UC Cooperative Extension launches community economic development workshops for Eastern Sierra stakeholders
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Summary
UC Cooperative Extension community economic development staff began a biweekly workshop series in late October to build local leadership, data literacy and asset‑mapping skills; the sessions aim to produce actionable projects and strengthen partnerships across chambers, workforce providers and small businesses.
The University of California Cooperative Extension presented the launch of a community and economic development workshop series to the board on Oct. 7, aimed at building local leadership, data literacy and project implementation capacity across the Eastern Sierra.
Aaron Wilshire, the county’s new UC Cooperative Extension community economic development advisor, said the program — funded through regional assistance — began with a kickoff session where roughly 20 stakeholders from chambers of commerce, workforce development, small businesses and other local organizations participated. The four‑session biweekly series alternates between Bishop and Mammoth and is designed to move participants through concept framing and data literacy to asset mapping and a final strategic‑planning session that produces action plans for prioritized opportunities.
Wilshire said the sessions are intended to “socialize” economic development concepts, surface potential projects, and create a mechanism for multi‑stakeholder collaboration. He said the curriculum draws on established extension materials and local interviews with more than 40 stakeholders that identified housing, entrepreneurship, workforce development and infrastructure as top local priorities.
The advisor invited board members and additional stakeholders to attend and said he will continue to coordinate with county and regional partners to translate workshop outcomes into funded projects.
Ending
The UC Cooperative Extension will continue the workshop series through mid‑November; staff said results and action plans will be available to local governments and partner organizations for possible follow‑through and funding requests.