide missing support services

• Establishment of Citizen and Youth Engagement Plan


STEP five:

community evaluation

• Strategy for streamlining business

permitting and services

• Business Retention & Expansion

Plan for entrepreneurs

• Documentation tool for tracking

success


Juicy Ideas

• Create a venue for students to experience the value of right-brain skills, imagination, critical thinking, leadership and the power of global communication for a common cause

• Establish a direct connection to the community through innovation and entrepreneurship

• Instill a sense of social responsibility in students and community leaders

• Innovative new marketing opportunity “out-of-the-box” to work with global internet company


Juicy ideas 2008/09

• Originality and Creativity

• Innovation and Entrepreneurship

• Environmental Responsibility

• Critical Thinking Skills

• Team Building and Leadership

• 5 States/900+ Students

• National Winning Team - ASU


Juicy ideas 2009/10

• Scaled to over 300 schools

• 19 States – Google office

• Technology Focus

• Support from SBA

• Juicy Ideas Website


http://juicyideascompetition.appspot.com/

Mitchell county

A

Community

Taking

Action


Why…

• Ethan Allen

• Henredon Furniture

• Hampshire Hosiery

• Vision Legwear

• Taylor Togs

• Bassett Walker

• Lexington Furniture

• OMC

http://www.nieman.harvard.edu/reportsitem.aspx?id=100473

More than 2000 jobs have been lost.

Our Team

Mission and Vision

• MissionTo support and encourage the continued development of

local and regional entrepreneurial and small business

enterprises using community, local heritage, and current

technology resources.

• VisionTo advance our local and regional economy by becoming

a state prototype of rural economic development by

creating an environment conducive to entrepreneurial

and small business sustainability.

Our Goals

To:

• identify local talent and resources that will support entrepreneurial and small business development.

• integrate local heritage and current technology into careers and businesses.

• enhance and market community assets that will attract a broader business and customer base.

• promote diverse entrepreneurial opportunities and “out of the box” thinking.

• provide access to educational opportunities that will encourage entrepreneurial and small business development.

• provide general community awareness regarding the importance and possibilities of entrepreneurial enterprises.

OUR 2010 Objectives

To:

• provide start-up entrepreneurial training for 10 to 12 women with products in the Home of the Perfect Christmas Tree project.

• provide 2 new marketing venues for 20 entrepreneurs in the construction and landscape trades.

• establish partnerships with Avery and Yancey counties to establish a new tourism sector focused on outdoor recreation in the three county area.

• distribute 300 brochures to economic organizations, permitting facilities and local lending institutions.

• visit 3 entrepreneurial businesses, existing and start ups, each month and utilize information obtained for future planning.

What’s been going On?

• Surveys

• High School

• Community College

• Community

• Business and Industry

• Business Opportunity Summit

• Alternative Agriculture

• Creative Economy

• Green Technology

• Broadband Expansion

• Regionally

• Locally

What’s been going On?

• Entrepreneurial Education Curricula

• Appalachian State University

• Mayland Community College

• Mitchell High School

• NC Agriculture Extension Office

• A Resource Guide

• Editorials and News Articles

And the list goes ON…

Community Sourcing Events

• sS

What Comes Next…

• Continue quarterly meetings of the Leadership Team with committees

created as needed.

• Update the database of entrepreneurs each March.

• Continue the Mitchell, Avery, and Yancey Counties partnership in the

Toe River Economic Alliance.

What Comes Next…

• The Mitchell County EDC , County, and Chamber will

provide links to the Toe River Economic Alliance

Website and list resources available to entrepreneurs in

the area.

• Community members, students, businesses and industry

needs and engagement will be assessed annually.

• A youth mentoring program is being considered in

partnership with ASU, MCC, and the Mitchell County

Schools.

• Develop an Artisan Business Support Center.

What comes next…

• Implement a visit plan with existing entrepreneurs.

• Create an Entrepreneurship Award in collaboration with the

Mitchell County Chamber and Economic Development

Commission.

• Create an entrepreneurial scholarship program.

• Continue to implement broadband expansion.

• Develop a Home and Garden Show.

Anticipated Outcomes

• A Local Knowledge Industry

• Increased Alternative Agriculture

• Access to Virtual Learning and Communication

• Increased Entrepreneurial Education Opportunities

• Expanded Broadband Partnership

• More Appalachian Women Entrepreneurs

• An Artisan Business Support Center

• A Print and Online Home and Garden Resource Guide

Partnerships

Advantagewest

Commitment to CEC

• Co-op Marketing Opportunities

• Leadership Training

• Community Signage

• Assistance for last-mile telecom broadband

• Advantage Opportunity Fund

• Continued technical assistance

• Speaker’s Bureau for networking


Entrepreneur

benefits

• Improved and ensured access to telecom

broadband

• Improved access to capital/AOF

• Simpler business permitting

• Improved access to people including partners,

employees and customers

• Intangible benefits of customer support


Current Status

• Appeared before Congress twice in 2008/2 National Conferences for best practices in Entrep. Dev.

