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Special Initiatives:Central Appalachia Network (CAN) - Central Appalachia Network (CAN) CAN has published two documents: Building Sustainable Economies in a Shrinking World and A Report of the Central Appalachian Network Convening November 7th and 8th, 2007. The Central Appalachian Network (CAN) is comprised of eight action-oriented nonprofit organizations based in Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. CAN formed in 1993 when the Aspen Institute and the Benedum Foundationsponsored a small meeting of practitioners, policy makers and others involved in local economic development issues within this region. A major focus of the meeting was to explore how a regional approach could facilitate increasing the effectiveness and scale of local economic development initiatives targeting low-income residents of the region. Due to the tremendous interest in the possibilities for regional collaboration, several of the non profit participants formed CAN and began to build capacity and impact through the synergy created by the power of the multi-state network. CAN has matured and expanded its organizational and collaborative capacity. Although the leadership of most CAN organizations has changed during the past 15 years, the organizational commitments and participation have remained constant. CAN is built on trust and reciprocity – common values of rural areas. These innovative organizations continue to share strategies, resources and connections to build the foundation for a rural economy that restores and builds upon the ecological and cultural assets of this special, but often overlooked and discounted region. CAN, working to build a better, healthier, more just regional economy. CAN takes the lead in research, analysis, demonstration, outreach and extension, bringing the much larger and better–funded public sector along with the network. Looking ahead, CAN envisions thriving, healthy rural communities prospering from sustainably managed natural resource-based economies and informed leadership. Our communities will be attractive places to live and work, with high levels of regional self-sufficiency. With the support of a small, committed group of funding partners, the organizations comprising CAN have demonstrated unceasing commitment to Central Appalachia - and each other. It is now time to leverage CAN’s enormous investment and explore support for a system that amplifies and sustains CAN’s work.
• The Jubilee Project - Tennessee • Rural Action - Ohio West Virginia: A Vision Shared - CEO is a member of the New Economy: New Challenges and New Solutions' taskforce of the Vision Shared initiative – a long range planning process to lead the state toward a positive economic position, now and in years to come. CEO's executive director, Pam Curry, is Chair of the Market Access and Innovation Subcommittee and is working collaboratively to increase market access and success for small businesses in West Virginia. The committee is in the midst of launching a "Made Right Here"campaign, which will include a comprehensive website, that will connect businesses with customres and help inform the public of the importance of supporting local enterprise. CEO has also worked with colleagues from the public, private and non profit sectors to help develop a Blueprint for Entrepreneurship in West Virginia. This document lays the groundwork for a strategy for economic development and community renewal in the state. The collaborative process challenges the conventional thinking on economic development and is committed to refocusing necessary resources toward entrepreneurship and small business. CEO's participation has helped to garner attention and support for small scale manufacturing, rural business, and a full spectrum of entrepreneurs - from the "gazelle" businesses that have the capacity and desire to grow quickly, to the new business owners wishing to grow incrementally, to business owners that operate enterprises at a level that is satisfying and manageable for their personal situation.
Made Right Here – West Virginia Summit on Small-Scale Manufacturing
Building an Industry of Culture in West Virginia - In September 2001 the Center for Economic Options (CEO) was invited to participate in a planning group formed by the Appalachian Regional Commission and the National Endowment for the Arts, and several foundations to focus on economic development that encompasses Arts and Heritage, Entrepreneurship, and Sustainable Development in Appalachia. As an outcome the group planned and coordinated the Building Creative Economies Conference which was held in Asheville, North Carolina in April 2002. At the conference CEO helped facilitate the formation of a West Virginia steering group which chose the strategy of building an Industry of Culture in West Virginia as its focus. In addition to CEO, the group included Tamarack, MountainMade.com, the WV Arts and Crafts Guild, the WV Department of Culture and History and the WV Small Business Development Center and a variety of artisans and small scale manufacturers. The group agreed to assess the current and potential economic impact of the state’s rich tradition of Arts, Heritage, and Culture through a survey that was mailed to a combined client mailing list. The WVSBDC received and entered the results and the Center for Business and Economic Research at Marshall University conducted the analysis. This ground-breaking economic research reflects that more than $54.5 illion is contributed to the state economy each year through the sale of arts and crafts in West Virginia. The Industry of Culture collaboration has now blended into a broader A Vision Shared initiative called Create West Virginia.
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