So, now you know how to use the Economic Opportunity Maps, but not sure how to discuss them with community stakeholders? Check out our discussion guide here: https://communities.tamu.edu/files/2021/01/Discussion-Guide.pdf
We’ll walk you through questions that you should always ask when using secondary data, as well as discussion questions specific to the maps.
Check out the maps here: https://communities.tamu.edu/economic-opportunity-maps/.
The expansion of ethnic minorities evokes policy debate about their impact on the local economy, driving a need to measure their effects. We employ the confidential US Census data to investigate drivers of local economic performance with emphasis on the role of Latino-owned businesses (LOB) on convergence. The model also includes a number of controls. The model produces direct, indirect, and total impact estimates, and expected values for the non-LOB controls. The estimated total impact of LOB employment on county-level average annual growth rates is significant and positive, but a rurality interaction carries the opposite sign, such that the total impact in rural areas is negative.
Read the full article here: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00168-019-00942-x
Researchers and citizens alike question the long-term impacts of the shale oil boom on local communities. Studies have considered the boom’s effects on employment, income, mobility, and human capital acquisition. This research specifically builds on research considering shale effects on secondary schooling. Using county-level data from Texas, we investigate two questions: (1) Has the latest oil boom led to a reduction in local high school graduation? (2) Is this effect different for immigrants, a group potentially vulnerable to local wage effects? Findings indicate insignificant overall effects; however, local oil drilling increases immigrant high school dropout rates.
Read more here: https://doi.org/10.1017/aae.2018.34
Here is some new research authored by me. The article uses over 100,000 observations from limited-access and nationally representative US Census Bureau microdata sets to test determinants of employment growth among Latino-owned businesses (LOBs) in the Unites States. We draw variables from prior studies on determinants business growth in the general population and uniquely apply them to LOB using the robust data. Specifically, we examine the impact of numerous business owner, business, and regional characteristics on employment growth. We include industry and state-level fixed effects and test the robustness of results to various employment growth timespans. Some findings include (1) Latina-owned businesses grow faster than LOB, (2) formal education has a positive effect on employment growth and this effect is larger with education level and time, (3) Puerto Rican-owned businesses grow 2 percent slower than Mexican-owned establishments, (4) having multiple establishments reduces employment growth, (5) relying on personal savings for start-up capital impedes growth, and (6) nonmetro adjacency has a significant and negative effect, while population density does not. Our findings show that LOB may grow differently than other businesses and help advance the understanding of factors related to success of LOB. Implementing straightforward and low-cost policies aimed at better support for LOB could help bolster regional growth.
Read more at: https://doi.org/10.1177%2F0160017619826278
More information on the following can be found at https://vgyi.tamu.edu/v-g-young-school-for-county-commissioners-court/.
I will be presenting on your entrepreneurial ecosystem and hope to see you there!
V.G. Young School for County Commissioners Court
61st Annual V.G. Young School for County Commissioners Courts
February 19-21, 2019
Hilton ▪ College Station, TX
Conference registration: https://agriliferegister.tamu.edu/VGYI
See the draft agenda here: https://vgyi.tamu.edu/files/2018/12/2019-JC-Working-Agenda-1-7-19.pdf
The following information is copied from http://www.lonestar.edu/cdi.htm. If you are interested in supporting your community and local businesses, I encourage you to attend this great program!
Never before has the practice of community development been more important than it is today. As the world grows smaller through the increased use of global communications, communities of all sizes are finding their boundaries are expanding beyond their city limits. CDI Texas provides practical, interactive, and comprehensive training designed to meet the needs of economic and community development professionals working in a fast paced environment. CDI Texas builds the capacity of individuals and communities to effectively and positively impact economic and social development.
Participants include community and economic development practitioners, city, county and state officials and community volunteers, non-profit staff and board members, chamber staff, private industry, municipal districts, and academics will find the Institute a valuable learning tool for the development of individual and community leadership skills. Attendees will expand their ability to identify community assets, set goals, encourage collaboration, and respond to a broad range of economic and quality of life issues.
