Consolidating local government to boost economic development
Wednesday, February 05, 2003
Look at Indianapolis and Nashville, and it is easy to conclude that broader "metro" government can help economic development. Louisville has recently taken this step. But what about other, smaller communities?
Read how leaders in Colbert and Lauderdale counties in Alabama see it as a way to make local government both leaner and more effective. Colbert has a population of 55,000; Lauderdale's population is 88,000. They are located in the northwest corner of the state, west of Huntsville.
Consolidation can strengthen your local brand and improve your political standing. At the same time, it can lead to more less costly and less fragmented government services.
EDPros can learn important lessons from the process local leaders have designed to consider consolidation. They are taking the time to assemble the facts. Contact the Shoals Chamber.
Consolidation is a good step, but it is extremely tough to pull off. To start, you must have both the business and political leadership in place. Make a judgement on the quality and strength of your leadership before you start down this path. If you have doubts, move on to other issues. There are other ditches to die in.
Some Background on EDPro Weblog
The purpose of this weblog is to help economic development professionals -- EDPros -- keep up with the changes sweeping our profession. Strap on your goggles. It's a whole new game. There are no experts any more. The only place to learn about economic development is from other EDPros who are doing it.
One other point: the prevaling approach (paradigm, if you like) in economic development is shifting from competition to collaboration. There are a lot of reaasons underlying this shift, but here's the important insight: You, your community, and your region will do better by collaborating and sharing information.
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Speaking and workshops on Open Source Economic Development
As the idea of Open Source Economic Development starts spreading, more people are asking about it. Visit the I-Open web site to learn more. My colleagues and I are happy to explain the basic concepts in a talk or a workshop. E-mail Susan Alshuler if you'd like to learn more about workshops and speaking.
Background on Ed Morrison
Download some background information on me here.
Consolidating local government to boost economic development
