The Homegrown Leaders training program is a three-day regional leadership and economic development training that develops and supports highly-skilled, highly-motivated leaders who are committed to building regional collaboration across multi-county regions in the state.  Homegrown Leaders is an extension of the Rural Center’s 27-year-old flagship, leadership development program, the Rural Economic Development Institute (REDI).

Homegrown Leaders provides opportunities for participants to hear from economic development and leadership experts, engage with and learn from peers, apply knowledge through classroom exercises, and learn about community successes.  Homegrown Leaders will:

  • Increase understanding of data and trends in your region
  • Increase understanding of comprehensive community economic development
  • Teach skills in effective collaboration at the local and regional levels
  • Increase knowledge of resources available to your community and how to access them
  • Build a regional network of community leaders that promotes peer learning, resource sharing and collaboration
  • Become part of the Center’s leadership alumni network, which provides annual professional development and peer networking with nearly 1,200 rural leaders from across the state.   

When:  

The N.C. Rural Center will host a series of three-day Homegrown Leaders leadership and economic development training over the next two years in partnership with the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) and regional Councils of Government (COG). Upcoming training dates are October 3-4 and November 8-9, 2018 in Asheville, NC. Participants are required to attend both the October and November sessions.  Future training soon to be announced.

Who Should Apply:

Participants include elected officials, government staff, nonprofit and faith-based leaders, business leaders, economic development professionals and other community-minded people in the 29 county ARC region of North Carolina.  Eligible counties for this October + November training are: Transylvania, Henderson, Buncombe, Madison, Yancey, Mitchell and Avery

How to Apply:  

Applications are available on the Rural Center’s website www.ncruralcenter.org.  For the October/November training, applications are due by September 21, 2018. By completing an application, you are committing to both the October AND November training dates. Completing an application does not guarantee participation in the program.

Training Cost:  

Registration fee is $199, which includes training, materials, and food.  

 

What Participants Are Saying:

“Homegrown Leaders is one of the most valuable leadership workshops out there.  You’re engaged the entire day, taking notes and learning things that you can put into action immediately.  That combined with the networking is invaluable.”

“One of the best classes I’ve ever taken part in.  Insightful, entertaining, and knowledgeable. I highly recommend it!”

“This was a great opportunity to meet local leaders and to learn about their efforts as well as their hopes and dreams for the area.  Homegrown Leaders provided jam-packed days of learning about ourselves, our community, leadership, and cooperation.”

“Homegrown Leaders was a valuable tool to learn how to collaborate at a regional level.  The resources we were given were extremely helpful to find information to further networking efforts.  Excellent course, worth the time and effort to attend and participate to gain broader leadership skills.”

If you are interested in learning more about Homegrown Leaders, contact Bronwyn Lucas, Director of Leadership, at blucas@ncruralcenter.org or 919-250-4314.