Partnerships, Regional

Economies and Stewards

of Place: The Role of

Sponsored Projects Grants Resource Center Partnership Engagement Conference

Washington, DC

August 19, 2015

Delta State University

• 4000 students

• Located in the heart of the

Mississippi Delta

• Rural, agricultural

communities

• 65% of student population

come from the 18 county

Mississippi Delta region

• Few industries in

surrounding area

• Arts and Culture prominent

…whose mission is to serve as the educational and cultural center of the Mississippi Delta….

Stewards of Place

“…..it is a fundamental responsibility of all faculty and staff

at public colleges and universities to foster problem-solving

skills and applied technological solutions to promote

economic prosperity and the cultural enrichment of their

regions.”

Dunfee, Rich. (2015). Stewards of Place: Engagement in

Regional Prosperity. Manuscript in preparation for

publication.

Partnerships should be mutually

beneficial to all partners

“What is important is that the expertise of

the university is applied to a regional

problem, and the educational and economic

benefits are shared by all.”

Mutual Benefits

Beneficial to the University

A university’s engagement in regional

and community activities should stay

focused on the university’s mission:

Opportunities for student learning

Serves to advance knowledge

Beneficial to the Community

Partners

Focuses on solving an identified

regional or community need or

problem

Fits with regional and/or

community strategic plans

Levitt AMP Cleveland Music Series

Partnership between the university’s Delta Music Institute, an entertainment industry

program of study, the City of Cleveland, the local Chamber of Commerce and its Main Street

Program, and Delta Arts Alliance

$25,000 matching grant to bring ten free, live music events over a ten-week period to

downtown Cleveland, meeting the Levitt Pavilions goals of:

Amplifying community pride and the city’s unique character

Enriching lives through the power of free, live Music

Illustrating the importance of vibrant public Places

Benefits the university

Benefits the community

1:1 match came from the City of Cleveland, the local chamber, Student Government

Association, private business enterprise

http://concerts.levittamp.org/cleveland

Delta Blues Project

Funded by the Robert M. Hearin Foundation, a private foundation that funds

solely Mississippi universities to address economic development in the state

$500,000+ grant through our Delta Center for Culture and Learning

In partnership with Cleveland Tourism and other area tourism offices

Three primary activities:

Establishment of the International Conference on the Blues, an international

academic conference

Development of a minor in Blues Studies, with plans to eventually develop a

Masters in Blues Studies

Blues outreach, providing workshops to community leaders, business owners, etc

on promoting the Blues and the region as a tourist destination

On the heels of the opening of the Grammy Museum Mississippi

Cleveland Healthy Lifestyle Center

Funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to address the community and regional problem of high rates of obesity and its correlating health outcomes.

Over $500,000 per year/three year grant to our School of Nursing

In partnership with local health organization, Delta Health Alliance, local health clinics and others such as local farmer’s markets. Located in the community at an off-campus site

Provides opportunities for student nurses and also allows nursing faculty to attain clinical hours necessary to maintain their licensure

Provides a variety of evidence-based interventions to help people develop healthier lifestyles and prevent disease

So you were promised “concrete steps”…

• Where possible, get involved with community

and regional groups addressing community needs.

• Build relationships and trust with community and

regional entities.

• Obtain strategic plans from local planning entities, planning and development district

offices, asset-mapping exercises, etc

• Gain a clear working knowledge of the economic drivers in your region and what the

regions workforce needs are

• Use Memorandum of Agreements, Letters of Commitment, to ensure that all partners

are aware of roles and responsibilities

• Listen to community members and be open to their ideas

• Share the wealth!

Contact Info:

Robin Boyles

Director, Office of Institutional Grants

Delta State University

1003 W. Sunflower Road

Cleveland, MS 38733

Ph: 662-846-4804

E: rboyles@deltastate.edu