What is economic development?
While there is no universally held definition, most practitioners and the general public associate economic development with
job and wealth creation.
People who work in the economic development field are called, well not surprisingly "economic
developers." Some experts in the field estimate there are over 10,000 economic development organizations across the United
States. These organizations are believed to employ over 30,000 people considered to be economic developers.
What is my role in economic development? In short, I am
a consultant to communities, regions, and states working to develop and implement strategies and plans to strengthen their
economic bases. In addition to strategic planning, I help economic development organizations strengthen their leadership for
job development and economic competitiveness.
My philosophy and approach to economic development are changing.
Both reflect a greater concern for sustainability and the long term growth and development patterns of local economies. I
am interested in the generational and inter-generational nature of economic, business, and job/career growth. In other words,
my chief concern is how people, places, and businesses do over the long haul.
