The first part of the case study describes the establishment of kilns to produce fired bricks in the Luristan region of Iran and utilization of local skills and resources to meet local needs. The emphasis is on providing job opportunities to supplement the existing agricultural economic base and on supporting the local building industry, both of which are an essential part of the development of a region suffering from seasonal migration. The success of these new industries depends upon the acceptance and involvement of the local community; it is insufficient to set up production units without ensuring the participation of the people who are to operate it in the future. The second portion examines the existing tile production industry in the Caspian region, which is facing increasing competition from new materials, with a consequent threat to local jobs. In this case, the approach is to reorganize processes involved in tile production for greater efficiency and profit while maintaining the labour intensive nature of production units to ensure continuance of local employment opportunities. The final section reports the building of schools and other public buildings in Selseleh, also through the use of local skills and materials. (Author/NEC)