Innovators in Rural Community Economic Development

2012

Community Based Tourism (CBT) Wealth Creation Project: Sustainable Rural Regenerative Enterprises for Families (SURREF) visits Country Style Community Tourism Network (CCTN)

This report is a summary of a learning journey by Sustainable Rural Regenerative Enterprises for Families (SURREF) and six individuals representing stakeholders and partners who traveled to Jamaica from December 11 to December 16, 2011. These stakeholders…


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Potential Impacts of a Renewable and Energy Efficiency Portfolio Standard in Kentucky

The study estimates the impacts of a Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard on Kentucky’s portfolio of electricity resources, on average electric bills, and on the state’s economy. The report was produced by Synapse Energy Economics, Inc. for the Mountain…


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Wealth Creation Through Sustainable Forestry: Generating Wealth Creation Models in the Appalachian Wood-products Industry

This report examines and presents wealth creation models adapted to the needs and context of sustainable forestry in Appalachia.


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You Get What You Measure®: A Process to Determine and Measure Progress in Community Development

This CD Practice article describes You Get What You Measure®, a process that integrates participatory planning and systems thinking into the development of strategic measures so that communities can monitor progress toward community development goals.…


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Branding Study for Appalachian Local Food Economies

This report, produced for the Central Appalachian Network (CAN) in partnership with the MIT “Keeping Wealth Local” Clinic, explores examples of place-based food brands and offers recommendations for CAN and other Central Appalachian organizations interested…


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5Capitals: A Tool for Assessing the Poverty Impacts of Value Chain Development

5Capitals is tool for understanding critical development issues, designed for users including funding agencies, NGOs, consultants, government agencies, businesses, and certification bodies.  The tool is built on the belief that greater access to livelihood…


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Wealth Creation in Rural Communities – Building Sustainable Livelihoods: Cross Regional Convening

Place-based grantees from three regions (Central Appalachia, the Alabama Black Belt and Mid-South Delta, and the Lower Rio Grande Valley in Texas), resource team members, researchers, and Ford Foundation staff met at the Ford Foundation office in New…


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Your Role in Healthy Food Systems

Shanna Ratner's plenary presentation at the Growing Health 2012 conference in New York addressed the benefits of a fully-realized food system, discussed food systems in context of a wealth creation approach, and engaged participants in exercises around…


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Wealth Creation in Rural Communities - Verde Valley, May 1, 2012

This introductory webinar introduced wealth creation concepts and vocabulary, including wealth creation value chains and multiple forms of wealth, to Walton Family Foundation grantees in the Verde Valley area of Arizona.


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Building a Regional Food System: A Case Study of Market Umbrella in the New Orleans Region

This case study looks at the role of Market Umbrella in helping to develop a regional food system around New Orleans. Interviews throughout the case study highlight the importance of building multiple forms of wealth to create community resilience…


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Case Studies of Wealth Creation and Rural-Urban Linkages

This report contains four case studies about rural-urban linkages in Oregon, the New Orleans region, Texas, and Nebraska, as well as introductory material and a concluding commentary that looks at each case study in context of the core principles of…


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Fourth Interim Report: Formulating a Sustainable Economic Development Process for Rural America

A balanced approach to development takes account of the triple bottom line, benefiting the economy, the environment, and social inclusion simultaneously, while considering the impacts on seven forms of wealth (individual, social, intellectual, natural,…


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Wealth Creation in Rural Communities: A Framework for Deep Collaborations and the Arkansas Biofuels Story

This webinar shares the principles and key tools of the Wealth Creation in Rural Communities – Building Sustainable Livelihoods framework, while also telling a story of this work on the ground. It uses the example of a biofuels value chain being constructed…


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Plastics from Plants: A Case Study of NatureWorks LLC, Blair, Nebraska

This is a case study of NatureWorks, a bio-based products company in Nebraska that transforms a renewable crop into a value-added plastic resin that can be used to make low carbon footprint and/or biodegradable products.
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Transitioning to a Restoration Economy: A Case Study of Oregon's Forestry Sector

This case study explores a developing restoration forest economy and its positive impacts along the forest products value chain; these impacts can be seen both in terms of wealth retention and creation and of forging linkages between rural and urban…


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Wealth Creation in Rural Communities – Building Sustainable Livelihoods: Cross Regional Convening

Place-based grantees from three regions (Central Appalachia, the Alabama Black Belt and Mid-South Delta, and the Lower Rio Grande Valley in Texas), resource team members, researchers, and Ford Foundation staff met at the Ford Foundation office in New…


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Social Innovation and the Power of Markets: Cross Regional Convening, March 20, 2012

Jason Saul is the CEO of Mission Measurement, a strategy consulting firm that helps nonprofits, companies and government agencies to create value through social change. Jason’s approaches–using the power of markets and the engine of business to solve…


