Engaging and Attracting Young People to Rural Montana

Engaging and Attracting Young People to Rural Montana January 15, 2008 Craig Schroeder Senior Associate Montana Rural Community Conference Billings, MT

Agenda: Making the Case l Engaging ‘E’ Young People l System for Youth Engagement l Models and Resources l Next Steps for Your Community l

Background…

Home. Town Competitiveness Leaders Entrepreneurs Charitable Donors Young People

Economic Development Reality ? Out. Migration Business Attraction Local Business Development Natural Resource Industries ? Growing Poverty ? External Subsidies

Critical Issues § Generational Wealth Transfer § Historical Youth Out-Migration Trends § Loss of Farms, Industry and Small Businesses § Erosion of Leadership and Civic Capacity

Impact Upon Citizen Satisfaction Rural Poll, CARI

Still, Few [Adults] Plan to Leave Rural Poll, CARI

“Youth may be 20% of our population, but they are 100% of our future!” U. S. Senator Ben Nelson

Gallup Poll Results Seven out of 10 (69%) high-school students are interested in starting their own business, but 86% rated themselves as very poor to fair on their knowledge of business and entrepreneurship. 85% of these students thought it was important or very important to receive entrepreneurship education in schools. Gallup Organization, Inc. 1994

Targeting Youth “E” Talent… Youth currently in your community may well represent your greatest resource for economic growth and community sustainability. The challenge is to: engage these youth, equip them with the skills and knowledge to be successful, and then support them and their enterprising ventures.

l New Opportunities – – – Entrepreneurship Information Technology Biotechnology l Youth Perspectives – – – Family and Community Quality of Life and Civic Engagement Entrepreneurship – a preferred career path We need to rethink our options and learn from history…

Learning From History: Not that long ago, in 10 Americans were employed. 9 self- They knew how to create and sustain entrepreneurial communities.

How Did They Do It? l l l l Focused on entrepreneurs and commerce Captured growing regional markets Invested wealth back into creating more wealth Sought skilled individuals to build businesses Used wealth to improve their quality of life Built for the benefit of future generations Encouraged children to carry-on business

Your Entrepreneurial Heritage?

Then Came Industrial Age Impact… l l l l Shift from “Colonial” to National Economy Shift from local processing to bulk exports Shift to buying finished goods externally Shift from business ownership to employee Major job creation around urban factories All this led to out-migration and loss of wealth Result: declining economic & social capacity

The Economy is Changing The Industrial Age is passing away… …and the future, much like our past, will be… …Driven by Entrepreneurship!

Examples of Change: l l l Entrepreneurial agriculture is expanding 70% of economic growth and new jobs now attributed to entrepreneurship More youth seeking business ownership path Internet is overcoming geographic barriers Hand-crafted valued over mass-produced People seeking quality of life and quality career

Youth Are Critical to Rural Vitality! l l l l 3: 1 positive impact upon population Long-term business and career goals Educated workforce for expanding businesses Substantial consumers of goods and services New energy, skills, ideas and resources Support and use public institutions Retention of local generational wealth

Youth Attraction Making your community a more attractive choice for young people!

Sampling of Youth Survey Results Plan to Attend College Desire to Return Home Want to Own Business Now 96% 66% 57% 14% 98% 55% 64% 12% 100% 66% 60% 14% Atkinson Pop. 1380 O'Neill Pop. 3, 852 Stuart Pop. 650 Survey of all high school (9 -12) students, 2005 -06

More Youth Survey Results Cambridge Mc. Cook Columbus Garden County Pop. 1, 041 Pop. 7, 994 Pop. 20, 971 Pop. 2, 292 Rate your community (1 -10) 6. 6 5. 3 5. 1 6. 2 Interested in owning your own business in the future? 47% 41% 43% 51% Have a business right now? 17% 9% 7% 19% Picture yourself living in the area in the future? 47% 48% 49% Survey Questions Survey of all JH and HS (7 -12) students, 2007

But, What Are Youth Saying? l l l I’m waiting to graduate, then I will… Other than sports, we get negative attention. Adults seem desperate to keep us here. Why is it adults always want to build a new community building? We’d like a theater, or… I want to take an entrepreneurship class. We want to help pick the color!

Exercise: Youth Engagement Community Capacity Questionnaire

How do communities involve youth? Do to Youth Do for Youth Do with Youth Skateboard Zoning Teen Center Youth Events Trash Cleanup College Scholarships Decision Making Focus on Stars and Ignore Other Youth Tell Youth the Right Way to Do Things Listen and Support Youth Discovery

Challenges in Education

Engaging Youth l l l l Seek young people with entrepreneurial ideas Ask them about their plans after high school Ask them to show you what they’re working on Be patient and actively listen to them Show them they are valued and important Find out what they need to be successful Make it happen one youth at a time!

