RESEED
The Rural Entrepreneurship and Self-Employment
Expansion Design Project (RESEED) plans to build self-employment capacity in rural/remote
communities and disability agencies while addressing the needs
of individuals with significant disabilities.
Each year the project selects four community-based rehabilitation
agencies nationally or Native American Rehabilitation Programs
(Section 121) located in towns no larger than 15,000 population
(20 total sites). Each site will receive a sub-contract
averaging $14,000 to build self-employment capacity in
replaceable ways. Over the 5 year cycle, $280,000 in capacity
building funds will be provided. Intensive on-site technical
training and consultation will focus on entrepreneurship,
business planning, financing/alternative funding, and supports
for individuals with developmental disabilities, psychiatric
disabilities, sensory impairments, cerebral palsy, various
physical disabilities, Traumatic Brain Injury, etc.
RESEED will specifically address:
· Capacity-building in rural/remote
areas through a competitive grant process. Each site
will be eligible
for $14,000 for one year to build local capacity and to
assist in the self-employment of at least 4 consumers;
· The formation of Self-employment
Development Team(s) for each of the 80 self-employment
candidates,
including CRP staff, Section 121 staff, families, local
business mentors, Vocational Rehabilitation and One-Stop
personnel, Small Business Development Center representatives,
etc., to provide guidance and supports that increase earnings
and independence;
· Self-Directed Business
and Career development for 80 individuals with severe
and multiple disabilities
utilizing Person-Centered Career Planning techniques;
· The use of alternative
and collaborative funding strategies, including Social
Security Work Incentives,
Individual Training Accounts, microloans, CRP resources,
VR funds, Work Force Investment dollars, and local business
support to expand and enhance self-employment;
· The maintenance of an active
RESEED Advisory Council (including an External Evaluator)
that monitors project quality and outcomes; selects development
sites; is ethnically, geographically, system, and disability
diverse; and recommends Policy and Practice that expands
individual control in rural self-employment;
· Intensive, community-centered
on-site technical consultation and competency-based training
resulting in
the development of replicable, innovative approaches to
self-employment for individuals with severe and multiple
disabilities and/or challenging behaviors.
Project Duration
Start Date: October 1, 2000
End Date: September 31, 2005
Funding Source
Rehabilitation Service Administration at the US Dept of
Education/RSA
600 Independence Ave SW, Rm 3314
Washington, DC 20202-2650
Project Sites
Year One Sites:
Sitka, Alaska
Albemarle, North Carolina
Riverton, Wyoming
Harlem, Montana
Year Two Sites:
Browning, Montana
Montrose, Colorado
Allegan, Michigan
Jemez, Pueblo, New Mexico
Year Three Sites:
Kitsap County, Washington
Parsons, Kansas
Littleton, New Hampshire
Hamilton, Montana
Year 4 Sites:
Confederated Salish-Kootenai VR, Pablo, MT
Hoopa Valley Tribe Renewal VR, Hoopa, CA
Columbia Community Mental Health Services, St. Helens,
OR
Threshhold Services, Kodiak, AK
Year 5 Sites:
Arc of New Mexico, Socorro, NM
Northeastern MT Workforce, Glasgow, MT
Western Maine Community Action/Career Center, East Wilton,
Maine
Northstar Services, Bloomfield, Nebraska
Partners
Rehabilitation Service Administration at the US Department
of Education
Rural Institute Staff
Marsha Katz, Project Director
Roger Shelley, Organizational Consultant
Mike Flaherty, Organizational Consultant
Additional staff in Year One and Year Two:
Cary Griffin, Director of Special Projects
David Hammis, Organizational Consultant
Chuck Sperry, Organizational Consultant
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