Bringing Jobs To People: Improving Local Economic Development
While Community Economic Development often refers to both housing and economic development projects, the HyperLocal Network focuses specifically on large-scale job creation projects through its network of Tech Farms that include a new kind of Ecosystem Campus where jobs are foundational, but equally as important are the issues of affordable housing and wellness services in many different varieties. Examples of large-scale job creation projects include real estate development (retail, commercial, industrial projects, all locations where Tech Farms can be constructed and operated) and business development (social enterprises and business lending programs) that considers the well-being of the individual from a professional, financial, housing, emotional, and relational perspective.
HyperLocal Network implements a viable plan for a profitable enterprise that will create full-time jobs for people with low incomes and provide important ancillary solutions for affordable housing, finance solutions, and wellness solutions.
It is important to note how an investment in a HyperLocal Tech Farm will not only lead to the completion of the project at hand but will also build the capacity of the organization to complete expansion or nearby projects in the future, thereby creating more jobs and community assets. This is more attractive to communities than a “one-off” project that doesn’t lead to more community benefits in the future.
The jobs that we are creating will positively impact the community by:
Paying well,
Providing health care and/or retirement benefits,
Providing support social services for hired workers (describe services),
Building a new business to serve the community,
Increasing the local tax base,
Reducing the need for government support for hired workers, and
Increasing economic independence for hired workers and their families.
Communities are interested in seeing that the people with low incomes that are hired for the jobs also receive needed social services that complement their employment and improve their chances for success and economic independence. These services can be critical to the long-term impact of the project. We are looking at a holistic approach to all of the human needs of our associates.
The HyperLocal Network of Tech Farms include a complete Aquaponics Operational Master Plan for each localized farm campus, something that identifies all kinds of specialized operations; “Moreganic” seed library, “Moreganic” seed production & online seed sales, “Moreganic” seed R&D, “Moreganic” transplant & clone operations, media bed research (every type of media growing strategy), water quality/water management, geothermal R&D, fish waste dehydration/packaging/processing, RAS R&D for all types of aquaculture (fresh and salt water!), intern lodging/guest retreat, mango/papaya/abui forest, Moringa forest, parcha production, chickens/goats/ducks/rabbits/animal farm, cheese production, essential oil extraction R&D and Production facility, essential oil bottling facility, marketing/PR/social media department, packaging department, software/IT/farm management & database IP, remote sensing systems, drone maintenance operations, energy production systems (solar, wind, geothermal, digesters, hydrogen), solar management/R&D, University Extension Programs, Community Training Programs, Company Store, Company Restaurant, Industrial Kitchen for Pop-Up Guest Chefs, certified Eco-Tourism location, etc.
Many local labor markets in the United States suffer from low employment rates, but getting people to move out of these distressed areas is difficult. This is why the HyperLocal Network model is focused on bringing food security solutions to hyperlocal communities that are economically challenged. Moreover, moving people to job-rich regions does not help those left behind, as out-migration destroys jobs in distressed areas. A better way to help the residents of distressed areas is through local economic development projects like our Tech Farms that boost job growth and employment rates in a sustained fashion. Such projects can successfully encourage local business and job growth through business tax incentives, cash grants, or customized public services, such as advice to small businesses, job training, infrastructure development, or development-ready land.