One-third octave band augmented speech discrimination testing for normal hearing listeners

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of a 500 Hz and 3150 Hz one-third octave band augmentation on the speech discrimination ability of normal hearing listeners and whether such effects vary with signal presentation level. The augmented portion of monosyllabic words was systematically varied from 5-55dB above the intensity level of the unfiltered version of the words and presented simultaneously to one ear

Microenterprise Development Program Encourages Entrepreneurship While Supporting Extension in Van Wert County, Ohio

Microenterprise development programs (MED\u27s) have expanded in recent years as an economic development strategy in rural areas. The sluggish economy coupled with an acknowledgement that small businesses create many rural jobs are the main drivers behind this expansion. In the rural county of Van Wert, OH, the local Extension Community Economic Development office demonstrates how MED programs can also increase the relevancy of local services while generating funding to support Extension

Evolution of the Ohio Business Retention and Expansion Program

IMPACT. 1: A packaged curriculum has been developed to include three workshops, programmatic templates and turn-key software to support a comprehensive BR&E program on the local or regional level. Marketing materials, including a workbook and brochures, have been professionally developed to promote the program. -- 2. Improve residential quality of life. Establish integrated approach to economic development. Develop community economic decision-making capacity. Develop of a pro-business orientation. Improve community leaders' response to residents' concerns. Create factual basis for attraction and community marketing. Engage community residents in a discussion of their local economy -- 3. Extension Educators have conducted "train the trainer" sessions for colleagues in New York, Indiana and Florida. Florida has committed to incorporating BR&E programs for its Agriculture and Natural Resources Educators and Community Development Educators.OSU PARTNERS: College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences; Ohio State University ExtensionCOMMUNITY PARTNERS: Wyandot County Economic Development; Fayette County Commissioners Weinland Park/University District; Van Wert Economic Development Point Place Business Association (Lucas County)PRIMARY CONTACT: David Civittolo ([email protected]); Nancy Bowen ([email protected])Launched in 1986, the Business Retention and Expansion (BR&E) program has worked with economic developers and community leaders in 79 of Ohio's 88 counties, helping them prioritize, plan and implement community development initiatives. After more than 25 years, the program has been credited with creating or retaining thousands of jobs not only in Ohio, but throughout the United States

Creating a Model for Successful Microenterprise Development (MED) Programs

Communities seek to offer effective financing programs to encourage entrepreneurs and support the growth of microenterprises. Community economic development strategies have changed in recent years from traditional industrial recruitment to microenterprise development (MED), which is considered to be as a more viable, long-term strategy to create jobs and grow local economies. This article provides a framework for an effective microenterprise financing program based on the model created by a rural community in Ohio and offers suggestions as to how this framework may be used by researchers and practitioners to identify best practices in the microenterprise financing realm

Helping Clientele Understand Elements of the Local Economy Through Input-Output Modeling

Extension clientele often seek assistance from Community Development professionals in understanding how their local economies operate. Provision of local economic data has long been an important role for Extension. But many of the questions clientele raise require substantial analysis of this data. This article demonstrates how an input-output model (IMPLAN) can be used to describe a local economy with considerable precision. The model is appropriate for estimating the economic impacts of current or proposed activities. We include estimations of impacts of initial job losses stemming from the recent recession as well as impacts of a long-term plan for economic recovery