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 In
this economy one might think it is nearly impossible
to raise operating funds. However, the Greensboro
Partnership, Greensboro, North Carolina's principal
economic and community development organization, is
only the latest ED organization to bust this myth.
In November, the Greensboro Partnership announced
that it has surpassed its five year base campaign
goal of $9 million. Exceeding goal is just one more
win for the Greensboro Partnership as it continues
to build momentum in all aspects of its operations.
Most notably, Greensboro has received tremendous
attention recently due to the location of Honda
Jet's and Mack Trucks' headquarters, the FedEx Mid-
Atlantic Air Hub, FedEx Ground, and Lenovo.
Dollars raised during the campaign will be used to
advance business recruitment, retention and
expansion efforts, promote entrepreneurship, fund
public policy and government relations initiatives
and to share the administrative cost of Action
Greensboro with engaged community foundations.
Action Greensboro is the leading voice in urban
livability, civic engagement, K-12 educational
advancement, and initiatives to attract and retain
young professionals in Greensboro.
"This has been a great campaign," said Pat Danahy,
President and CEO of the Greensboro Partnership. "It
was a true team effort! We have put ourselves in a
great position to reach our five-year goals. I
applaud our campaign leadership, board members, our
fantastic staff and Clint Nessmith with RDG for
helping to make all of this happen."
The Greensboro Partnership is a public/private
funded organization that serves as an umbrella
organization to Greensboro Economic Development
Alliance, Action Greensboro and the Greensboro
Chamber of Commerce. Formed in 2005, the mission of
the Partnership is to serve as the principal
economic and community development organization in
Greensboro, and to strategically develop a vibrant
community that creates, expands, and attracts
business while advancing the quality of life for
all. Visit them on the web at
www.greensboropartnership.org for additional
information. |
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 Resource
Development Group is pleased to be able to play a
small part in supporting the International Economic
Development Council's Diane Lupke Scholarship Fund.
The Lupke Scholarship is an educational fund created
for economic development professionals working in
distressed communities. It is designed to provide
these professionals the same opportunity for
continuing education that others in the industry
have available.
At this years IEDC Annual Meeting in Atlanta,
Carolinas Gateway Partnership CEO John Gesseman won
this year's raffle and will be enjoying one-week at
Southwest Florida's beautiful Burnt Store Marina,
compliments of RDG. Thanks to the generosity of all
the economic developers attending the IEDC
conference in Arizona, $500 was raised to support
the Scholarship Fund. Thanks to all who participated
and for your generous support of IEDC. |
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Economic
Development leaders and organizations have a
great opportunity in 2009 if we recognize
the need to act, regroup, and refocus our
efforts to achieve results. The ability to
start anew and think creatively will be a
crucial theme in the upcoming year.
Funding for Economic Development
organizations is of the utmost importance.
We are all treading in unchartered waters;
every organization is facing challenges
based on ever increasing pressures from both
public and private sector investors. Elected
officials in many communities are being
faced with draconian choices of not only
cutting budgets and laying off employees,
but also risking core public safety programs
and personnel. Concurrently, the private
sector is dealing with a sense of urgency
and overall survival. The key question for
economic development professionals is how do
you continue to prove your organization's
value in these conditions?
Since economic development strategies can
take years to yield results, it is
critically important to be nimble and look
for opportunities for immediate "wins."
Recognizing recession proof businesses and
firms in your community which are poised for
growth is important. These may or may not be
in sync with pre-determined industry
targets, but retaining jobs and companies
should be a top priority. Economic
development initiatives which show
quantifiable results provide a clear and
decisive way to show why your EDO's efforts
are critical.
Workforce availability and retention is and
has been a significant issue throughout the
United States for the past several years.
The current environment can help spur local
action for widespread and comprehensive job
training and retraining for dislocated,
displaced, or disenfranchised workers.
Reengineering your workforce development
efforts for technically relevant positions
and furthering the regions' economic
diversification is one way we can seize
these opportunities now!
The cornerstone of economic development,
marketing and communications, are as
important as ever. Although the focus may
change from external marketing of the region
to internal opportunities within the region
(i.e. a retention and expansion program, job
training, etc.), communicating the value and
results your organization is achieving is
crucial. The messaging must seek to show
that economic development is truly the
catalyst and convener for the economic
betterment of the community and region.
Disseminating this through clear, concise
and redundant avenues is a key way of
conveying your organizational value.
Numerous EDOs throughout the U.S. have
embarked on op-ed efforts in proactive
attempts to show their organizations are
needed now more than ever. The
communications strategy should also be
geared towards effecting positive public
policy initiatives which will help spur
economic activity. Given the economy is top
of mind for everyone, there has never been a
greater opportunity to lead change!
While many EDOs may be considering cutting
program expenses or delaying the launching
of a new funding program because of the
challenging economic climate, consider the
following tactics:
- Meet
with your key stake holders to lay out
your plans and provide an update of
activities;
-
Proactively review and refine your
strategic plan to ensure accountability
and determine those activities that
yield the highest return on resources;
-
Implement those activities that do not
require immediate capital outlay and
prioritize according to your plan,
community impact, and investor interest;
- Begin
program planning and implement
strategies now so you will be prepared
once your volunteer leadership feels it
is appropriate to initiate those
activities that have additional costs.
According to
Jeffrey A. Finkle, CEcD, President and CEO
of the International Economic Development
Council (IEDC), cutting economic development
programs during tough economic times is the
worst thing you could do. "Many economic
developers and community leaders feel
tremendous frustration at the inability to
counteract global forces that are out of our
control but that affect our communities so
directly and drastically. While it's true
that what happens to GM, Circuit City or Sun
Microsystems is largely out of our hands,
there are actions that economic developers
and communities can and should be taking to
soften the blow.
As important as immediate relief is, the
need to position our small towns,
medium-sized cities and mega regions to
emerge stronger and more competitive when
the light finally begins to glow on the
horizon is equally important. That is why
continued investment in economic development
is critical."
Many of us will remember 2008 as a year of
unprecedented challenges, but also remember
that these circumstances will force us to
change and become more effective. We are
witnessing a major transformation of global
economics and interdependence. How we react
at the local level will afford us
significant opportunities that were
unimaginable just a few years ago. Recognize
that business "as usual" will no longer
exist. We need to be nimble, think
creatively, and focus on achieving results.
Economic Development Organizations have
never been as important as they are now.
Make sure to spread that message and embrace
2009 as a great year of opportunity. |
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