The complete program consists of three, one-week training sessions. In addition to learning from successful practitioners, CDI also offers valuable networking and peer-to-peer learning opportunities. Each CDI site offers the core curriculum courses listed below in addition to other course offerings based on site needs and demographics.
Year 1
Focus is on the foundations of community development and includes group simulations providing participants with a better understanding of the challenges and benefits of a community development approach.
• Asset-Based Community Development
• Community Development Assessments
• Community and Economic Development Practice
• Community Visioning and Strategic Planning
• Team Building
Year 2
Emphasis is placed on the “nuts and bolts” of implementing economic development strategies, including business attraction, expansion and retention, and entrepreneurship. Overview of commercial and industrial development projects and group simulations are learning tools for this course.
• Building Entrepreneurial Communities
• Business Retention and Expansion
• Business Site Selection Process
• Community and Economic Development Finance
• Understanding Community Economies
Year 3
Focus is on implementing the knowledge gained in previous years plus acquiring skills in leadership, marketing and organizing the community development effort.
• Understanding Local Development Organizations
• Marketing Your Community
• Measuring Progress
• Workforce Planning and Development Finance
The Advanced Year focuses on the application of community and economic development principles in a real-world setting. This two-day training is designed for individuals who have completed all three years of CDI as well as for non-CDI alumni working in the field who want to stay current with trends and best practices. Completion of Advanced CDI is recognized by the CDC for education requirements, training, work experience and eligibility criteria for re-certification.
Enhance your career by becoming a Professional Community and Economic Developer (PCED). CDI helps prepare you for this nationally-recognized certification offered through the Community Development Council (CDC). Application and eligibility information are available at cdcouncil.com. Pre-registration for the exam is required 45 days in advance. The PCED is optional and not required for CDI attendance.
The cost to attend CDI Texas is $600. The Advanced course is $350 for CDI alumni and $400 for non-CDI participants. Registration fee covers training, participant materials, and breakfast, lunch and refreshment breaks daily. Accommodations and other food costs are the responsibility of the participant. All sessions will be held at the Lone Star Community Building located at 5000 Research Forest Drive, The Woodlands, TX 77381.
Attendance at all sessions is required to earn full credit. If a participant misses more than 10 percent of the course sessions, credit for course completion will not be given. Completion of CDI earns one PCED certification or re-certification point.
Do you work with retail businesses, for example providing training or consulting services related to business or financial planning, marketing, customer service, or other support services?
We are excited to announce a web-discussion on “Retail Businesses: Resources, Challenges, and Factors Influencing Success.” Your experiences and perspective will provide valuable information as we assess different approaches to help communities identify local industries with strong opportunities and better support those businesses.
Because the webinar will be structured as a discussion, you will learn about what your colleagues nationally are doing and we will share some of the latest statistics and research on local factors that contribute to business success. We hope to learn from your experiences and share that information with others.
Please let us know if you are interested in joining us for this exciting opportunity by completing the information below including the section, “Please tell us about yourself.” Because we desire a two-way exchange, space is limited. Once we hear from everyone, you will receive a confirmation on the date and time of your scheduled webinar.
This web discussion is part of a larger project “Mapping Economic Opportunity in Rural America: Mining Big Data for Decision Making in Business Development.” This project is supported by the Agricultural and Food Research Initiative Competitive Program of the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), grant number 2016-10918. The research was reviewed by the Texas A&M University Institutional Review Board (IRB2017-0056).
To learn more about the larger research and Extension project, visit the announcement at ow.ly/JmNz30cz94I.
If you are interested in volunteering to participate, please reply to Dr. Craig Carpenter (ccarpenter@tamu.edu) with the following information by May 7, 2018. We will select among the common availability to place you into a focus group.
PLEASE INDICATE ALL DATES AND TIMES YOU ARE AVAILABLE. Based on the responses, we will select one date and time for your participation.
