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Rural Networks in the United States: Lessons from Three Experiments

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  • Paul Sommers

    (University of Washington)

Abstract

A number of states and countries have begun to encourage formation of flexible manufacturing networks among small manufacturing and other firms to respond effectively to local economic crises or to enable smaller firms to compete more effectively in the global economy. A variety of strategic approaches have been employed, including funding organizations with a mandate to organize and support networks, and offering challenge grants to groups of firms to interest them in experimenting with a new organizational approach. This article examines several experiments with network stimulation among rural manufacturing firms in Minnesota, Oregon, and Washington, including results from surveys and other evaluation studies. No clearly superior strategic approach to network stimulation emerges from this review, but preliminary evaluation results suggest that the most productive approach may involve combining the capacity-building, soft network strategy with efforts to build collaborative manufacturing structures aimed at concrete, bottom-line business results.

Suggested Citation

  • Paul Sommers, 1998. "Rural Networks in the United States: Lessons from Three Experiments," Economic Development Quarterly, , vol. 12(1), pages 54-67, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:ecdequ:v:12:y:1998:i:1:p:54-67
    DOI: 10.1177/089124249801200105
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Timothy J. Bartik, 1995. "Economic Development Strategies," Upjohn Working Papers 95-33, W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research.
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    Cited by:

    1. Junbo Yu & Mark Middleton & Randall Jackson, 2010. "Geography of Business Incubator Formation in the United States," Working Papers Working Paper 2010-10, Regional Research Institute, West Virginia University.
    2. repec:rri:wpaper:201010 is not listed on IDEAS

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