Monday, August 04, 2003
Despite budget belt tightening, many Metro Detroit communities are spending substantial dollars to spruce up landscaping, add brick pavers and new street lights, repair sidewalks and plant flowers along medians and boulevards.
As one city manager notes, "The bottom line is property values. If the community is looked at as desirable, it increases the property values and tax base. Property values are essential in every community, and if you let (things) go downhill, that takes property values away."
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.
If you are using a news reader, here is the link to syndicate this site:
Here's the link if you are a bloglines subscriber:
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.
Investing in curb appeal
