Economic Development Recovery and Resiliency Playbook - Flipbook - Page 15
Given the breadth of issues encompassed in most economic development strategies, the efort also requires collaboration and
partnerships to efectively implement the strategy. As detailed in Chapter 2, Mariposa County’s Economic Vitality Strategy ofers
a current example. Afer working with a consultant to engage partners and residents to develop a relevant strategy, the county
created a detailed implementation plan with milestones that identifies who (whether it is county staf or a partner organization)
is responsible for meeting each goal. The Economic Vitality Strategy Group meets annually to report on its accomplishments,
challenges, and next steps.
This serves as a helpful reminder that to maximize all potential partnerships, you must know who is on your team. While you
may quickly be able to identify local groups, keep in mind that there may be other organizations working to improve or address
issues in your community with similar goals to those in your strategy. Some examples of such partners other than traditional city
and county staf or departments include:
• Federal and state governmental departments engaged in economic development;
• Workforce Development Boards;
• Educational institutions: four-year and community colleges, trade schools, etc.;
• Associations, nonprofits, community-based organizations, etc.;
• Commercial real estate brokers;
• Faith-based organizations;
• Banks and credit unions;
• Business councils and chambers of commerce;
• Special districts;
• Utilities;
• Private business owners; and
• Youth leaders and groups.
Afer having defined a vision, created a strategy with success metrics, and identified who is on your team, it is time to develop
programs and policies to grow a thriving, well-diversified, sustainable economy. Chapter 8 discusses a methodology and
examples for business engagement and assistance, but business assistance does not happen in a vacuum. Public sector leaders
approve policies, make investment choices, and create frameworks within which economic developers work. In the 2009 Public
Policy Institute of California report by Max Neiman and Daniel Krimm, Economic Development: The Local Perspective, the authors
highlight a list of local economic development activities in order of importance (with the first item being most important), based
on a survey of all California cities. The list (see “Local Economic Development Activities, 2009” on page 8) shows some that are
still relevant today.
These are just some of the types of initiatives that governments take part in to further their economic development goals.
However, it is not all inclusive; for example, many community leaders are focused on delivering quality economic opportunities
for traditionally underserved or under-represented populations. This could mean using an economic development commission
and public process to engage these populations and hear their challenges and what types of assistance they need, and then
developing initiatives to address their concerns.
Economic Development and Its Role in Resilience and Recovery
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