• SBA funding

• Received service mark approval

• 7 Communities and 1 Indian Nation have successfully obtained certification

• Engaged in fulfillment pieces for communities

• Preparing for Round Two in WNC


CEC Communities


Alleghany

Ashe

Avery

Buncombe

Burke

Caldwell

Cherokee

Clay

Graham

Haywood

Henderson

Jackson

McDowell

Macon

Madison

Polk

RutherfordSwain

Transylvania

WataugaWilkes

Yancey

Mitchell

Cherokee

.

*Eastern Band of

Cherokee Indian Town of Black Mtn.

*

Creating Entrepreneurial

Leaders for the 21st Century

Center for Entrepreneurship

Appalachian State University

2009 - 2010

Rural Entrepreneurial Outreach was funded by the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation. The Z. Smith

Reynolds Foundation was established in 1936 as a memorial to the youngest son of the founder of R.J.

Reynolds Tobacco Company. The Foundation has now made grants totaling more than $432 million to

recipients in all of North Carolina’s 100 counties. The Foundation currently gives special attention to

certain focus areas: community economic development; the environment; democracy and civic

engagement; pre-collegiate education; and social justice and equity.

The original goal was to expand entrepreneurial outreach in northwestern

North Carolina, focusing on the following rural counties:

Watauga, Ashe, Avery, Wilkes, Caldwell, Mitchell, Yancey and Alleghany.

We have met with representatives from all eight counties in our region to define projects that the Center

for Entrepreneurship could develop or support to encourage entrepreneurial development. Center for

Entrepreneurship staff members have initiated several new major projects and have supported others. It

is anticipated that more than 450 community members, most of whom own businesses, plan to become

entrepreneurs or support entrepreneurial development, will be directly impacted by these activities

through the end of the year.

Expansion of Entrepreneurship Outreach Services in

Northwestern North Carolina

Porch Sitting

We met with representatives from all eight counties in our region to define

projects that the Center for Entrepreneurship could develop or support to

encourage entrepreneurial development.

It is anticipated that more than 450 community members, most of whom own

businesses, plan to become entrepreneurs or support entrepreneurial

development, will be directly impacted by these activities through the end of

the year.

Programs and Initiatives

• ―Start Your Own Business in Ashe County‖ workshop series, West

Jefferson, May 19 - June 16, 2009, in partnership with Wilkes Community

College, Ashe County Economic Development Commission, and Ashe

County Chamber of Commerce. 19 people registered for the workshops.

15 people completed them. 4 participants operated an existing business

or non-profit and were seeking ideas on how to expand. The others have

plans to develop new businesses.

• ―Start Your Own Business in Wilkes County‖ workshop series, North

Wilkesboro, October 27 – December 1, 2009, in partnership with Wilkes

Community College, the Wilkes Chamber of Commerce, the Wilkes

Country Economic Development Commission and JobLink. 29 people

registered for the workshop, with 15 in attendance for the first 2, and 13

completed the series. 5 participants operated an existing business or

non-profit and were seeking ideas on how to expand and re-tool their

businesses. The others have plans to develop new businesses.


―Re-powering our Region: Building Profit by Being Green‖ in Boone and Lenoir, August 6-7, 2009, co-sponsored

by Appalachian State University’s Center for Entrepreneurship, Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corp., Caldwell

Community College and Technical Institute, Caldwell County Chamber of Commerce, Duke Energy, Economic

Development Commission of Caldwell County and Google.

On August 6, approximately 80 policy makers, business leaders from Caldwell County and Watauga County, and

Appalachian State & Caldwell Community College faculty and staff came together for a renewable energy tour

and dinner at the Broyhill Inn and Conference Center in Boone. The tour included visits to the first DwellBox

home, the E-3 House, Raley solar panels, Frank Hall solar water heating, and the new wind turbine at the Broyhill

Inn. Harry Wingo was the keynote speaker for the dinner. Harry serves as the policy counsel for cybersecurity

and energy at Google in Washington, D.C. His speech was structured to raise awareness of energy efficient

practices, so that consumers, businesses and area leaders can work together to build and train a greener

workforce and increase savings. The dinner was held with the goal of increasing awareness among local leaders

and have conversation on why it is important for the community to embrace this initiative and how we can work

together to help bring more jobs and opportunities to the area.

