Goal: Stimulate Community Economic Development

Two federal Economic Development Districts (EDD) overlap with the RC&D Area.  Effective partnerships with EDDs work to share resources and build capacity toward rural economic development. Rural housing, infrastructure development, strategic planning and resource industry development are potential partnership initiatives.  Agricultural diversification and energy development are ongoing development sectors.

Objectives

A)     Assist towns and counties to staff economic development programs and chambers - add four full time development staff in area by 2011

B)     Partner with Federal Economic Development Districts (EDD) on six projects by 2009. 

Strategies

i)           Support the work plans of the Bighorn Mountain Country Coalition (BHMCC) http://www.bighornmountains.org, and NE Wyoming Economic Development Corporation (NEWEDC) http://www.newedc.net/.

ii)         Develop cost-share staffing arrangements on specific projects with EDDs.

iii)        Perform needs assessments on housing, transportation infrastructure and communications.

iv)       Research and assist with grant writing on regional and local projects.