Community Economic Development Thesis Projects
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The mission of the Community Economic Development program is to build better practices and policies that serve low-income and marginalized communities around the globe. Community economic development gives people control over their economic futures by developing leadership in the poorest communities and eliminating the apathy that can result from generations of poverty and neglect.
Much of the work in these collections involve first-hand data collection, providing new empirical evidence and unique findings in the field. This research is conducted all over the world, including the United States, Mexico, Uganda, and Tanzania.
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Item An economic stabilization program for Vermont Asbestos Group, Inc.(Southern New Hampshire University, 1983) Page, ChrisAs stated in the thesis project, "The following report provides specific detail of my community economic development project. Since late summer 1982, I have been intimately involved in efforts to stabilize a major employer in northern Vermont: Vermont Asbestos Group, Inc. (VAG). Well known to the development community since its ill-fated experiment in partial worker-ownership, the company has fallen on hard time during the last two years, and still faces serious operational problems. My employer, the Economic Development Council of Northern Vermont, Inc. has contributed significant resources to an ongoing program aimed at the retention of the 175 jobs that VAG represents. Because of my direct and intense involvement in this effort, I chose to use VAG as my CED case study. A number of individuals and organizations provided assistance to this project, but Charles Carter of the Northeastern Vermont Development Association in St. Johnsbury should receive special acknowledgement for his tireless dedication to this cause. Throughout this paper, reference is made to the "Council," for it was with the support and guidance of my Board of Directors and Executive Committee that I was able to proceed with the project. For purposes of assessment, however, I have included exhibits that typify the type of assistance that I personally provided to VAG. The majority of the many plans, applications and reports were under my authorship." (Library-derived description)Item Hartford Farms(Southern New Hampshire University, 1983) Winne, MarkAs stated in the thesis project, "The goal of this project was to secure adequate financing for the construction and start up of Hartford Farms, a commercial food producing greenhouse wholly-owned by two Hartford-based non-profit agencies - the Hartford Food System and Southend Community Services. Due to a variety of unconventional factors that will be examined throughout this paper, the venture was required to seek alternative or non-standard investment capital consisting of grants and low interest loans. The project required almost 15 months to complete and resulted in financing commitments totaling $320,000 ($140,000 of this is available after 1984 for expansion)." (Library-derived description)Item Alternatives for community development, incorporated July 1982(Southern New Hampshire University, 1983) Ford, Adrian L.As stated in the thesis project, "Alternatives for Community Development, Incorporated (ACDI) is a Massachusetts for profit community development corporation established in July, 1982. ACDI was formulated as a joint venture between two non profits local agencies, Three Pyramids, Inc., Fitchburg, MA and Montachusett Opportunity Council (MOC), Leominster, MA. Three Pyramids is a minority social service agency which currently administers various government contracts, i.e., After School Program, Nutrition Program, Information and Referral Program, as well as providing other services to meet the social and economic needs of minorities and low income area persons. MOC is a community action agency which services Leominster, Fitchburg and other surrounding areas. It is easily the largest social service/advocacy program in the area, with a wide base of funding (most recently topping $10 million). The Partnership agreement between the two non-profits delineates stock ownerships to the Boards of Directors of the two agencies with 51% of its corporate stock being owned by Three Pyramids, and 49% being owned by Montachusett Opportunity Council. This mix of control allows ACDI to be a minority business enterprise, thus affording eligibility for a variety of contracts and benefits as a minority business. Conceptually the project was put together by the staff of both MOC and Three Pyramids, and neither board was involved until the package had been put together and specific authorization was required to proceed and formulate the new corporation. The two agencies believed that this partnership can exist because of the reservoir of trust that has been built over the past ten years. Three Pyramids Chief Executive Officer, Adrian Ford, has once served as the Vice-President of the MOC Board (previous to this formed relationship) and had several as a "loaned executive11 to MOC as Director of the Research and Development Unit (the fore-runner of the ACDI idea). Three Pyramids currently contracts with MOC to do fiscal management and consultation services. Dorothy Wms. Proctor currently is a member of the MOC Board of Directors, Chairperson of the Affirmative Action Committee, and a member of the Boards Personnel Committee. Both agencies believe that a common philosophy/ purpose exists and both have identified the need for alternative strategies for both as a self dependency module, not being totally dependent on government funding. The common goal between the two agencies, ACDI, is the economic development of the community as a group effort, thus alleviating duplication of efforts, and more efficiently and effectively managing available resources." (Library derived description)Item [American Indian economic development](Southern New Hampshire University, 1983) Hunt, Sharon; Swack, MichaelAs stated in the thesis project, "The American Indian Community House (AICH) is a multi-purpose service organization which was established in 1969. Since that time, it has been the primary human service agency in New York City with Native Americans. It is the only agency in the City which is staffed and controlled entirely by Native Americans. Although New York City is not known for having a large Native American Indian population, according to the 1980 census, there are 11,500 Indian residents. While it is generally agreed that Indians are drastically undercounted in any urban census, it is useful to compare this figure to other cities in states