The Bauer Economic Development Program
Purpose:
The Bauer Economic Development Program (BEDP) is a joint effort between State Farm Insurance (aided by the, Local Initiatives Support Corporation) and the C. T. Bauer College of Business. The program aimed at providing interns an educational experience with a local Houston Community Development Corporations that will inspire them to future leadership and involvement in community and economic development initiatives, while also building capacities of existing community development corporations (CDC's).
Program Statement:
The Bauer Economic Development Program (BEDP) has been in operation since fall 2003. This program is funded by State Farm Insurance with the aim of providing internship opportunities at local Houston Community Development Corporations (CDC's) to Bauer business students. The aim of the program is to prepare and inspire them to leadership opportunities in community development.
State Farm funding has made it possible to place seven interns with 3 CDC's over the first 18 months of the program. Both the CDC's and the interns have benefited greatly from their involvement in the BEDP. Moving forward the BEDP will introduce a limited competitive process where CDC's will be selected to participate in the program based on their needs and the educational value that an internship in their business will provide.
Significant changes that have been made to the BEDP since July 2005 include moving the program from the Career Services Center to the Decision and Information Science Department in the C. T. Bauer College of Business. The program is being managed through the NPCE and has provided the program with clear faculty leadership. A new coordinator started July 1, 2005.
LISC's involvement has been crucial, providing guidance and information on the capacity building program and CDC information during a time when many changes were implemented. The BEDP falls within LISC's capacity building initiative. LISC identifies CDC's within the capacity building initiative that will benefit from participating in the BEDP. This initiative aims to increase the capacities of CDC's in the following areas: asset and property management, real estate development, program administration, legal structure, board governance, management information systems, financial management, personnel policy and administration, and mission and strategy.
"Strong Neighborhoods are at the heart of State Farm's mission to help people realize their dreams. Home ownership is an important part of that dream."
"The Bauer Economic Development Program provides an opportunity to develop both strong neighborhoods and strong neighborhood leaders. When we are in an environment where we can, through social investments, improve the communities where we live and work, then we are being the Good Neighbors(R) that have been for over 80 years. Building for the future is not just about places, but people. And the BEDP helps us support both."
Pat Garris with State Farm's Community Citizenship department.