Economic Development Futures Journal

Saturday, June 03, 2006

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Tucson Looks to Austin for Development Ideas

A few clips from a recent Tucson Citizen article about economic development in Tucson.

"Tucson has plenty of assets, but lacks the sense of urgency Austin has created for itself.

So a local contingent - mostly politicians and bureaucrats, plus an assortment of real-estate interests - visited Austin recently to find out how it got its spark.

They came away inspired. But what will they do with the inspiration?

The Tucson area has many assets, including a newfound sense of itself as a region with the approval May 16 of a 20-year traffic plan.

What is lacking: an entrepreneurial superstar and a communitywide commitment."

Friday, June 02, 2006

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Greater Cleveland Partnership Backs Gaming Expansion in Ohio

During the quarterly meeting of the Greater Cleveland Partnership (GCP) Board of Directors, the Board voted to support the proposed amendment to the Ohio Constitution that, if approved by Ohio voters, would expand gaming in Ohio.

GCP first identified expanded gaming as an important economic development consideration during its strategic planning process. Since 2004, GCP has studied the potential economic impact and social implications associated with expanded legalized gaming. Read more here:

GCP: http://www.gcpartnership.com

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Value Chains in Global Industries

Understanding value chains in global industry development is a vital issue for economic development on an international level. Here is a summary of a fascinating report on this subject. Download the full report here: Shaping value chains for development: global value chains in agribusiness by the Institute of Development Studies in the UK. (This is a research study and therefore requires some work, but there are good ideas in it for clusters.)

One of the key challenges for development is to reduce rural poverty in developing countries through increasing production and export of agricultural products. However, changes in the nature of markets and trade for these products in recent years have created new challenges. Addressing these requires initiatives at multiple levels, in both developing and developed countries and within the system of international regulations governing trade. The new challenges arise in the areas of markets and competition and also from the increasing importance of public and private standards in regulating trade:

1. The increasing importance of large buyers in global food value chains. The requirements of large buyers (not only retailers but also processors) for quality, reliability of delivery and product differentiation have raised the level of competence required of producers and the level of coordination in value chains. In the case of many non-traditional agricultural exports, issues of product quality and freshness (and hence time to market), product differentiation and increased processing place great demands on production systems and may favor large-scale production.

2. Increasing concentration at various points in the value chain, including input suppliers (seeds, feedstocks, chemicals, input packages for GM products, etc.), processors and retailers. This concentration has implications for the questions of access to agribusiness value chains for small producers, and also the returns producers obtain from participating in these chains. It raises questions about market structures and market power, as well as strategies to offset this power: regional branding, geographical indicators, niche products and alternative marketing channels.

3. The increasing importance of both public and private standards in food industry. Public, mandatory standards relating primarily to human and animal safety (sanitary and phtyosanitary standards, SPS) have become more extensive and stringent. At the same time, private sector standards, and in particular standards and developed by coalitions of private companies and business associations, have become increasingly important factors in access to marketing channels. Such standards relate to food safety, social standards and environmental impact.

This study analyses these challenges from a global value chain perspective, examining their implications for policies at both the micro and meso levels (technical assistance, local institutional capabilities, producer organizations, etc.) and the broader, macro level of the framework of institutions and policies that regulate agricultural production and trade, including standards-setting, intellectual property rights and global competition policy, as well as trade capacity building and trade promotion initiatives.

Thursday, June 01, 2006

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Small Times Nonotech University Rankings

The Small Times university nanotechnology survey assessed the following factors in ranking universities: funding, facilities, patenting, company formation, collaborations with industry, research, publishing, and micro and nano-specific courses and degree programs.

Here are the top ten universities ranked in several categories:

Click to enlarge image)

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Michigan Upgrades ED Data and Information System

I like the new online data and information system instituted by the Michigan economic development folks.

Click here to check out the system.

Wednesday, May 31, 2006

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CALED Innovates with Development Financing!

Looking for innovative ways to organize and delivery development financing? Take a look at what the California Association of Local Economic Development (CALED) is doing through a Joint Powers Authority (JPA).

The CEDA Difference: What is a JPA?Under the laws of the State of California, a JPA can be created by two or more jurisdictions to undertake certain activities permitted by each. While all cities and counties in California have the ability to issue conduit revenue bonds for qualifed housing and economic development projects, many utilize JPAs to gain transaction economies of scale, access specialized transaction skills and avoid using precious staff time on these types of transactions. While there are a small number of statewide issuers, there are no issuers dedicated to economic development. The California Enterprise Development Authority will be dedicated to the issuance of conduit revenue bonds for economic development projects.

CEDA offers a focused economic development financing program, combining tax-exempt and taxable IDBs with low-interest subordinate loans resulting in a low down payment and a low blended interest rate. CEDA has secured a commitment from its partner Community Reinvestment Fund (CRF) to provide these subordinate loans, providing CRF's credit requirements are met. Click on the link above to learn more.

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Arizona Tourism Barometer

Click here to see the most recent reading.

It really tells the story of the 9/11 impact on travel and tourism in general. It also points to some recovery, starting in 2005.

Tuesday, May 30, 2006

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ConnectKentucky Gains Recognition

For its role in leading Governor Ernie Fletcher's Prescription for Innovation, ConnectKentucky has been recognized as a finalist for the 2006 EDA Excellence in Economic Development Award. ConnectKentucky is one of three finalists in the Excellence in Innovation category for which organizations nationwide are evaluated to determine how effectively they incorporate innovative strategies for maximum results in economic development.

