Cities are competing for young knowledge workers. CEOs for Cities, has issued a new report that explores the issue. It's another example of how economic development is shifting from a focus on recruiting companies to a focus on recruiting people.

A recent report by the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education warns that if current trends continue, the proportion of workers with high school diplomas and college degrees will decrease and the personal income of Americans will decline over the next 15 years.

In Wisconsin, new regional allliances are beginning to emerge, as civic leaders in Madison and Milwaukee recognize that they have more to gain from collaboration.

Here is a good article that surveys some of the recent developments. Read more.

In Albany, the Center for Economic Growth is a major player in the transformation of the economy. CEG is one of the leading organizations to support innovation in regional economic development.

In an interesting move to stimulate collaboration among their campuses, Indiana University and Purdue University are integrating their wireless networks.

The powerful aspect of this announcement comes in the next step. According to one of the project leaders, "[W]e should continue to work toward extending these capabilities across Indiana to other universities, colleges and related organizations." Read more.

The Kauffman Foundation has launched a new web-based tool to accelerate the flow of innovative ideas from universities to the marketplace.

The foundation's research showed that potentially valuable technologies lie dormant in universities too long. So, the foundation is investing in a new tool to tighten the connection between university labs and commercial markets. Initiallly, seven universities will participate in a pilot. Learn more.

Developing brainpower will determine the long term prosepects for our regional economy. As a result, we have a deep stake in improving the performance of the our high schools.

Few economic development investments are as sound as investments -- early childhood development, drop-out prevention, post-secondary education incentives -- that improve educational outcomes.

One of the biggest challenges facing Cleveland comes in building the networks needed to build wealth in our inner city neighborhoods.

The inner city is an important economic development frontier, and new models of development show promise. Some years ago, Michael Porter established the Initiative for a Competitive Inner City to apply cluster approaches to these markets. Learn more

Come to a celebration of REI's past and Northeast Ohio's Open Source Future

We will be having a party to demonstrate an important point: Building our future prosperity is exciting, engaging, and fun. Join other civic entrepreneurs to share stories, get connected, and enjoy NEO's home brew.

Jim Harris has posed a critique of Open Source Economic Development. Read more.

Here's my response to his main points.

Earlier this week, The 21st Century Growth Policy Team unveiled its recommendations on how Columbus should grow. The City of Columbus assembled the Team, a group of around 80 community representatives.

With all the recent developments, I missed mentioning a major new award for civic entrepreneurship in Northeast Ohio. Here's the press release that Case issued.

E4S Founder, Holly Harlan, Receives First SBC/REI Civic Entrepreneurship Award

Cindi Deutschman-Ruiz of WCPN ideastream put together a good story on the emerging Second Curve economy in Cleveland. She managed to blend different viewpoints and avoid the trap of separating the world into competing camps.



Northeast Ohio will be transformed by open networks of collaboration with colleges, universities, and libraries in the middle of these networks. Our region created enormous wealth with industrial strategies. Now, to build our future prosperity, we need to shift our focus to networks, knowledge, and collaboration. 

Here's part of the rub with the downtown business community. I don't think our downtown business leaders know how (or perhaps why) a research university shapes the economic frontiers in today's economy.

It is not the first time that I have ruffled a few feathers.

Open Source Economic Development encourages the formation of open networks of innovation: clusters.

For the past seven years, I have been developing this model of economic development. We have been applying it in Northeast Ohio with some remarkable success.

Here's a fast report on the opening of the 14th annual Community Technology Centers Network CTCNet. Read more.

Our colleagues at Cleveland State are presenting an important forum on the importance of diversity to student outcomes.

Date and time:
Tuesday, April 26, 2005
4 - 6 PM
Levin College Atrium, Glickman-Miller Hall
1717 Euclid Avenue.

Last week, the UN issued an important report on the future of our environment. The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment is focused on improving our insights into the environmental consequences of development.

Here is an idea worth exploring. Phoenix has agreed to stop giving away lucrative sales-tax dollars by signing a deal that creates a "no-incentive zone" with neighboring cities of Tempe and Chandler.

Sustainable development is a growing trend in economic development. Cities that move toward sustainable practices will have an inside track on these expanding markets. NEO is ideally positioned to capitalized on this opportunity.

Key Bank has awarded $1 million to Cuyahoga Community College to establish "Key Entrepreneur Development Center." The Center should become a regional hub for business development.

Here's an announcement on the Cleveland Botanical Garden Flower Show, the largest outdoor flower show in North America. It takes place May 27 - 30.

The Akron Beacon Journal does a good job in covering economic development issues for our region. Here's a story on the shifting use of economic development incentives. Read more.

Here's a good article from the Akron Beacon Journal on the changing job landscape in Northeast Ohio. Read more.