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Gaining Wealth Creation Traction in the Wider World: Building Tools for More Places to Build Rural Livelihoods

Even as the Wealth Creation in Rural Communities work is going on in the pioneering regions, the Aspen Institute Community Strategies Group has been tasked with creating a framework of materials and approaches that can interest and activate community…
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Making Measurement Work: Assessing Value Chains, Engaging Partners, and Informing Interventions - Handouts

This session explores how measurement can be a useful process for helping groups to work more effectively toward their goals.
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Making Measurement Work: Assessing Value Chains, Engaging Partners, and Informing Interventions - Presentation

This session explores how measurement can be a useful process for helping groups to work more effectively toward their goals.
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Cross Regional Convening March 20-21, 2012: Participant Photos and Bios

Photos and biographies of participants in the 2012 Cross Regional Convening of the Wealth Creation in Rural Communities initiative, supported by the Ford Foundation.
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A Brighter Path Forward: The Intersection of Green Construction and Affordability

This report presents FAHE's research into green, energy efficient building techniques that balance concern for affordability and conservation. The goal of this research is to support environmentally and economically sustainable construction of homes…
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Global Lessons from Inclusive Business: Accelerating Local Value Creation through the Private Sector

An introduction to the theory and practice of inclusive business and how it might be relevant to accelerating the impact of value chains in rural communities.
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Federation of Appalachian Housing Enterprises: A Case Study

FAHE is, arguably, the strongest example of network approaches to increasing impact and strengthening financial performance in the domestic community development field. The purpose of this case study is to extract the lessons from the FAHE experience…


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2012 Cross Regional Convening Presentation: Expanding Livelihood Opportunities for Poor Households.

This presentation set the context for the 2012 Cross Regional Convening.
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Working Hard and Smart: How Technology is Integral for Value Chain Progress

Using technology in value chain construction and operations.
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Wind Energy and Rural Development: A Case Study of West Texas

This case study looks at the extent to which wealth generated by wind energy development in West Texas has remained in and benefited rural communities.
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Wealth Creation in Rural Communities: July 26, 2012 Presentation for the National Cooperative Business Association

This webinar presentation was made as part of Yellow Wood's work with the National Cooperative Business Association and individual cooperatives on measuring the impacts cooperatives have on multiple forms of wealth.


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Biomass Heating Analysis for the Academy School

This report is a pre-feasibility assessment analyzing whether or not a wood pellet heating system makes sense for the Academy School.
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Biomass Heating Analysis for Applegate Apartments

This report is a pre-feasibility assessment analyzing both woodchip and pellet biomass scenarios for providing heat and hot water at the Applegate Apartment Complex.
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Biomass Heating Analysis for Barnet School

This report is a pre-feasibility assessment analyzing whether or not a wood pellet heating system makes sense for the Barnet School.
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Biomass Heating Analysis for Berkshire Hardwoods, Inc.

This report is a pre-feasibility assessment analyzing whether or not a semi-automated woodchip system makes sense for Berkshire Hardwoods, a family-owned business providing hardwood lumber throughout the Northeast and Canada.
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Guide to Public Outreach for Biomass Projects

This guide, produced as part of the Wood Energy Utilization Services project, is meant to show the steps to effective public outreach for biomass projects.
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Biomass Heating Analysis for Buckland Shelburne Elementary School

This report is a pre-feasibility assessment analyzing whether or not a wood pellet heating system makes sense for the Buckland Shelburne Elementary School.
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Biomass Heating Analysis for Colrain Central School

This report is a pre-feasibility assessment analyzing whether or not a wood pellet heating system makes sense for the Colrain Central School.
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Biomass Heating Analysis for Dummerston Town School District

This report is a pre-feasibility assessment analyzing whether or not a wood pellet heating system makes sense for the Dummerston Town School System
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Biomass Heating Analysis for Fairfield Center School

This report is a pre-feasibility assessment analyzing whether or not a wood pellet heating system makes sense for the Fairfield Center School


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Biomass Heating Analysis for Fannett-Metal School District

This report is a pre-feasibility assessment analyzing both woodchip and pellet biomass scenarios for providing heat and hot water at the Fannett-Metal School District
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Biomass Heating Analysis for Flood Brook Union School

This report is a pre-feasibility assessment analyzing whether or not a wood pellet heating system makes sense for the Flood Brook Union School


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Biomass Heating Analysis for Hardwick Elementary School

This report is a pre-feasibility assessment analyzing whether or not a wood pellet heating system makes sense for the Hardwick Elementary School
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Biomass Heating Analysis for Hawlemont Regional School

This report is a pre-feasibility assessment analyzing whether or not a wood pellet heating system makes sense for the Hawlemont Regional School
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Biomass Heating Analysis for the Kazon Building

