Economic Development's "Quiet Crisis":
Turbulence in Charlotte

The Cleveland Plain Dealer has undertaken a massive special series over the past year on Greater Cleveland's "quiet crisis," which is not so quiet any more. These two words seem to describe what may be happening in economic development nearly everywhere.

Just about the time you think you have everybody pulling in the same direction, people start pulling things a part. That's the message in Charlotte, NC, which is trying to keep its Regional Partnership in tact. Regionalism is not easy, especially with a scarcity of business investment projects to go around. Look around the country. Last Friday's lead ED Futures article spoke to the growing turbulence and unrest within the economic development industry from coast to coast.

Hey folks, don't despair. Fifty percent of the problem is the economy and the high level of risk and uncertainty out there. The other 50 percent is that economic development needs to move to a new business model that allows communities, regions and states across the U.S. and internationally to work together in addressing the major external factors driving growth in most local economies. None of us can do it alone.

Get the lowdown on Charlotte here.