The Rural College Focus Group produced a strategic plan for rural college engagement that has led to the creation of the TRCCN. The vision statement for the TRCCN is "to be a catalyst for economic development of rural Texas through career and technical programs." For many rural communities across Texas, economic development is equated to "business development." The five EDRC partners recognize that many rural colleges operate with a much broader definition of economic development, but are restricted to their legislative mandate of providing career and technical training. Limited resources restrict the services rural colleges are capable to delivering to sustain economic growth in the communities they are designed to serve. By developing and promoting a broader definition of economic development and a strategic plan that addresses all the important facts of economic development, including expanded access to education and training, the project will provide more opportunities for rural colleges to close the gap between what is and what should to be. To this end, the Rural Economic Development project seeks to leverage the resources of the TRCCN and direct its focus to providing rural colleges with the tools to expand and enhance their know ledge, understanding and application of community and economic development strategies.

Since many of the economic development problems that rural communities face are unique to their size and geographic location, a general approach to the challenges and problems for most rural communities will not work. With continued globalization of business and industry, these rural economies need to form alliances and partnerships that allow for the development of a unified long-term vision and plan for economic development. Rural community colleges are poised to serve as “change agents” in the development of regional concepts, in diffusing political boundaries, in fostering productive relationships, and in changing community mindsets. With the proper training an d focus, rural colleges can lead the way in collaboration and serve as the catalyst to grow regional economies that benefit from new ideas, innovation and training.

To accomplish this approach, South Plains College, Coastal Bend College, Frank Phillips College, Paris Junior College and Wharton County Junior College will work to establish partnerships between the TRCCN and the Office of Rural Community Affairs, the Rural Community College Initiative and the Rural Community College Alliance to sustain and expand the effectiveness of the Rural College Network. This collaboration will focus on the following goals over the next three years (if funding is available):

1. Expose TRCCN and other Texas rural colleges to the economic and rural community development efforts provided through the Rural Community College Initiative (RCCI) and the Southern Rural Development Center. (Years 1, 2, 3)

2. Collaborate to provide economic development training programs for TRCCN institutions to include such topics as community leadership development, rural entrepreneurship, resource mapping, business skills, e-commerce, business retention and expansion. (Years 2, 3)

3. Plan and present a regional economic development summit as a model for replication in other parts of the state. (Year 3)

4. Seek to promote continued communication, cooperation, collaboration and resource sharing among rural community colleges. (Years 1, 2, 3)

Working to capitalize on the unique resources and expertise of each college and each region, the five project partners are coordinating planning, organizing project strategies and activities, developing tools, facilitating activities, and monitoring project participants. All 19 designated rural community colleges will be invited to participate in the project activities and continue the viability of the TRCCN. The TRCCN has developed into a forum for rural public, two-year colleges to identify, discuss and develop collaborative solutions to address the unique needs of the communities and students they serve. More importantly, the TRCCN can address barriers that limit full participation in local, regional and statewide economic development efforts and restrict their ability to accomplish their missions.

The partners propose the Rural Economic Development project to operate as a multi-year project.

Goals and Objectives