Community and Economic Development

Aaron Wilcher
Community Economic Development Advisor
As a Community Economic Development Advisor for UC Cooperative Extension in the Eastern Sierra, I work to strengthen and empower rural communities by addressing complex regional challenges with innovative, data-driven solutions. With over 15 years of experience in workforce development, regional planning, and economic strategy, I bring a collaborative approach to designing programs to serve the region’s stakeholders and community.
I collaborate with UC ANR colleagues statewide through the Community Economic Development Lab team ("CED-Lab"), as well as with allied professionals across California and nationally. My work centers on fostering partnerships among public and private stakeholders to tackle critical issues, including small business and entrepreneurship, workforce development, and regional capacity building.
When I’m not collaborating on community initiatives, you’ll likely find me exploring the Eastern Sierra’s incredible backcountry on skis or a mountain bike.
I invite you to stay in touch by subscribing to our quarterly Eastern Sierra Community and Economy newsletter.
Also check out my blog here.
I'd love to hear from you- send me an email at awilcher@ucanr.edu
UCCE Inyo Mono Community Economic Development Methods
Our program follows the practice of Community Economic Development and Extension nationally and focuses on several key activities:
- Public and professional education programs: Strengthening civic and leadership capacity through training on community and economic development topics.
- Data analysis and technical assistance materials: Providing economic profiles, policy reviews, and other data-driven resources to inform decision-making.
- Extension convening, planning, and development support: Facilitating strategic planning, stakeholder collaboration, and grant development for regional organizations.
- Communications resources: Enhancing regional connections through newsletters, social media updates, and real-time event promotion.
- Establishing connections to California's network of CED professionals: Leveraging statewide expertise and partnerships to support local development initiatives.
Our Community Economic Development (CED) programming aims to create vibrant, resilient communities by supporting local businesses, fostering collaboration, and addressing critical needs like workforce development, small business growth, and entrepreneurship. By building community capacity and promoting innovative, data-driven solutions, we empower regions to adapt to change and thrive socially and economically while preserving natural resources.