Recent Projects
The Agriculture Cluster in Danville, Virginia
The Danville Regional Foundation asked RTS to study the agricultural cluster in the its service area, estimate its scale and scope, and suggest strategies for further developing it. The analysis included capturing highlights of agricultural economy assets such as agricultural and related educational programs, farmers markets and opportunities for distribution such as specialty restaurants and grocery stores. The final result included a practical action plan to build the local food system and support a healthier farm sector, economy, and populous.
Charleston Creative Economy
RTS performed an analysis of the Charleston, South Carolina region’s creative economy including creative enterprises, workers and the assets that support their development. RTS examined both current and projected growth and its impact on the regional economy of the Low Country Region. The region was benchmarked against selected metropolitan areas in the Southeast. RTS contributed recommendations on how the creative economy’s impact can be increased in the Charleston region. New Carolina – South Carolina’s Council on Competitiveness provided funding for the project.
Applying Cluster Methodologies to Agriculture in Vermont and Assessing Workforce Needs
RTS worked with the Vermont Department of Education to analyze the agriculture cluster in Vermont with special attention payed to the training needs of workers in the industry. RTS examined current secondary and post-secondary programs, enrollments and patterns, completions, and career paths in agri-business and related fields to find out if they matched the current and projected needs and potential of the cluster. RTS identified areas where there may be a gap between the current pipeline of potential labor and the projected demand that limit the cluster's ability is to reach its potential. The final report suggests changes and reforms in education and training to meet the existing needs of the clusters and help the cluster grow sustainably.
Economic Development in Eastern South Dakota
RTS completed a comprehensive regional growth strategy for the I-29 Corridor of South Dakota. The region in Eastern South Dakota stretches from the Iowa to the North Dakota border. RTS performed a cluster analysis for the region and suggested better ways to link the three universities in the region to economic development efforts. The project was funded by a coalition of communities and counties looking to act more collectively as a region.
Aerospace in North Carolina
Through a grant from the Golden Leaf Foundation, RTS performed an analysis of the aerospace industry (including aviation, avionics, and composites) in North Carolina to assess the employment and workforce development needs of this growing cluster. The emphasis was on the production sector, which holds the most economic and employment opportunities for North Carolinians. This study provided an overview of the aerospace manufacturing environment and technologies; types of jobs in this industry cluster; knowledge and skills employees need; and an assessment of the aerospace job market in North Carolina. This information offered the Foundation and its partners the necessary information and analysis to develop a comprehensive strategic plan aimed at ensuring that this industry will thrive and produce good, high-paying jobs now and into the future.
The Creative Economy in the Nation's Capital
RTS, under a subcontract with Mt. Auburn Associates, designed a “Creative DC Action Agenda” to describe the importance of the creative economy to the District of Columbia. This project was intended to provide the District with an opportunity to develop a visionary, comprehensive, and integrated strategy that promotes and develops the creative economy of the District. In addition to the creative enterprises, the project analyzed the creative talent base—those employed within the creative industries and creative workers employed in other economic sectors—in order to identify the types of jobs and skills required for the creative industries workforce.
Evaluating Economic Development Projects in Appalachia with an Emphasis on Triple Bottom Line Impacts
RTS evaluated the Appalachian Regional Commission's investment in Tourism, Cultural Heritage and Natural Asset-Related projects. The purpose of the evaluation was to assess the impacts of these ARC projects and their success in reaching their objectives, and to advance ARC's ability to put into place a performance measurement system that measures the outcomes it is most interested in achieving. In addition, the Ford Foundation provided support to examine how triple bottom line measures can be used to evaluate these types of projects and the extent to which grantees are explicitly or implicitly targeting triple-bottom line activities and goals into projects.
Building Career Paths in the Forest Products Industry
With the support of Allegheny Hardwood Utilization Group, RTS analyzed the forest products industry in North Central Pennsylvania, helping identify the careers in the industry and how workers can be better prepared not only to enter the workforce, but build careers in the industry. In addition to talking with employers and educational institutions on the ground in Pennsylvania, we profiled best practices from around the country in meeting the workforce challenges of the forest products industry.