On August 7, an all-day conference open to the public was held at the J.E. Broyhill Civic Center in Lenoir. 200

participants and vendors attended. The day-long event featured expert panelists who discussed responsible

energy use, local and global perspectives on the green economy, the area’s existing green business and various

resources for education and economic development. The event was designed to connect business leaders,

entrepreneurs, educators and policymakers to create a more sustainable economic future for the region. David

Waechter, small business coordinator and instructor at CCC&TI, and co-sponsor of the event, in a post-event

interview, stated he ―heard people discussing new business opportunities, new business relationships and even

the possibility of locating an expanding industry in Caldwell County all because of this event.‖


Certified Entrepreneurial Community Team, Mitchell County – Mitchell County

pursued the Certified Entrepreneurial Community designation through the

Advantage West Economic Development Group. Advantage West developed

the CEC program to create communities of entrepreneurial interest by

promoting public and governmental awareness of the need for

entrepreneurship through certifying governmental bodies and local units of

governments regarding their approach, strategy and state of readiness with

respect to entrepreneurship. Julia Rowland, Assistant Director for the Center

for Entrepreneurship, served as an active Leadership Team member for the

CEC project in Mitchell County. Other members of the team represented

Mayland Community College, AMY Regional Library, Mitchell County Economic

Development Commission, Mitchell County High School, Mitchell County

Commissioners, Spruce Pine Town Council members, MAY Coalition, United

Way, and the Chamber of Commerce. The Leadership team worked to design

and support the implementation of the Certified Entrepreneurial Community

project goals and objectives to improve the economic health of Mitchell County

and its citizens. The CEC final presentation to the AdvantageWest board of

directors took place December 10, 2009, and the CEC team was awarded the

CEC designation.

Community assistance in Mitchell, Avery and Yancey counties – Center staff

members have met with various representatives of Mayland Community

College, including the president of Mayland, the Economic Development

Commission, Chamber of Commerce, and regional library system director, to

discuss potential projects Appalachian State can assist with.

Ideas generated include:

• High school mentoring program

• An area-wide needs survey of students, community members, Home of the

Perfect Christmas Tree artisans, resort community members, and area

business owners.

• These surveys will be followed up with interviews and write ups on major

homegrown success stories (PR campaign).


Speaking with regional Rotary clubs and other civic organizations –

multiple presentations throughout the region (Spruce Pine, Black

Mountain, Blowing Rock) to help educate business leaders and policy

makers about the importance of entrepreneurship education and the

impact it can have on local economies.

Family Business Forum – October 20, 2009 targeted family owned

businesses in the region to help them deal with unique issues family

businesses face regarding growth and transition.

Consulting – planning assistance to numerous regional businesses and

non-profit, e.g. Charleston Forge (Boone), Sparta Teapot Museum of

Craft and Design (Sparta), WJ Office City (Boone), Profit Path (Hickory),

Transportation Insight (Hickory), Music on the Mountaintop (Boone),

Boone Barr (Boone), Orphans to Ambassadors (Boone) and others.

Regional Economic Development Initiative (R.E.D.I.) – The Center has

begun development of a regional plan to support green business

incubation, market development and workforce development.


Ashe, Wilkes, and Watauga county youth outreach activities – Thanks

to American Recovery and Reinvestment Act federal stimulus funds,

approximately 160 young people ages 16 to 24 in the seven High

Country counties got jobs this past summer—jobs that pay above

minimum wage and lasted for 6 to 8 weeks. Julia Rowland led 5

workshops as part of this classroom component for the Get Real

Youth participants to explore entrepreneurship opportunities and

expand entrepreneurial thinking in Watauga County, Wilkes County

and Ashe County. Julia has provided mentoring plus assistance with

mock interviewing and resume writing to numerous program

participants.


As we reach out to communities in the region, we find that many

organizations want to partner with the Center for Entrepreneurship to

help spur economic growth. While these partnerships are good and help

to insure the long-term success of projects, it can be challenging when

you have ―too many cooks in the kitchen‖. We have to be very careful

that the university is not seen as coming into an area and telling locals

how to do things, but at the same time it is important for there to be clear

project leadership. In the future, we will continue working with as many

local partners as possible, but early on in projects we will more clearly

define the leadership responsibilities to help insure better

communications.

Lessons Learned

Entrepreneurship at Appalachian State

Innovative courses

Co-curricular Programs

CommunityOutreach

InternationalCollaborations

ASU students

Faculty and staff

Community members

Regional businesses

Community colleges

K-12

Start Your Own Business

Community Workshops

• More than 450 participants so far in Watauga,

Ashe, Wilkes and Burke counties.

• Surveys show that of those who completed the series, 84% had businesses up and running.

• Western NC Creativity competition in Fall 2008 was sponsored by Advantage West, Google and others.

• Hundreds of college students from across western NC participated. Task: Create value from recycled plastic water bottles.

• Top ASU team built a bike out of water bottles and went on to win national competition.

Realizing Green Business

OpportunitiesConference and networking event attracted more than

240 community members and students

Thank You

Pam Lewis, AdvantageWest

Sr. VP Entrepreneurial Development

[email protected]

Julia Rowland, Appalachian State University

Assistant Director, Center for Entrepreneurship

[email protected]

App State / Advantage West

Education

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