The Dark Side of the MBA

Now here is an interesting one. Click here to read this Economist story about what I call the 'dark side' of the MBA degree. What do you think? My immediate thought is that maybe EVERY MBA graduate should be required to take an Intro to Economic Development course? Now, would't that boast the demand for MBA training?

NAM Blog

What is that? It’s a weblog that the National Association of Manufacturers started on manufacturing issues. Go here to learn more. http://blog.nam.org/

Opel Steers Ex-Workers to New Lives

Click here to read about how Opel dealt with cutting 12,000 jobs in Europe. Maybe GM in North America can learn something from this situation.

Consistent Data for Site Locators

Just a reminder that some useful guidelines exist for standardized the data used by EDOs with site locators. Click here on the IEDC website to download the free data template. I encourage my clients to move in this direction. Take a phased approach. Don't try to do everything at once.

The Next "Brand: of Atlanta

Click here to read about how Atlanta is approaching its rebranding. I'll be there in a month and will let you know what I think--for what it's worth.

Arts and Child Development Positively Correlated

That is the message of a recent Cleveland Plain Dealer story I read. Go here to read it. This is important stuff.

Great Lakes Manufacturing Forum, March 3 & 4, 2005

This is one I discovered from the CAMP Inc. website here in Cleveland.

"Act to secure the future of Great Lakes Manufacturing. Join over 400 American and Canadian stakeholders from business leadership, labor, associations, education and government - including the Great Lakes governors/premier and key federal commerce and industry officials. Take part in developing an action plan that will help secure manufacturing competitiveness, leverage our strengths and celebrate our successes.

For more information or to register, please visit www.detroitchamber.com/manufacturing, call 313-596-0350 or email foruminfo@detroitchamber.com

Presented by the Detroit Regional Chamber and the Ontario Chamber of Commerce.

To download a PDF describing the event, click here."

By the way, stop by and browse the CAMP website and learn about some of the innovative steps the organization is taking to educate and assist manufacturers on how to become more competitive.

EDA's Economic Development America

The Winter 2005 edition of Economic Development America magazine also focus on innovation and entrepreneurship. The edition features articles on encouraging innovation in rural areas; an in-depth look at university technology transfer; statewide initiatives to encourage technology entrepreneurship in Ohio and Kentucky and more. Sounds like a good one.

Kids and Economic Development

The work done on this topic by the Minneapolis Federal Reserve Bank deserves a medal. Wow! Click here to learn more.

Do I have a view on these issues? Click here to read an article that the U.S. Dept. of Labor published on my ideas on youth, young adults, and economic development.

Michigan Bests Ohio for Auto Deal

Michigan Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today announced that Metaldyne plans an $8.l million expansion of its Middleville facility to accommodate the manufacture of an aluminum part for the new six-speed transmission to be used by two North American automakers. Assistance offered through the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) helped convince the company to locate the project in Michigan instead of a competing location in Ohio. More here.

Dealing With Cultural Preservation

Economic developers in the Bowling Green, Kentucky area are getting some experience in how to deal with cultural preservation issues. A cave with prehistoric drawings and apparent Indian remains was discovered on area's international transpark property in late December.
Here to read more. Hopefully due respect for these cultural remains will be given.

Are Blogs Giving the Press a Run for Its Money?

Read this story and see what you think.

As a blogger, I'd say we have some influence on shaping opinion, but not nearly as much as the traditional media, which has much greater resources at its disposal. Maybe some of my colleagues would disagree.

Personally, I see a valuable connection between the media and ED Futures. We help each other out and build upon each other's materials. That's a good thing

I was recently interviewed about whether economic developers should do more blogging. I said yes, but economic developers need to define how they would use their blogs. Also, is it possible that "some things they say can and will be used against them?" That is one to think about.

Generally, I am fairly careful what I say on ED Futures. Maybe a better way to say that is I try to choose my words wisely, knowing that a diverse audience shows up here on a daily basis, and I need to be cognizant of the way different minds work.

Your views?

Clean Air Versus Economic Development

I hate to see situations cast as "the environment versus economic development." It happens, as all of you know. Here is one that you might interesting to read. It's all about balance, and yes there is one that CAN be struck if everyone is willing to give some.

Are environmental regulations driving companies offshore? Some American companies claim so. If they are, maybe we should be pushing other nations to up their environmental standards so companies cannot destroy the environment in other parts of the world. Have you been to China or Russia or any number of other places around the world? Who wants to breathe the air there?

I say "take the long view" and "be willing to negotiate."

Northwest Food Processors Look to Cluster Strategy

Here is one to note. Pacific Northwest food industry leaders think a tide of plant closures can be thwarted by building support for a food industry cluster.

Since 2000, nearly 20 food processing plants in Oregon have been shuttered, according to the Northwest Food Processors Association. As a result, 450-member NWFPA wants to build a cluster mind-set in the industry and create supporting infrastructure. More here.

Piedmont Triad Area Works on New Economic Vision

The first step was to gather inputs from various stakeholders across the 12-county region. Click here to read what some of this input has to say. And here to learn more about the Piedmont Triad Partnership: www.piedmonttriadnc.com.

Fort Wayne: $1 Billion in Investment in 3 Years

That is a challenge that Fort Wayne Mayor Graham Richards has put forward to spark more economic development in the City.

Admittedly, it is a big number. Hopefully the City will succeed, or at least come close to this goal.

The local newspaper is not so optimistic about the City’s ability to reach the goal. Here to read what it has to say.

Is Stamford Losing Ground?

If you saw this headline about your community, you would not expect good news. Here is the scoop, according to a recent news article about Stamford, CT.

Competition for office jobs and businesses has intensified. With 16 million square feet of office space, Stamford has more of that usually valuable commodity than any other city in Connecticut. But at the end of last year, one-fifth of it was gathering dust or about to be. One after another, the city lost major office tenants -- mainly to Norwalk. More here.

Pittsburgh Gets It Right: Kids' Reading and Math Skills Matter

In 2000, the Allegheny Conference on Community Development established a visionary goal for the Southwestern Pennsylvania region - that every 10 year old should be proficient in reading, writing, and mathematics by the year 2010.

This year, in response to suggestions from superintendents, school board members, parents, and others, the 2004 Report On Fifth Grade Proficiency In Reading And Math provides more information on the factors that may affect a school's performance and suggestions for how parents can use this information.

Search an online database of area schools to see who is moving ahead. Click here.

Rural Pennsylvania Region Looks for Better Broadband Solutions

Many rural areas are giving more attention to increasing their bandwidth for economic development, and rightfully so--it is important in keeping existing and attracting and growing new ones. Read the story here about how a rural PA region is looking at the issue.

Muskegon Searches for New Downtown Growth Momentum

The Chicago-based Downtown Professional Network has been retained by the Michigan Economic Development Corp. (MEDC) to provide a Muskegon market study to help sell property in Muskegon's downtown central business district. One to watch. Downtown revitalization is far from easy, especially with the Wal-Mart's of the world pushing growth to the outer edges. More here.

Toledo's RGP Hunts New CEO

The Regional Growth Partnership (RGP) in Toledo is in the hunt for a new CEO. It's a good job, if relations with the City, County, and Port Authority can be advanced to a stronger working level. Read more here.