The Extension Service has an extensive history of collaborating with numerous agencies and businesses to impact community and economic development. The active community involvement of Extension Agents across diverse groups coupled with ongoing and intentional community leadership engagement efforts help support sustainable development. 

One thing crucial for the growth and development of rural communities like Burkesville and Cumberland County is a focus on innovation especially in the face of a changing economy. With globalization and technological advancements, traditional industries in rural areas are faced with increasing competition and a changing economic landscape.

By creating new and innovative solutions, rural communities can revitalize their economies and create new opportunities for employment and growth.  Innovation also allows communities to tap into new markets, diversify their          industries, and create sustainable economic growth. It is important for rural communities to constantly evolve and adapt to keep up with the changing times, and innovation is a crucial tool in achieving this transformation. Ultimately, embracing innovation will not only benefit the local economy, but also improve the overall quality of life for residents.

One innovative approach that the Cumberland County Extension Service is currently engaged is the GAME (Generate Advanced Manufacturing Excellence) Change Coalition. The GAME Change coalition was formed because of a National Science Foundation grant funding. The goal for the initiative is that by 2034, the Southeastern Commerce Corridor (SCC) will be a global leader in next-generation manufacturing and supply chain innovation for the circular economy, supported by an inclusive and diverse workforce. 

On August 23 and 24 the coalition hosted its first Major Gap Validation Workshop and Summit at Dale Hollow Lake State in Cumberland County. The Validation Workshops are designed to help identify and validate unmet industry needs, develop use-inspired research and development plans, and design research projects for proposed execution. Validation Workshops are open for attendance by industry collaborators, small businesses and large companies, and community representatives to help identify and validate the potential for societal impact from innovation solutions. More than 100 attendees from industry, institutions of higher education, economic development organizations, workforce training organizations, investment firms and local and state government attend the first to begin to build a plan for developing an innovation ecosystem in the Southeastern Commerce Corridor (SCC) of Kentucky and Tennessee for circular economy technologies for sustainable? manufacturing.  Topics discussed at the event included: 

•    Unmet needs of industry and society related to sustainable manufacturing

•    Capabilities of the region to support an innovation ecosystem responsive to identified unmet needs

•    Community impact

•    Inclusive innovation practices

•    Kentucky and Tennessee partnership advantages and needs

•    Working Group next steps for development of respective Game Plans

•    Governance

The breakdown of stakeholder representation at the event included:

•    37% from industry

•    39% from Institutions of Higher Education

•    5% investment firms

•    19% from economic development, government, workforce training organizations

The morning session of the Major Gap Validation Workshop on August 23 resulted in 8 different breakouts of at least 13 people, with each breakout facilitator being asked to facilitate responses from their group to 3 core questions:

1.    What are the top unmet needs in advanced manufacturing and supply chain logistics?  

2.    How could solutions that reduce/reuse waste and increase efficiencies improve economic competitiveness and sustainability in the industry(ies) we serve, or societal impacts in the communities we live in?

3.    As we develop our plan to collaborate with industry to test and implement solutions, what are the most important things we should consider or can do to be a good partner with industry and our community, including especially with respect to (a) “speed to market” and (b) diversity, equity and inclusion considerations and actions?

In the afternoon, the Workshop divided into five breakouts: (1) Full Product Lifecycle, (2) Supply Chain Innovations, (3) Industrial Energy Efficiencies, (4) Collaborative Robotics, and (5) Digital Integration.

A summary report was drafted and distributed to all attendees of the Workshop and Summit, as well as to all stakeholders and recipients of the GAME Change In-GAME Report. The next workshop and summit is scheduled for March 6 and 7th in Knoxville Tennessee.