Building BioScience in the Big Sky
After identifying bioscience as a growing cluster in Montana, RTS continues to work with the Governor’s Office to develop strategies to help make companies more competitive. RTS helped form the Montana BioAlliance and is working with that association of firms to help make the state a national player in the field of life sciences and biotechnology.
Rural Clusters and Sustainable Development
With support from the Ford Foundation, RTS performed a comprehensive examination of rural cluster strategies with a particular emphasis on those that have an impact on the triple bottom line of regions and communities.
The Creative Arts Cluster in the Piedmont Triad Region
Working with the Alliance for Creative Advantage, RTS developed a comprehensive strategic plan for the creative arts cluster for North Carolina's Piedmont Triad Partnership.
Colorado and the Creative Economy
As a part of the Alliance for Creative Advantage, RTS conductedresearch on the scale and the impact of Colorado's cultural industries and workforce. Key in the work was helping the state better understand how to define the creative economy in Colorado.
An Economic Development Action Plan for Fayetteville and Cumberland County, North Carolina
The Fayetteville/Cumberland County Chamber of Commerce funded RTS, along with institutions in the University of North Carolina system, to develop a comprehensive action plan for economic development.
Gap Analysis for North Carolina Community College System
RTS performed a gap analysis for the state's 58-campus community college system, helping identify the fastest growing jobs in the state and current college programs needed to support these occupations.
Sheridan, Wyoming and the Creative Economy
As a part of the Alliance for Creative Advantage, RTS developed a specific set of strategies that will enhance the arts, cultural, and design assets of Sheridan, Wyoming and turn them into new forms of sustainable economic development.
Motorsports in North Carolina
RTS created a strategic plan for a network of community colleges that provide specialized training to students looking to learn about all elements of the industry, from management and promotions to race car technology and fabrication.
Building Louisiana's Technology Capacity
With support from the Board of Regents and the Louisiana Recovery Authority, RTS designed a new statewide system to enhance the research and commercialization capabilities of Louisiana's academic institutions. This project included conducting a comprehensive statewide assessment of the state's university, private research, and educational assets as they relate to their capacity to foster technology development and technology commercialization.
North Carolina's Creative Economy
With support from the NC Arts Council, RTS conducted a study to define the creative economy and measure its scope and impact in the state.
Workforce Technology Skill Development for North Carolina's Biotechnology Cluster
RTS completed an analysis of the pre-baccalaureate skill needs and training capabilities of its community college system and prepared a comprehensive plan for the system.
Cluster-Based Economic and Workforce Economic Development in Oregon
RTS offered technical assistance around clusters and cluster-based economic development, particularly aimed at reaching disadvantaged regions and populations. The work was funded by Worksource Oregon and Northwest Area Foundation.
Economic Development Plan for the Town of Carrboro
RTS created an economic development plan for the Town of Carrboro, suggesting ways the town could expand its creative economy and vibrant downtown core.
Regional Economic Development in Northwest Louisiana
RTS documented challenges facing the Shreveport-Bossier City region of Louisiana and how regional approaches could begin to help grow the economy.
"Just Clusters" Workshops
The Northwest Area Foundation and the Ford Foundation sponsored RTS-led workshops in communities using cluster based economic development strategies that help participants connect these efforts to disadvantaged populations and areas.
Commerce and Clusters in North Mississippi
RTS analyzed industrial specialization and concentration in a 34-county region in North Mississippi and in three sub-regions. The work was funded by the North Mississippi Industrial Development Authority.
Industry Cluster and Technology Strategy for the New Orleans Region
RTS performed a cluster analysis and developed a set of cluster business plans for the greater New Orleans region. In tandem with this effort, RTS performed a commercial evaluation of intellectual property portfolios and potential links to regional clusters and an assessment of technology transfer practices and policies at research universities and medical centers in the greater New Orleans region.
Competitiveness Strategy for Virginia's Region 2000
In a third engagement with this partnership, RTS developed a five-year plan to build the economic development capacity of this multi-county region in central Virginia.