ECMC-Sponsored Toolkit
Rural & Tribal Economic Development Toolkit
What is the Toolkit?
The Rural & Tribal Economic Development Toolkit provides a usable framework and helpful resources to develop and improve rural economic and workforce development opportunities for rural postsecondary institutions and tribal colleges and universities. The Toolkit empowers rural and tribal communities to grow stronger and more resilient, together.
Who is the Toolkit for?
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Rural Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs)
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Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs)
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Organizations committed to supporting rural IHEs and TCUs, including Local Workforce Investment Boards, Economic Development offices, local industry, trade associations and unions, and other community partners.
Why was the Toolkit developed?
1. Build strong community collaboration
The Toolkit was developed to build and strengthen more strategic collaboration among rural and tribal communities and their postsecondary institutions, Workforce Investment Boards, Economic Development offices, local industry, trade associations and unions, and community partners.
2. Expand key partnerships
While rural and Tribal communities have primarily depended on postsecondary institutions for access to educational opportunities and skills training, evidence shows that strong engagement with local industry and community partners leads to higher rates of retention, completion, and job placement.
3. Provide critical resources
The Toolkit gives rural postsecondary institutions and tribal colleges and universities the resources to implement a stronger economic and workforce development framework, along with grant-funding strategies to support it.
What is in the Toolkit?
The Toolkit includes seven tools. Tools 1 through 6, the Six Focus Areas, concentrate on postsecondary engagement in community economic and workforce development. Each tool includes an introduction to the topic, recommended institutional leads, cross-departmental partners, and learning objectives with sample resources. Tool 7 is a comprehensive resource guide of philanthropic grant funding opportunities for 24 states as well as national philanthropy and strategies for writing competitive grants.
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Tool 1: Community Strategies
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Tool 2: Labor Market Analysis
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Tool 3: Modernized Academic Models
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Tool 4: Work-Based Learning Models
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Tool 5: Industry Sector Partnerships
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Tool 6: Entrepreneurship
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Tool 7: Philanthropic Resource Library
How can I learn more?
Information webinars are scheduled between October 2026 and March 2027. There is no cost to participate. Register here to reserve your spot. Individual technical assistance and training will be available mid 2027, by request.
Empowering rural and tribal communities to grow stronger, together.
