New Google Tool for Business Users

Google, the most frequently used Internet search engine, released a product that can find files and e-mail messages on business computers, an effort to have its software installed on corporate personal computers and guide more users to its site.

The free product, called Google Desktop Search for Enterprise, is intended for companies that do not permit employees to use Google's existing file-search tool because of security concerns, said Dave Girouard, a general manager in Google's enterprise group.

Google's development of the desktop search tool for companies highlights the intensifying competition with Microsoft, which said yesterday that it planned to release a similar tool this year.

More here. (Free registration required.)

China's Growth Moderates

A string of economic indicators suggests that China has tempered recent growth and inflation, an achievement that could make it more reluctant to appease demands from the Bush administration to let its currency rise soon.

The figures on softening domestic growth in China set the stage for continued tensions with the United States, which already said last week that it planned to impose quotas on imported Chinese trousers, underwear and cotton shirts. Already, Chinese officials have resisted calls from Washington to allow currency changes and have denounced preparations by the European Union to limit imports of Chinese clothing.

According to Chinese figures released this week, inflation has slowed significantly - with consumer prices just 1.8 percent higher in April than a year earlier. Inventories of unsold goods are rising at steel mills and other businesses, and imports of iron ore and many other raw materials have slipped. While exports remain extremely strong, domestic economic activity has moderated. Read more here.

Resource Watch: APA's Economic Development Division

The American Planning Association's Economic Development Division is one of 18 special interest (APA's) divisions of APA. The division provides an opportunity to join others who share an interest in and responsibility for matters related to economic development.

Mission

The mission of the Economic Development Division is to advance the practice and state of the art of economic development by:

• Increasing the understanding of economic development as a key element of public policy formulation at all levels of government;

• Promoting economic development as a critical element of neighborhood community, regional, and national planning processes;

• Disseminating materials and information about current economic development practice and theory to members of the division;

• Assisting APA in positively influencing economic development policy; and

• Promoting professional communication among members of the division through a variety of member services, including, but not limited to newsletters, web page, conference sessions, workshops, and other publications.

Charting Your Progress in Developing Sustainably

The International Institute for Sustainable Development has created a useful Compendium of Sustainable Development Indicator Initiatives, a worldwide directory of who is doing what in the field of sustainability indicators. Work on an earlier version of the Compendium was carried out with several partners and donors, including the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), Environment Canada, Redefining Progress, the World Bank and the United Nations Division for Sustainable Development.

In the fall of 2002, the International Institute for Sustainable Development, Environment Canada and the International Sustainability Indicators Network (ISIN) and the Canadian Sustainability Indicators Network (CSIN) initiated an extensive revision to the original Compendium. This included revisions to structure, search capabilities and visual design of the database. The revision also involved updating existing initiatives and adding new entries.
While IISD hosts the Compendium, indicator practitioners are invited to submit information on their own work and take ownership of their entries in the database.

Entries can be submitted and updated as necessary through a convenient Web interface. IISD staff reviews and approves new entries to ensure that minimum content and format requirements are met.

Appreciative Inquiry in Community Development

New idea time. Appreciative inquiry turns the problem-solving approach on its head. It focuses on a community's achievements rather than its problems, and seeks to go beyond participation to foster inspiration at the grass-roots level. It was developed in the early 1990s by David Cooperrider at Case Western Reserve University, primarily to help corporations sharpen their competitive advantage. IISD is now applying this approach at the community level in two pilot projects:

--Southern India in partnership with MYRADA, a non-governmental organization working to empower the rural poor, and

--Northern Canada, in partnership with Skownan First Nation.

Leadership for Sustainable Development

Once again, leadership is the key to getting things done in the development field. This is true in making headway with sustainable. Here is a resource you might find help.

One of the key components of sustainable development is a conscious consideration of the needs of future generations. Today’s young people will ultimately bear the responsibility for implementing the policies and programs necessary for sustainable development. It is essential that we begin to incorporate their skills, knowledge and ideas into current strategies, as well as develop their capacity to become leaders in the 21st century. Learn more here.

Totally Wireless Rhode Island?

While many states are striving to increase broadband availability, a Providence-based nonprofit released a study this month promoting the feasibility of making Rhode Island the first entirely networked state for broadband wireless. More here.

Arizona Angels Investment Get Tax Breaks

Arizona's investment and technology communities are the anticipated winners from the state legislature's recent passage of a tax credit encouraging angel capital investments in start-up Arizona tech firms. More here.

Saudi Arabia Wants Your Business Investment

Saudi Arabia, the world's largest oil producer, is seeking Exxon Mobil Corp. and other U.S. companies to invest in $621 billion of telecommunications, natural gas and other projects in a bid to create more jobs, the government said.

A 50-strong delegation from Saudi Aramco, Saudi Basic Industries Corp. and other Saudi organizations are touring the United States speaking to companies about investment
opportunities in the kingdom, including chemical projects worth $92 billion, and water and power projects worth $89 billion, the official Saudi Press Agency said Monday, citing Khaled Al-Seif, head of the delegation.

"Saudi Arabia wants to rectify its political and economic image in the U.S., especially after September 11, which soured relations," said Said Al-Shaikh, chief economist at the kingdom's National Commercial Bank. Exxon Mobil, the largest publicly traded oil company, and Chevron Corp. are among U.S. organizations helping the tour, SPA said.

Saudi Arabia is seeking to improve ties with the United States, its largest trading partner, after they were damaged following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. U.S. companies such as Chevron and Bechtel Group Inc. helped build the kingdom's infrastructure since the first oil exploration rights to a foreign company in 1933.