which have a substantial Native American population. For instance, according to the same census, there are approximately 9,000 Indians and Eskimos in Anchorage, Alaska; 7,300 Native Americans in Albuquerque, New Mexico: 10,400 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and nearly 11,000 in Phoenix, Arizona. In this context, the American Indian residents in New York represent a relatively large urban Indian population. Since its inception the Community House has developed a wide range of services to meet the needs of its constituency. It was formerly the prime sponsor for Indian CETA (Comprehensive Employment and Training Act) and is now the prime sponsor for the Jobs Training and Partnership Act for Native Americans in the New York City metropolitan area. It also operates a federally funded Indian Health Program which provides limited primary medical care and referral services for medical and dental services; health education; limited treatment; and community outreach services to Indian clients. Four years ago, the Substance Abuse Program was established through funding by the New York State Division of Substance Abuse. The Program provides both information and referral services for individuals and their families and training resources for agencies which provide treatment for Indians. More recently, the Community House has established a Social Services Program to provide emergency food and shelter on an emergency basis. Moreover, the Community House also operates two major cultural programs. Native Americans in the Arts (NAIA), was started in 1979 as a theatre group that would present American Indian artists and their works to the general public. It is currently funded by the National Endowment for the Arts, The Community House also operates a Gallery and Gift Shop in the Soho section of Manhattan. It generally mounts two major exhibits of traditional arts and crafts a year. Last year, it generated $37,500 in income for the organization. Today, the American Indian Community House is a $1.3 million dollar agency. However, with the exception of its cultural programs, it is totally dependent on federal and state funding for its operation. Further, many of its programs are limited to information and referral rather than more comprehensive services. Perhaps more importantly, the agency's priorities are determined by what is fundable for Indian programs and not what Indians in New York City consider to be most important. In this regard, the American Indian Community House proposes to establish a Community Economic Development Program. This program would seek to develop several projects which would respond to some of their immediate survival needs -- i.e., employment, cultural identity, temporary shelter -- and expand the organization's capability to generate income for its own use. This program would eventually become a separately incorporated American Indian Development Corporation that would remain affiliated with the Community House." (Library-derived description)Item [Organizing CED in Littleton, N. H.](Southern New Hampshire University, 1984) Winn, Gerald H.; Swack, MichaelAs stated in the thesis project, "The voice and face of our community are to a great extent the employees of our local retail establishments, town employees, waitresses, secretaries, receptionists, etc. Often the impressions given to visitors to our community by these people is the basis in which the merits of our town are judged, both positively and negatively. The purpose of the first phase of my project was to attract a good cross section of employers, employees, town workers, etc., to a forum where there could be a "meeting of the minds" on important topics such as the importance of attitudes in our daily lives, how these attitudes are expressed, verbally and non-verbally to co-workers, customers, visitors, etc., how to exercise attitude control, how to manage time more effectively, how to handle complaints, and ways to broaden our skills regarding inter-personal relationships. The goal of the series of workshops was to help each individual to see the bigger picture of which he/she is a part, and to promote benefits of our community to others from our own vantage point, with the betterment of the entire community as our goal. It's been a year since the initial workshop was con-ducted. The participants are still talking about the benefits to them and the day to day application of the principles taught. This report includes the results of a follow-up workshop conducted in November 1983. Even though the project is officially over, my intentions are to offer this type of workshop on an ongoing basis in the future. The final document in this report is the survey instrument which will be administered to approximately 300 people in Littleton, in order to determine the residents satisfaction with the "as is" situation and serve as a guide to the Selectmen and Town Manager in implementing needed changes in the follow-ing areas: Town Management, Property Taxes, 1-93 Impact, and Local Industry." (Library-derived description)Item [Arthur G. Pomeroy House](Southern New Hampshire University, 1984) Perez, Joseph E.This report describes the process of redeveloping the historic Pomeroy House in Hartford, Conn. (Library-derived description)Item Community food ventures(Southern New Hampshire University, 1985) Everdell, RosSoup kitchens represent the front line in assisting people who are facing a food emergency. However, as demand for assistance increases, there is also a need to increase the capacity of community based and faith based organizations to provide these services. This case study describes its application in an organization in New York City. (Library-derived description)Item Financing for socially responsible investment companies(Southern New Hampshire University, 1985) Major, CarolThis report describes the formation of the East Burke Appropriate Development Corporation, an entity whose purpose was to purchase a ski-resort in Vermont. The goal of the project was to create jobs, drawing on the region's tourism industry. (Library-derived description)Item Financing the Worcester Committee on Homelessness and Housing, Inc.