May 14, 2018
___ 11am-12pm (EDT); 10-11am (CDT); 9-10am (MDT); 8am-9am (PDT)
___ 1-2pm (EDT); 12-1pm (CDT); 11am-12pm (MDT); 10am-11am (PDT)
___ 3-4pm (EDT); 2-3pm (CDT); 1-2pm (MDT); 12am-1pm (PDT)
May 15, 2018
___ 12-1pm (EDT); 11am-12pm (CDT); 10-11am (MDT); 9-10am (PDT)
___ 2-3pm (EDT); 1-2pm (CDT); 12-1pm (MDT); 11am-12pm (PDT)
___ 4pm-5pm (EDT); 3-4pm (CDT); 2-3pm (MDT); 1-2pm (PDT)
May 18, 2018
___ 11am-12pm (EDT); 10-11am (CDT); 9-10am (MDT); 8am-9am (PDT)
___ 1-2pm (EDT); 12-1pm (CDT); 11am-12pm (MDT); 10am-11am (PDT)
___ 3-4pm (EDT); 2-3pm (CDT); 1-2pm (MDT); 12am-1pm (PDT)
June 18, 2018
___ 11am-12pm (EDT); 10-11am (CDT); 9-10am (MDT); 8am-9am (PDT)
___ 1-2pm (EDT); 12-1pm (CDT); 11am-12pm (MDT); 10am-11am (PDT)
___ 3-4pm (EDT); 2-3pm (CDT); 1-2pm (MDT); 12am-1pm (PDT)
June 21, 2018
___ 12-1pm (EDT); 11am-12pm (CDT); 10-11am (MDT); 9-10am (PDT)
___ 2-3pm (EDT); 1-2pm (CDT); 12-1pm (MDT); 11am-12pm (PDT)
___ 4pm-5pm (EDT); 3-4pm (CDT); 2-3pm (MDT); 1-2pm (PDT)
June 27, 2018
___ 11am-12pm (EDT); 10-11am (CDT); 9-10am (MDT); 8am-9am (PDT)
___ 1-2pm (EDT); 12-1pm (CDT); 11am-12pm (MDT); 10am-11am (PDT)
___ 3-4pm (EDT); 2-3pm (CDT); 1-2pm (MDT); 12am-1pm (PDT)
June 29, 2018
___ 11am-12pm (EDT); 10-11am (CDT); 9-10am (MDT); 8am-9am (PDT)
___ 1-2pm (EDT); 12-1pm (CDT); 11am-12pm (MDT); 10am-11am (PDT)
___ 3-4pm (EDT); 2-3pm (CDT); 1-2pm (MDT); 12am-1pm (PDT)
PLEASE TELL US A BIT ABOUT YOURSELF:
State: ________________________
Primary Business Type Supported: __________________________________________
Primary area of work (check all that apply): Urban______ Suburban______ Rural______
Website: _______________________________________________________________
Sincerely,
Craig Carpenter, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist – Community Economics and Business Development
Texas A&M University | Department of Agricultural Economics
AgriLife Extension Service
Position Summary:
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service seeks a forthcoming or recent PhD as a Postdoctoral Research and Extension Associate to explore determinants of the location of business activities, with particular attention to rural areas of the United States. The associate will collaborate with a research team comprised of senior researchers and Extension professionals from Texas A&M University, Michigan State University, and Iowa State University on a research project conducted with the Federal Statistical Research Data Centers.
In the FSRDC, the associate will work with the Longitudinal Business Database (over 8M observations annually), the Integrated Longitudinal Business Database (over 20M observations annually), and county-level estimates derived from the Annual Retail Trade Survey (about 35,000 observations annually) and the Annual Survey of Manufacturers (about 70,000 observation annually). These databases will be merged with public data on other community characteristics. Following initial data management activities, the associate will execute the following activities:
The position will be appointed for twelve months, and pending performance review, extended up to 20 months. Through the experience with the research team and the FSRDC, the associate will complement the strong disciplinary training of their PhD program with exposure to a broad range of sciences and learning-by-doing in rural development Extension curriculum design and pilot testing.
