• Abstract and Figures
• Public Full-text

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. Many economists measure economic and social wellbeing solely on the financial metrics of private investment, job creation, and public resource and infrastructure improvements. Few, if any, study the most valued community attributes from the residents' perspectives. This exploratory research lays the foundation for gaining a better understanding of the types of development strategies the public values and the role of local leadership in facilitating public inclusion in policy-making. Methods include archival data analysis, community focus groups, and an online survey. National key informant interviews focusing on state policy and leadership roles in economic development further inform the discussion. The three broad concepts of leadership, accountability, and community consensus building in the economic and community development process are also addressed. These concepts are familiar to the international development community (USÅID, 2013; OECD, 2007; and SIDA, 2014). The study also relies on participatory theory from Stiglitz (2002) as it pertains to sustainable development. ii The research findings indicate that the public places a positive value on both traditional economic interventions and quality of life components in small cities and large towns. The findings also confirm that local leadership involvement is essential to economic and community vitality, and that the offering of incentives can help facilitate redevelopment. The focus group discussions confirmed that transparency and accountability are essential to building community trust, and that a common methodology or framework as developed through this research can be applied across multiple settings and communities. The research revealed that community members are willing and able to participate in an ongoing priority setting process for the future and that this is key to sustainable implementation of the policies employed by local leadership. Furthermore, each community espoused the benefits of placemaking, underscoring previous research (Knight Foundation, 2010; Helliwell, Layard, & Sachs, 2016) that social attachment to a city is an important component of economic and community vitality, and that the engagement of policy makers in their leadership role is essential to mobilizing local rural communities towards revitalization. iii DEDICATION This study is dedicated to the residents and business owners of the towns of Williamston, Laurens, Pickens, and Woodruff. They give of their time, energy, and talent to make their communities a better place to live, work and play. This document is also dedicated to the Main Street America program, a subsidiary of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Formed in 1980, this organization was given independent status in 2013, and has helped organize, guide and inspire local communities to reinvent their downtowns for over 35 years. Through its leadership and partnership, these towns are able to not only engage in revitalizing their historic downtown commercial districts for local residents and businesses, but work toward becoming a destination place for visitors, and serve as national models for other communities facing similar circumstances and challenges. iv ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This research study would not have been possible without the leadership, insight and assistance from the following individuals. Beppie LeGrand, Statewide Coordinator of the South Carolina Main Street Program. She is the “glue” that helps create a cohesive outlook and direction throughout the statewide association. She guides the group towards the development of both collective and community-specific visions across all South Carolina Main Street programs, and shepherds us toward a more innovative and progressive future. I wish to also express my appreciation to Mayor Mack Durham of the town of Williamston, Jonathan Irick of the city of Laurens, Wilson Perkins of the city of Pickens, and Alyson Leslie of the city of Woodruff. Their leadership was instrumental in bringing together a wide array of individuals from all four towns as case study examples of what small towns with dedicated leadership and a clear vision for the future can accomplish. This research also would not have been possible without the wholehearted support of the Envision Williamston board of directors and its chair, Roxanne Hall. Empowered by their insight and commitment to learning more about the community, I was able to pursue this important work that seeks to engage local residents and visitors throughout joint economic and placemaking endeavors. In the summer of 2017 alone, these dedicated volunteer leaders engaged over 1,200 people in better understanding the needs and wants of the community through a series of community-based surveys and interviews. This strong resolve to foster an ongoing participatory process ensures that revitalization efforts are guided through a truly public-driven and informed process for decision makers, planners and project leaders, all working together to effect sustainable change throughout the community. v TABLE OF CONTENTS Page TITLE PAGE ................................................................................................................................. i ABSTRACT ................................................................................................................................. ii DEDICATION ............................................................................................................................. iv ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ............................................................................................................ v LIST OF TABLES .................................................................................................................... viii LIST OF FIGURES ...................................................................................................................... x CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................... 1 II. LITERATURE REVIEW .......................................................................................... 6 Historical Context of Rural Communities and Downtown Revitalization .................................................................... 6 Why Focus on Rural Communities? ................................................................... 9 Quality of Life Foci .......................................................................................... 12 The National Main Street Program ................................................................... 14 Leadership ......................................................................................................... 19 Citizen Engagement .......................................................................................... 22 III. THEORY ................................................................................................................. 25 Traditional Economic Development Theory .................................................... 25 Creative Placemaking ....................................................................................... 29 IV. RESEARCH METHODS ........................................................................................ 38 Purpose of Study .............................................................................................. 38 Research Design ..............................................................................................

Load more

  242

Copy Link