Kentucky's Prescription for Innovation is a comprehensive plan to accelerate technology growth, particularly in the areas of broadband deployment and adoption. The initiative maintains four key tenants for impacting statewide economic development: Full broadband deployment by the end of 2007; - Dramatically improved use of computers and the Internet by all Kentuckians; - A meaningful online presence for all Kentucky communities, to improve citizen services and promote economic development through e-government, virtual education, online healthcare; - Local technology leadership teams in every community to develop and implement technology growth strategies for local government, business and industry, education, healthcare, agriculture, libraries, tourism, and community-based organizations.

Learn more here.

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Tucson Regional Economic Opportunities, Inc. (TREO)

To meet the needs of a rapidly growing region, Tucson Regional Economic Opportunities, Inc. (TREO) was formed to serve as the lead economic development agency for the greater Tucson area and its surrounding community partners.

TREO strengthens the Tucson region by providing a menu of solutions to the challenges of the fragmented approach to economic development in the past. TREO will provide effective regional economic development leadership with vision and coordination.

TREO offers an integrated approach of programs and services to support the creation of new businesses, the expansion of existing businesses within the region, and the attraction of companies that offer high value jobs and share the community’s values.

The values that TREO has established serve as a foundation for the objectives that guide TREO’s everyday activities.

Learn more here.

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Denver Gets WIRED Grant

In February, the U.S. Department of Labor awarded $15 million to develop a pipeline of workers for the region’s fastest-growing industries, including aerospace, bioscience, energy, and information technology.

Metro Denver is one of 13 U.S. recipients of the WIRED funds to develop and implement a “transformational” approach to regional economic development. The grants focus on the role of talent development in driving economic competitiveness, increased job growth, and new opportunities for American workers.

Metro Denver’s initial WIRED activities will include an inventory of existing programs to establish what is already in place, an assessment of target-industry workforce needs, and an analysis of existing education gaps that could fill those needs.

The grant will fund new initiatives to fill workforce gaps, while ensuring that changes have long-term and regional impact. “This grant represents cooperation and hard work from city, state, and economic development groups in the nine-county Metro Denver region,” said Tom Clark, Executive Vice President of Metro Denver EDC. “We look forward to taking our regional partnership to the next level, using these funds to expand programs that provide top-notch, high-technology workforce training.”

Learn more here.

Monday, May 29, 2006

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ED Futures Newsletter

May 29, 2006

Welcome!

This is your reminder to visit ED Futures and soak up the articles posted in the last week.

We would enjoy hearing from you.

Feel free to drop us an email.

Best wishes,

Don Iannone
ED Futures Publisher
Email: dtia@don-iannone.com
Telephone: 440,449.0753

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Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes

Launched in 1999, the Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes are the first global indexes tracking the financial performance of the leading sustainability-driven companies worldwide.

Based on the cooperation of Dow Jones Indexes, STOXX Limited and SAM they provide asset managers with reliable and objective benchmarks to manage sustainability portfolios.

Currently 56 DJSI licenses are held by asset managers in 14 countries to manage a variety of financial products including active and passive funds, certificates and segregated accounts. In total, these licensees presently manage 3.6 billion EUR based on the DJSI.

Learn more here.

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Presence: A Wonderful New Book

"Presence is an intimate look at the development of a new theory about change and learning. In wide-ranging conversations held over a year and a half, organizational learning pioneers Peter Senge, C. Otto Scharmer, Joseph Jaworski, and Betty Sue Flowers explored the nature of transformational change—how it arises, and the fresh possibilities it offers a world dangerously out of balance.

The book introduces the idea of “presence”—a concept borrowed from the natural world that the whole is entirely present in any of its parts—to the worlds of business, education, government, and leadership. Too often, the authors found, we remain stuck in old patterns of seeing and acting. By encouraging deeper levels of learning, we create an awareness of the larger whole, leading to actions that can help to shape its evolution and our future.

Drawing on the wisdom and experience of 150 scientists, social leaders, and entrepreneurs, including Brian Arthur, Rupert Sheldrake, Buckminster Fuller, Lao Tzu, and Carl Jung, Presence is both revolutionary in its exploration and hopeful in its message. This astonishing and completely original work goes on to define the capabilities that underlie our ability to see, sense, and realize new possibilities—in ourselves, in our institutions and organizations, and in society itself."

Source: Presence.net

Sunday, May 28, 2006

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Breathing Consciousness Into Your Organization

"Most organizations possess some degree of dysfunctionality, known to most everyone who works in them but often denied or left unspoken in the formal culture. Some call this bureaucracy. Human consciousness doesn’t thrive in this environment, which stifles the Spirit. Bringing consciousness into these organizations wakes people up so truth is told, cynicism is evicted, workers rejoice at the new freedom, consciousness is restored and organizational functionality improves immensely."

Source: John Renesch

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Kahlil Gibran Said: "Work is Love Made Visible"

"Today people are finding that there’s more to life—and business—than profits alone. Money as the single bottom line is increasingly a thing of the past. In a post-Enron world, values and ethics are an urgent concern. The hottest buzz today is about a “triple bottom line,” a commitment to “people, planet, profit.” Employees and the environment are seen as important as economics. Some people would say it’s all about bringing your spiritual values into your workplace. A recent poll by KRC Research for Spirituality published November 17, 2003 in USA Today found that 6 out of 10 people say workplaces would benefit from having a great sense of spirit in their work environment."

"What is spirituality in business? There’s a wide range of important perspectives. Some would say that it’s simply embodying their personal values of honesty, integrity, and good quality work. Others would say it’s treating their co-workers and employees in a responsible, caring way. For others, it’s participating in spiritual study groups or using prayer, meditation, or intuitive guidance at work. And for some, it’s making their business socially responsible in how it impacts the environment, serves the community or helps create a better world."

--Corinne McLaughlin, Center for Visionary Leadership