Gulf Arab nations, including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Qatar, are reaping a windfall in oil revenue through record prices, spending a greater share of their earnings at home in publicly traded companies and property projects rather than in U.S. and European markets, according to banks including Credit Suisse AG.

More here. Thanks to Mike Ammann in Solano County, CA for the tip.

Greater Cleveland Loses Bid for NASA Jobs

Despite a great effort, Greater Cleveland's NASA Glenn Research Center lost out on a $230 million, 10-year contract to provide administrative services to the agency. NASA’s Shared Services Center, which the agency has decided to locate in Mississippi, would have brought approximately 500 jobs to Northeast Ohio.

The Greater Cleveland region needs a win very badly. Somehow the region must find its way back to the "winning path." The question is how can regional economic development leaders give birth to this much needed turnaround. Does the region have the right strategy? Perhaps not. Look for some more thoughts on this subject in the near future.

Read more here.

Foreign Investment in Central Florida

Central Florida has more than 200 companies that are at least 15 percent owned by a foreign company, according to the latest estimates by Enterprise Florida, the state's public-private agency that promotes business development in the state.

Those companies, operating in a six-county area, employ more than 10,000 people. Statewide, the value of direct investment in Florida by foreign companies is estimated at more than $28 billion, accounting for about 245,000 jobs.Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, Japan and the Netherlands are the top countries with investments in Florida land, plants and equipment. About a third of the foreign investment is in manufacturing. More here.

Economic Development Leadership Survey

If you have not completed the ED Futures Leadership Survey, please considering doing so. If you are interested in completing the survey, simply click here.

Since May 9th, 392 economic developers have responded to the survey. We would like to have at least 500 economic developers take the survey.

Here is a small sample of what the survey results are showing so far:

1. Economic developers see leadership as a defining issue for the profession at this time.

2. Many economic developers are not fully tapping the resources and potential of their boards in moving their organizations forward.

3. Most ED organizations are barely scratching the surface in terms of leadership training and development activities. In short, little is being done to develop leadership once it is in place.

4. Leaders play various roles in advancing ED organizations, but certain roles are common to most organizations.

5. There is more talk than action with respect to collaborative leadership in economic development.

The survey results will be made available to those completing the survey.

More on Leadership

"Control is not leadership; management is not leadership; leadership is leadership. If you seek to lead, invest at least 50% of your time in leading yourself—your own purpose, ethics, principles, motivation, conduct. Invest at least 20% leading those with authority over you and 15% leading your peers."

— Dee Hoc, Founder and CEO Emeritus, Visa

Marketing on a Shoe String

Many small EDOs struggle with how to market when they have limited resources. Here is a clip from a Business Week article advising a one-man band entrepreneur on how to approach marketing. It has relevance to small EDOs too.

Question: I'm starting up a service business where I will be the sole proprietor. How do I set up a comprehensive marketing plan? --B.C., San Diego

Response: Before you even consider setting up a marketing plan, it's imperative for a service business to make sure its service is top-notch. If it isn't, any message you try to market will fall flat. "That means arriving at appointments on time, working confidently and competently, and explaining your services to your clients in a way that they will understand," says Lynn Sarkany, president of Marketfinders, a marketing consultancy based in Agoura Hills, Calif. "Don't ever make a client feel bad for asking 'silly' questions."

More here.

Leaders with Vision

"The very essence of leadership is that you have to have vision. You can't blow an uncertain trumpet."

~Theodore M. Hesburgh

Iowa City Growth Activity

Recent announcements of new and expanding business projects in the Iowa City area include:

ACT, Inc.
Alpla of Iowa
CIVCO Medical Instruments
Dare Devil Shells
GEICO Direct
Integrated DNA Technologies, Inc.
Lear Corporation
Marsh Advantage America
Maytag Corporation
Mercy Iowa City
Moore Wallace
Owens-Illinois Plastic Products
Pearson
Procter & Gamble
Rockwell Collins United Natural Foods
University of Iowa Health Care

Growth in Kansas City Region

Here is a list of companies recently announcing plans to either locate significant new operations or expand existing operations in the KC area:

AIG
Bayer Corp.
Caremark Rx
Cerner Corp.
Citi Cards
Farmers Insurance
Federal Express
FNIS
Fort Dodge Animal Health
Garmin International
Gateway
General Motors
Harley-Davidson Motor Co.
IndyMac Bank
International Speedway Corp.
Intervet
John Deere
JRH Biosciences
Krispy Kreme
LabOne
Liberty Mutual Group
MasterCard International
McKesson Medical-Surgical
Quintiles Transnational
Serologicals Corp.
State Street
Stowers Institute for Medical Research
T-Mobile USA
Target
Transamerica Life Cos.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
Wal-Mart

A Glimpse at IDA Ireland

IDA Ireland is an Irish Government agency with responsibility for securing new investment from overseas in manufacturing and internationally traded services sectors. It also encourages existing investors to expand and develop their businesses. Over 1,050 overseas companies have chosen Ireland as their European base and are involved in a wide range of activities in sectors as diverse as e-Business, engineering, information communications technologies, pharmaceuticals, medical technologies, financial and international services

Malaysian Economic Development Successes

Here is a sample of profiles of companies with operations in Malaysia. It's impressive and worth a look.

Agilent
Alcatel
BASF
BenQ
BP Amoco
DaimlerChrysler
Carotech Berhad
Dell
Eastman
Elektrisola
Engtek Group
Ericsson
General Electric Aircraft Engines
Globetronics Technology Berhad
Hitachi
I-Berhad
Idemitsu
K.G. Pastry
Kao
Komag
Intel
Lucas
Matsushita
Mieco
Motorola
Robert Bosch
Samsung
Sharp
Sidel
Sony
The Titan Group
Toray