WAEM Regional Priority Setting

and Strategy Development System

The WAEM Regional Initiative’s system to establish priorities and develop strategies for the region gathered, engaged, reviewed, researched, consulted, and developed.  Key components included:

  • University research
  • Review of existing development strategies
  • Input from local leaders
  • Regional roundtables
  • Regional summit
  • Electronic voting
  • Regional strategy development committees
  • Assignment of strategy implementation to existing and newly formed entities.

The regional summit hosted by Alabama Governor Bob Riley and Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour highlighted the process.  But much more time and effort went into it.  Driven by the U.S. Department of Labor’sa insistence on collaborative partnerships and advised by RUPRI’s Center for Regional Competitiveness, WAEM committed over a year of hard work to the planning and strategy development process. 

 “The Summit culminated a year of information gathering, research, planning, and a series of regional meetings,” explained Dr. Bill Scaggs, chairman of the West Alabama – East Mississippi Commission.  “Eight community and junior colleges, the University of Alabama and Mississippi State University, and the RUPRI Center for Regional Competitiveness combined their research with input from five regional roundtables to develop choices for the region,” Scaggs said.  “Then, using sophisticated electronic voting devices, Summit participants chose priorities and direction for making our 37 counties a globally competitive Enterprise-Ready region.”

Key events and activities leading up to the Governors’ Summit:

  • RESEARCH:  In August 2006, WAEM contracted with the RUPRI Center for Regional Competitiveness to conduct research on the region’s assets and opportunities and to advise how to conduct a collaborative, region-wide, priority-setting process.  RUPRI pulled together a team of experts on rural regions to conduct a baseline assessment of the region’s economy and to identify future opportunities for development. 
    • Mark Drabenstott (University of Missouri, RUPRI Center for Regional Competitiveness) formed and led the research team.
    • Ed Feser (University of Illinois) will identify the Region’s key economic clusters.
    • Geoff Hewings (University of Illinois) will analyze the Region’s key economic linkages to markets in the U.S. and the world.
    • Andy Isserman (University of Illinois) will benchmark the Region’s economic performance against other U.S. regions.
    • Mark Partridge (Ohio State University) will identify the key factors behind the Region’s current economic growth.

  • DATA GATHERING AND ASSESSMENT:  In the Fall of 2006, WAEM staff at partner community and junior colleges began gathering existing development plans from communities and agencies throughout the region.  They also interviewed economic developers, local officials, and others about area development plans.  This resulted in a pile of data nearly eight feet high.  Researchers at the University of Alabama and Mississippi State University reviewed the collected data, added their own input, and provided a report on the region.  Two key findings were:  1) There is “little record of bi-state or cross-border regional collaboration;” and 2) The WAEMInitiative “is the only region-wide effort with organizational structure, policy direction, and committed resources.”

  • REGIONAL ROUNDTABLES:  WAEM staff reviewed regional roundtable guidelines provided by theb RUPRI Center and began crafting the diverse invitation list for the regional roundtables.  Dr. Mark Drabenstott, director of the RUPRI Center for Regional Competitiveness, came to Decatur, MS, to conduct training for the conduct of the regional roundtables.   The process for holding these roundtables is further described below.  Participation in the roundtables was good:
    • March 27, 2007 roundtable at Mayhew, MS, co-hosted by Bevill State and East Mississippi Community Colleges – 20 participants.
    • April 4, 2007 roundtable at Newton, MS, co-hosted by Shelton State and East Central Community Colleges – 34 participants.
    • April 9, 2007 roundtable at Selma, AL, co-hosted by Meridian and Wallace Community Colleges – 41 participants.
    • April 12, 2007 roundtable at Gilbertown, AL, co-hosted by Jones County Junior College and Alabama Southern Community College – 19  participants.

  • SUPER ROUNDTABLE:  Dr. Drabenstott conducted a super roundtable to confirm input and initial findings from the first four roundtables.  Representatives from of each roundtable participated.
    • April 24, 2007 super-roundtable at Meridian, MS, hosted by The Montgomery Institute.  Dr. Drabenstott conducted the meeting at which the input from the previous four roundtables was reviewed and aligned – 31 participants.
  • DATA INTEGRATION:  Dr. Drabenstott and his team pulled together the data from the University of Alabama and Mississippi State University, the initial findings from his regional research team, and cthe roundtables to make a report to the region.
    • May 2, 2007 Dr. Drabenstott presented his draft summary for review by the Governors and the WAEM Commission.
  • REGIONAL SUMMIT:  Governors Riley and Barbour hosted a diverse group of 181 leaders from across the WAEM Region.  Dr. Drabenstott presented his findings and recommendations in the morning.  Using innovative electronic voting devices, participants selected the top priorities for the region.  For the afternoon session, Dr. Drabenstott integrated the priorities into a summary version of his report and presented the recommendations to the two Governors.  Both Governors then reacted to the recommendations.  Both voiced approval. 
    • May 14, 2007 Summit near-term priority voting:
      • Advanced Manufacturing                         99%
      • dHealthcare                                                 99%
      • Entrepreneurship                                      97%
      • Warehousing and Distribution                94%
      • Tourism                                                     88%
    • May 14, 2007 Summit longer-term priority voting:
      • Innovative Energy                                     96%
      • High Technology                                       95%
      • Business Services                                    90%
      • Branded Food Products                           78%

Following the Governors’ Summit, a special taskforce was immediately created to develop advanced manufacturing talent development strategies for the region.  Over a series of months components of the new system came on line:

  • June 20, 2007 the WAEM Workforce Training Framework was completed.
  • October 15, 2007 Governor Barbour announced WAEM Alliance and the Amatrol Anytime Anywhere e-Learning System.
  • February 1, 2008, the U.S. Department of Labor approved equipment purchases.
  • March 17, 2008 the WAEM Alliance announced the M3 Credentials.
  • July 23, 2008, East Central Community College awards the first M3 Credentials.

REGIONAL ROUNDTABLE GUIDE

The first purpose of the Roundtables is to identify distinct economic assets through the eyes of leaders in the Region.  The Council on Competitiveness mapping tool was taken into account in designing this phase of work. 

The Roundtables will be hosted and facilitated by the eight community colleges in the Region.  Each Roundtable will be facilitated by a Community College president, with assistance from community college staff assigned to the WIRED project.  Each Roundtable will have a common agenda and will follow common reporting procedures to ensure that the best possible synthesis of information can be achieved.  To ensure a common approach, Mark Drabenstott will hold a meeting with community college staff in early March to provide training on hosting and facilitating the Roundtables. 

A diverse array of regional leaders will be invited to ensure that the roundtables give the best possible insight into the Region’s economic future. It is expected that leaders will be drawn from the following groups: business, finance, health care, non-profits, education, economic development, and public officials.  It is also expected that attendees will reflect the ethnic diversity of the Region.

The format for the Roundtables will be as follows:

    • Rationale for the Roundtables.
    • Presentation of a summary assessment of the Region’s economy.
    • Discussion of key questions.
    • Within one week of the meeting, a written report on findings will be sent to Mark Drabenstott.