(Southern New Hampshire University, 1986) Hasegawa, KathleenAs stated in the thesis project, "Worcester, Massachusetts, the "Heart of the Commonwealth", has recently been described as the best kept secret in New England. A city of approxiamately 160,000 people, it remains in the shadow of Boston and is little known in its own light. Most of the people in Worcester seem to prefer it that way. Retaining much of a small town atmosphere in a medium sized city has many advantages. Politicians are easily accessible, networks are well known and unemployment is currently close to the lowest in New England. In spite of this, Worcester residents are currently experiencing a major crisis - a housing crisis. In July of 1983 a survey conducted by the Office of Planning and Community Development sparked community concern when it revealed a drastically low 1.5% vacancy rate in housing. Since that time fires, demolitions, condemnation of buildings, and the purchase of buildings by developers from Boston, Providence, Framingham and Worcester for speculation have added to an overall decrease in housing. The latest survey, in July of 1985, showed a vacancy rate of only 1%. Many argue that for low income people the vacancy rate is closer to 0%." (Library-derived description)Item Rhode Island Community Investment Loan Fund Work Group(Southern New Hampshire University, 1986) Neirinckx, Ray; Swack, MichaelThis report describes the start-up activities of the Rhode Island Community Investment Loan Fund Work Goup. The appendixes provide a chronology of this process. (Library-derived description)Item Final report [Reducing joblessness on the reservation](Southern New Hampshire University, 1987) Ritter, Roger G.Creating jobs (and providing services) to residents of the Passamaquoddy reservation in Washington County Maine became a key priority for the tribe in the mid 1980s. To achieve these goals the tribe chose to develop a food store. This report describes the evolution of this initiative. (Library-derived description)Item Community development in rural communities(Southern New Hampshire University, 1987) Bloch, John; Swack, MichaelThis report examines provides an overview of the economic conditions in northern New Hampshire, in 1987. (Library-derived description)Item Green Island/Vernon Hill Community Development Corporation, Inc.(Southern New Hampshire University, 1987) Casey, NancyThis report details the formation of the Vernon Hill Community Development Corporation in Worcester, Mass. The report describes the community mobilizing process and some of the political and social barriers faced by the emerging organization. (Library-derived description)Item Franklin Area Community Land Trust, Inc(Southern New Hampshire University, 1987) White, Peter; Clamp, ChristinaThis report chronicles the establishment of a community land trust to be located in Franklin, New Hampshire (US). The value of a community land trust is that it can provide a vehicle for community involvement in land use decision-making. (Library-derived description)Item ECCOPLACE : an economic development strategy(Southern New Hampshire University, 1988) Taylor, Kenneth B.; Swack, MichaelAs stated in the thesis project, "The ECCO Place Project of Providence, Rhode Island has its beginning rooted in the strategies and dreams of what has now been defined as the Civil Rights Movement of the fifties and sixties. The struggle centered around the re-cognition of equal rights and equal access. At that time it was access, now it is assets for this is the track that the "Movement" was on. On February 19, 1968 on the occassion of the gathering of over 1200 urban Pastors at the Miami Sheraton Convention Center. Reverend Virgil Wood in his keynote address pro-posed an economic development arm to the Civil Rights move-ment. The meeting in Miami concerned itself with the up-coming Poor Peoples Campaign. Dr. Wood suggested Marching on Wallstreet to close it down in order to address economic injustice." (Library-derived description)Item The Katahdin Area Health Education Center : organizing for educational access and jobs in a rural development context(Southern New Hampshire University, 1988) Yerxa, BoThis report describes the creation of a public health initiative of the Pamassamaquoddy tribe in Maine. Specifically, the project focuses on increasing the education level among members of the tribe to expand the capacity of the existing system. The report describes the challenges and barriers faced, both on the reservation and in the surrounding region -- including financial, political and social issues. (Library-derived description)Item Women & employment : a time of transition(Southern New Hampshire University, 1989) FitzGerald, KathleenAs stated in the thesis project, "Development of Community Institutions is an emerging area of work for the organization, Women and Employment (W & E) has been asked by other groups for assistance with organizational development or technical analysis. There is no set process to evaluate the involvement of the organization with another group. As with membership. Women & Employment needs to know its organizational expectations if it is to begin a more aggressive plan of outreach and relationship with others. Clearly, this is a time of change for the organization. It needs to understand its goals if it is to weather the transitions in leadership. The primary focus of this project is to examine the process of transition to new leadership; to work with the board, and staff, both old and new, to document this process and examine its implications on the organization. It is my hope that this analysis will be of assistance to other community groups as they too, reach a transitional stage in organizational development. Women and Employment has always sought ways in which it could serve as a model, so that other organizations could learn from its mistakes or duplicate its successes. A second focus area for the project will be on the self employment and community development work of W & E. As the staff member working in this area I am interested in developing a coherent program strategy. If possible I will begin to implement that strategy." (Library derived description)Item P F D Lend Program(Southern New Hampshire University, 1989) Lapham, Michael R.This project provides background information on an affordable housing development project sponsored by Caritas, a not-for-profit organization located in Boston (MA). (Library-derived description)Item Adams-Morgan CDC internship(Southern New Hampshire University, 1989) Spann-Edwards, Cheryl; Swack, MichaelThis report is an analysis of the Adams Morgan/Mt. Pleasant Community Development Corporation in Washington, DC. The report provides an overview of the organizational structure of the agency and the author's experience working there. (Library-derived description)Item Towards a liberating strategy of education/development : a training manual for new members of community land trusts(Southern New Hampshire University, 1989) Wasserman, NancyThis manuscript is an outline of the analysis undertaken of the Vermont Community Loan Fund. Community loan funds provide an alternative means of financing community economic development projects. (Library-derived description)