Rural Entrepreneurship and Applied Technology Program

The REAT Project will be carried out in four simultaneous Phases:

Phase A. Community Education – sharing the concept far and wide in the community
Phase B. Faculty Research – gaining new information through scientific examination
Phase C. Grantsmanship – seeking and achieving new resources for the project
Phase D. Publicity and Integration – assuring that synergy and sharing are working well

Phase A. Community Education
The REAT program has something to offer our broader community audience than either a standard entrepreneurship or technology program. We recognize that our unique blend of rural and urban environment requires a special mix of rural and urban entrepreneurship techniques and support systems, whatever technology is being adopted.

Community education begins with the existing university entrepreneurship courses and business start-up workshops conducted by the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) but will be expanded with additional courses and workshops for special audiences, such as senior citizens, women, artisans and crafters. K-16 entrepreneurship opportunities will be enhanced both through traditional curriculum enhancements, where possible, and through SIFE Team (Students in Free Enterprise) student presentations in selected middle schools, high schools and youth organizations (including minority based youth organizations).

Funding was obtained from ESU Enhancement Funds for an all-day event each semester under the theme, "Entrepreneurship and Innovation are Everybody's Business."

Phase B. Faculty Research
Faculty research is the foundation on which expertise is build which can then be shared with the broader community through technical assistance and consulting activities. Externally funded grants are often available for technical assistance activities.

Faculty research then, is the bridge between Phase A and Phase C of this project. Good faculty research is one of the requisites prior to being considered for designation as a Center of Excellence by KTEC. Individual faculty members will participate in the REAT Project and Program, from time to time, based on their interests and time availability. Working papers produced may be reviewed at: http://www.emporia.edu/business/cbedreports.php

Phase C. Grantsmanship
A major challenge facing anyone seeking grants and external funding of program activities is proper description and definition of the subject/content area for search. The REAT program/project description in these pages is one such attempt.

The search for grants and other external funding began in the spring semester of 2004, and continues in cooperation with The ESU Research and Grants Center. A Kansas Department of Commerce grant provided funding for the Chase County Visitation Data Collection effort in Fall 2005 and continuing in 2006. A Research and Creativity grant was obtained to study Entrepreneurial Education, during the 2005-2006 academic year. The search for appropriate grants, from government, foundations, or other sources will continue, with addition of a Program Director beginning in July 2007. The search will include collaboration with other researchers to partner on larger grant requests. These efforts will also be done in concert with other related fund-raising efforts, including overall entrepreneurship, endowed professorships, etc.

Phase D. Publicity and Integration
Appropriate publicity activity is a critical ingredient of any effective community based program. The REAT project will employ the CBED web site, ESU media relations and other available sources to assure that the broader community is made aware of these activities.

Each Phase will be integrated with the others and properly documented along with appropriate publicity to achieve maximum synergy from all activities.

Click to see the CBED Newsletter Series.

REAT Project

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