Clemson University TigerPrints All Dissertations Dissertations May 2018 Rural Economic Development Policy Making: Effecting Change Through Community Voices Sonya Rae Albury-Crandall Clemson University,
[email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://tigerprints.clemson.edu/all_dissertations Recommended Citation Albury-Crandall, Sonya Rae, "Rural Economic Development Policy Making: Effecting Change Through Community Voices" (2018). All Dissertations. 2410. https://tigerprints.clemson.edu/all_dissertations/2410 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Dissertations at TigerPrints. It has been accepted for inclusion in All Dissertations by an authorized administrator of TigerPrints. For more information, please contact
[email protected]. RURAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT POLICY MAKING: EFFECTING CHANGE THROUGH “COMMUNITY VOICES” A Dissertation Presented to the Graduate School of Clemson University In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy Policy Studies by Sonya R. Albury-Crandall May 2018 Accepted by: Catherine Mobley, PhD, Committee Chair Lori Dickes, PhD, Co-Chair William Bridges, PhD Windsor Sherrill, PhD ABSTRACT This research presents results from a doctoral study that explores a holistic approach to quantifying economic development. The mixed-methods study was conducted in four communities in Upstate South Carolina that have been part of the national Main Street Program. The study poses several important questions: What development strategies do the public value? What strategies contribute the most to the overall quality of life of the community? Further, what is the role of local leadership and accountability in facilitating revitalization, and how do they contribute to the overall quality of life in the community? Third, are there primary components of a community and economic development framework that can be utilized to mobilize community support around issues of community and economic development? These are the research questions that will be explored.