This report is a pre-feasibility assessment analyzing whether or not a wood pellet heating system makes sense for the Kazon Building. The Kazon Building is a mixed-use building (with office space and apartments) with about 22 occupants in West Rutland.
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Biomass Heating Analysis for Mifflinburg Area School District

This report is a pre-feasibility assessment analyzing whether or not a district energy scenario usingy a central woodchip boiler heating system makes sense for the Mifflinburg Area School District.
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Biomass Heating Analysis for Mohawk Trail Regional High School

This report is a pre-feasibility assessment analyzing both woodchip and pellet biomass scenarios for providing heat and hot water at the Mohawk Trail Regional High School
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Biomass Heating Analysis for Morristown School District

This report is a pre-feasibility assessment analyzing both woodchip and pellet biomass scenarios for providing heat and hot water at the Morristown School District.
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Biomass Heating Analysis for Old Forge Properties

This report is a pre-feasibility assessment analyzing whether or not a district energy scenario usingy a central woodchip boiler heating system makes sense for Old Forge Properties. Old Forge Properties is the parent company to three business units: Enchanted…
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Biomass Heating Analysis for the Orange Center School

This report is a pre-feasibility assessment specifically tailored to the Orange Center School outlining whether or not a wood pellet heating system makes sense for this facility from a practical perspective.
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Biomass Heating Analysis for Oxford Hills School District

This report is a pre-feasibility assessment specifically tailored to Oxford Hills School District outlining whether or not biomass energy makes sense for the Harrison Elementary School, Oxford Elementary School, Oxford Hills Middle School, Paris Elementary…
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Biomass Heating Analysis for Riley County Grade School & High School

This report is a pre-feasibility assessment that provides two analyses, one investigating the benefits of a pellet heating system for the Riley County Grade School and one investigating a pellet system for the Riley County High School.
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Biomass Heating Analysis for the Robinson Elementary School

This report is a pre-feasibility assessment specifically tailored to the Robinson Elementary School outlining whether or not a wood pellet heating system makes sense for this facility from a practical perspective.
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Biomass Heating Analysis for Rutland Town School

This report is a pre-feasibility assessment specifically tailored to the Rutland Town School outlining whether or not a wood pellet heating system makes sense for this facility from a practical perspective.
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Biomass Heating Analysis for Sharon Elementary School

This report is a pre-feasibility assessment specifically tailored to the Sharon Elementary School outlining whether or not a wood pellet heating system makes sense for this facility from a practical perspective.
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Biomass Heating Analysis for Town of Webb Union Free School District

This report is a pre-feasibility assessment that analyzes two different biomass scenarios for heating the School. One scenario analyzes the installation of a wood pellet boiler while the other scenario analyzes the installation of a semi-automated woodchip…
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Biomass Heating Analysis for Wallingford Elementary School

This report is a pre-feasibility assessment specifically tailored to the Wallingford Elementary School outlining whether or not a wood pellet heating system makes sense for this facility from a practical perspective.
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Biomass Heating Analysis for Washington Village School

This report is a pre-feasibility assessment specifically tailored to the Washington Village School outlining whether or not a wood pellet heating system makes sense for this facility from a practical perspective.
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Biomass Heating Analysis for the West Rutland School

This report is a pre-feasibility assessment specifically tailored to the West Rutland School outlining whether or not a wood pellet heating system makes sense for this facility from a practical perspective.
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Biomass Heating Analysis for the Winchendon School

This report is a pre-feasibility assessment specifically tailored to the Winchendon School outlining three different biomass scenarios that included a pellet system to serve the Main building; a pellet system to serve the string of buildings running along…
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Wood Energy Utilization Support Final Report: Appendices

These appendices contain supplemental material for the final report compiled by Yellow Wood, documenting work undertaken by Yellow Wood Associates and Richmond Energy Associates, on behalf of the USDA Forest Service, to identify potential candidates…


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Wood Energy Utilization Support Final Report: Executive Summary

An executive summary of work undertaken by Yellow Wood Associates and Richmond Energy Associates, on behalf of the USDA Forest Service, to identify potential candidates for biomass energy and provide biomass pre-feasibility studies. Yellow Wood worked…


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Wood Energy Utilization Support Final Report

A final report of work undertaken by Yellow Wood Associates and Richmond Energy Associates, on behalf of the USDA Forest Service, to identify potential candidates for biomass energy and provide biomass pre-feasibility studies. The report summarizes…


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Yellow Wood Notes, Spring 2012

Update on Our Work: Value-Added Producer Grant Feasibility Studies, Wealth Creation in Rural Communities, Measurement News, Connecting Rural Communities to Wealth, Creation Concepts, Green Community Technologies©


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