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An important part of the Center's work is an initiative called HomeTown Competitiveness (HTC) which helps rural communities position themselves to be more competitive in an increasingly global economy.
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HTC Helps Rural Communities Thrive
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HomeTown Competitiveness (HTC) is a comprehensive,  asset-based economic development framework for achieving long-term community sustainability and vitality. This approach goes beyond traditional economic development and has been developed and field-tested over the past decade in Nebraska and other regions of the United States by three partnering organizations: Center for Rural Entrepreneurship, Heartland Center for Leadership Development and Nebraska Community Foundation. Combining decades of experience in economic development, HTC is focused on four strategies, or pillars, that are essential and workable in most rural communities and urban neighborhoods, yet often underdeveloped. Those pillars include: Leadership, Youth Engagement, Charitable Assets, and Entrepreneurship.
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HTC Pillars
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The four pillars of HTC can help a community or neighborhood be more competitive in an increasing global economy through:
Leadership development to strengthen the capacity of residents to improve and sustain their community. 
Youth engagement to support youth and adults working together to create greater opportunities for youth to stay in or return to the community.
Charitable assets to build endowments that sustain local civic institutions and create new sources of opportunity capital for community economic development efforts.
Entrepreneurial development to leverage the entrepreneurial talent within the community and devises an economic development strategy to increase entrepreneurial business development and job creation. |