The position will be located in College Station, Texas, though the Extension programming will be nationwide, allowing the successful candidate to build a national profile.
At the end of their post-doctoral experiences, the research and extension associate will enjoy a network of senior academic and policy colleagues from which they may launch a successful career as a faculty member or policy analyst.
The research associate will be compensated commensurate with recent PhDs in their field of study and will have access to health care benefits.
Location of Activities:
The successful candidate will be expected to relocate to Texas and will be provided with an office on the Texas A&M University (TAMU) campus in College Station, in close proximity to mentors within the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and the FSRDC. TAMU is distinctive as a student-focused, land-grant, research university, that provides an excellent education at a top-ranked institution by combining teaching, research, and Extension in a rich learning environment. TAMU is listed in the National Science Foundation’s top 20 in several areas.
The position will involve travel to the TAMU FSRDC, located on campus in College Station, and to conferences related to the topics addressed by the associate. Travel in and out of state is necessary to fulfill job responsibilities.
This position is supported by the Agricultural and Food Research Initiative Competitive Program Of The USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), Award number 2017-67023-26242.
Minimum Requirements:
ABD in Agricultural Economics, Economics, or related field, completed by the date of the first day of employment.
Demonstrated interest in topics addressed in project description.
Strong English written and verbal communications skills.
The associate will need to pass a background check and have spent three of the previous five years in the United States, as required to gain access to a Federal Statistical Research Data Center (FSRDC).
Working knowledge of Stata, SAS, or related statistical software available in the FSRDC environment.
Desired Qualifications:
PhD in Agricultural Economics, Economics, or related field, completed by the date of the first day of employment.
Academic record of publications related to the issues to be address in project description.
Demonstrated skills in quantitative analysis.
Demonstrated ability to synthesize academic inputs from a wide array of sources.
Understanding of the land grant university system.
Experience working in the FSRDC system or with other systems involving large datasets.
Required Application Materials:
Applicants should submit a cover letter, which should address how the post-doctoral experience will help the candidate achieve their ultimate career goals. Candidates holding ABD status should specify their expected date of degree completion. In addition, applicants should provide a curriculum vita, electronic copy of PhD program course transcripts, three (3) letters of reference with email and phone contacts. All application materials should be uploaded to Texas A&M University’s Workday application website: https://tamus.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/AgriLife_Extension_External/job/College-Station-AL-EXT/Postdoctoral-Extension-Associate_R-002961-1
Special Instructions:
Individuals applying for the position should expect to begin working August 2018 after receiving Special Sworn Status from the Department of Commerce, subject to approval for access to an FSRDC. Individuals who hold ABD status are strongly encouraged to apply, but should expect to finish their PhD before starting the post-doctoral position.
Review of applications will begin April 1, 2018, and will conclude when a successful candidate has been identified.
See the announcement here (http://www.lonestar.edu/cdi.htm) and read more from them below. I will be attending as an instructor to discuss the nut and bolts of business retention and expansion! Hope to see you there!
Never before has the practice of community development been more important than it is today. As the world grows smaller through the increased use of global communications, communities of all sizes are finding their boundaries are expanding beyond their city limits. CDI Texas provides practical, interactive, and comprehensive training designed to meet the needs of economic and community development professionals working in a fast paced environment. CDI Texas builds the capacity of individuals and communities to effectively and positively impact economic and social development.
Who Should Attend?
Participants include community and economic development practitioners, city, county and state officials and community volunteers, non-profit staff and board members, chamber staff, private industry, municipal districts, and academics will find the Institute a valuable learning tool for the development of individual and community leadership skills. Attendees will expand their ability to identify community assets, set goals, encourage collaboration, and respond to a broad range of economic and quality of life issues.
Last Day to book:
February 11, 2018