Tools for Youth Engagement l l l l Listening and encouraging by adults Scholarships and apprenticeships Personal finance education Micro-lending fund Business incubator and support services Peer networks and adult mentors Generational Business Transfer

Partners in Youth Engagement l l l l Schools (E-curriculum & programs) Entrepreneur clubs/projects (4 H, FCCLA, FFA) Community (learning laboratory) Economic Development Group Resource Providers Entrepreneurs Others?

Identifying E-Youth l l l l May not immediately come to mind Can be introverted to very engaging Creative and enjoy experimenting May find them in the workshop or craft room May not be high academic achievers Often have one or more micro-businesses May talk about markets more than sports, etc. Usually know they are wired differently (1: 10)

Young Adult ‘E’ Indicators l l l l Own a business or express this desire Have a micro-business on the side Might find them drawing ideas on napkins Engaged in creative hobbies – talent or gift May be involved in non-profit or civic roles Taking a marketing class at an area college Come up with creative ways to solve problems May have put their dream on the back burner

Cody Foster Artistic Entrepreneur

Haley Kilpatrick Students helping students…

Youth Engagement System Engage Entrepreneurial Education & Career Development Youth Involvement & Leadership in Community Equip Community Support of Youth & Enterprises Support

Desired Short-term Results § Greater community involvement with youth § Entrepreneurship and hands-on learning § Stronger school-community partnerships § More young people planning to stay or return to the community as young adults

Bringing Their Career Home

Longer-term Results § Community attracting more young families § Greater local investment in community priorities § New and expanding businesses § Revitalized civic institutions and leadership

Exercise: Engage Entrepreneurial Education & Career Development? Youth Involvement & Leadership in Community? Equip Community Support of Youth & Enterprises? Support

Models… …Putting All the Pieces Together!

Best Practice Research: CFED AEO Aspen Institute

CFED REAL – Big Stone Gap, VA Paul Kuzcko, REAL Director

CFED REAL – Virginia 7 high schools in 4 communities plus Tech. college 24 teachers REAL certified over past 8 years 23 social programs contribute funding E-ship throughout school curriculum Workforce Investment dollars pay students -Bush Mills – renovation, tours, corn products -Bluegrass CD of local artist, old photographs -Bat houses for West Nile carrying insects -Beauty Parlor, Catering, Plasma Cutter

Lincoln County, Oregon Youth Entrepreneurship Program • Blended Curriculum: Ø National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) Ø Rural Entrepreneurship through Action Learning (REAL)

Lincoln County, Oregon Youth Entrepreneurship Program Activities: Ø Kayak rentals Ø Guided tours Ø Bike rentals added in 2006 • Results: Ø $12, 000 profit Ø 6 student summer jobs Ø Community support

Two HTC Case Studies… Knox County Valley County

Case Study #1: Knox County

Invitation to Get Involved! Thinking Outside the Box Event Youth Chamber of Commerce Inventors Club Individual Project Community Foundation Group Project Business Project Community Focused 11 th Grade Summer E-ship Program Leadership Quest Nebraska Business Development Center Community College Campuses Host Communities

Case Study #2: Valley County

Ord’s Young Entrepreneur Fair The Vision: 100’s of Young Entrepreneurs! Nancy Glaubke Business Development Coordinator

Resources: l Innovation Center Tool Kit for Youth & Adults In Charting Assets & Creating Change (Formerly part of National 4 H Council) www. theinnovationcenter. org l Consortium for Entrepreneurship Education Clearinghouse of entrepreneurship education resources www. entre-ed. org l The Rural School and Community Trust Resources for rural schools and community-based learning www. ruraledu. org

Local Resources: Teachers l Youth Program Leaders l Young Adults l Successful Entrepreneurs l Parents and Grandparents l Service Providers l Volunteers l

Mobilizing the Community § Find Several Champions § Engage School Administration Early § Look for Youth Organization Partner(s) § Core Mobilization Team: Youth and Young Adults School Administration and Key Faculty Youth Organization Leaders

Youth Strategy Suggested Action Plan Elements a. b. c. d. e. Identification and engagement of entrepreneurial young people Leverage partnerships among community, school, organizations and resource providers Support of youth-led entrepreneurial and community development projects Peer networking among youths and adult mentors Evaluation of outcomes and refinement of youth engagement strategy

Vehicles to Consider § 4 H § Jr. Achievement § FFA, FCCLA, FBLA, DECA § Youth Action Groups § Young Adult Groups

Simple Things You Can Do § Scholarships/Internships § Annual Table of Honor § Welcome Home Party § Classmate Calls § Alumni Presentation

Key Points Today… l l l Youth Attraction is really about making your community an attractive choice for young people. Many young people want to come back, but too few pathways are available to them. Successful engagement occurs one young person at a time. Listening and positive encouragement are critical to success. Our heritage is entrepreneurial and our future must be as well. Youth are vital to this shift!

Center Resources l Center for Rural Entrepreneurship www. energizingentrepreneurs. org l RUPRI www. rupri. org craigs@neb. rr. com