Frequently Asked Questions About Economic Development
Economic Development is the creation of wealth from which community 好处 are realized. 这不仅仅是一个就业计划, it’s an investment in growing your economy and enhancing the prosperity and quality of life for all residents.
Economic development means different things to different people. 在大范围内, anything a community does to foster and create a healthy economy can fall under the auspice of economic development. Today’s economic development professionals are trying harder than ever to define their field in terms that are more concrete and salient to policymakers, 公众, 以及其他专业人士. There are probably as many definitions for economic development as there are people who practice it.
从公众的角度来看, local economic development involves the allocation of limited resources – land, 劳动, capitol and entrepreneurship in a way that has a positive effect on the level of business activity, 就业, 收入分配格局, 财政偿付能力.
To say that economic development is valuable because it brings revenue to communities does not do this profession justice. 在它的核心, economic development is about building healthy economies in order to have healthy communities.
These are just a few of the ways in which economic development helps communities:
- Increased Tax Base…the additional revenue provided by economic development supports, 维护, 改善当地的基础设施, 比如道路, 公园, 库, 以及紧急医疗服务.
- Job Development…economic development provides better wages, 好处, 以及晋升的机会.
- Business Retention…businesses feel appreciated by the community and, 反过来, 更有可能留在城里, 对经济的贡献.
- Economic Diversification…a diversified economic base helps expand the local economy and reduces a community’s vulnerability to a single business sector.
- Self-sufficiency…a stronger economic base means public services are less dependent on intergovernmental influences and alliances, 哪一点会随着每次选举而改变.
- Productive Use of Property…property used for its “highest and best use” maximizes the value of that property.
- Quality of Life…more local tax dollars and jobs raise the economic tide for the entire community, including the overall standard of living of the residents.
- Recognition of Local Products…successful economic development often occurs when locally produced goods are consumed in the local market to a greater degree.
The California Association of Local Economic Development has over 750 members who work hard to help businesses thrive in their communities. 这些专业人士为城市工作, 县, 非营利性经济发展组织, 区域营销小组, 私营企业, 以及其他公共机构. 联系CALED获取会员名单.
在过去的几年里, people have used the number jobs created as a measure of economic development success. While jobs are a byproduct of a successful economic development program, 它们不是衡量成功的唯一标准. A good economic development program contributes much more than jobs to a community.
经济开发商是催化剂. They are politically astute strategists who establish relationships, 构建网络, and generate resources to meet the needs of businesses. Their goal is to increase economic viability in their community.
The role of today’s economic developer evolves continuously. An economic developer is responsible for planning, 设计, and implementing economic development strategies, as well as acting as a key liaison between public and private sectors and the community.
Economic developers are also instrumental in helping to leverage finances from both 公众 and private sectors–funding that is critical to help communities attract new businesses, 促进企业发展, and assist existing business with expansion and troubleshooting.
CALED is the premier statewide professional economic development organization dedicated to advancing its members’ ability to achieve excellence in delivering economic development services to their communities and business clients. CALED’s membership consists of public and private organizations and individuals involved in economic development: the business of creating and retaining jobs.
Because every business locates in a city or county, and it’s those local-level Economic Development professionals who assist these businesses and help them thrive; thereby, creating jobs and revenues for the communities they serve.