New 'State of the Region' Report: Job Growth in Government, Education and Health...
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The Baltimore region achieved top-five rankings in 30 categories. It ranked in the bottom five in 13 categories.
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Regional diversity of the EU: recent figures for the Baltic States :: The Baltic...
In order to get a picture of the diversity of the EU regions in terms of land use and land cover, Eurostat launched the Land Use/Cover Area frame Survey (LUCAS) in 2009.
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One of the indicators measured in this survey is the share of land used for residential, economic and infrastructure-related purposes (built up areas), which averages 9% across the EU.
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Harvey Pekar on the Need for Regionalism in Cleveland, Circa 1999 | Rust Wire
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“Citizens living in our prosperous suburbs won’t recognize that if the declining central cities they surround go down the tubes, so do they.”
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Imagining a City Without Its Public Transportation - Commute - The Atlantic Citi...
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WMATA took the same transportation demand model that it uses to project ridership on a new line and instead ran a couple of scenarios with the region’s transit literally turned off. All of it: the regional rail, the buses and the metro system.
Prospect of regional transit plan raises ire | ajc.com
Our region is on the right path | Democrat and Chronicle | democratandchronicle....
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The governor is committed to this innovative bottom-up approach, and both he and the leadership in the state Legislature have pledged additional funding for this initiative next year.
The grass-roots response … was overwhelming. More than 1,200 individuals participated in the development of the plan. Their input was essential and made our plan infinitely stronger.
Perhaps more than anything else, this strategic planning process has highlighted to us the value of collaboration and partnership.
By working together as a region, we have strengthened our bonds and were able to articulate a shared regional vision for the future, galvanize new
Considering the need for regional support | Beanbags and Bullsh!t
The big problem is money. Prior to the election of the current coalition government, social enterprise support in the nine English regions had been funded primarily through Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) with additional grants coming from voluntary sector infrastructure programmes such as Capacity Builders.
Unfortunately the RDAs were political constructs and the political party that constructed them is now in opposition. London is a real place, where the elected leader, Mayor Boris Johnson, has taken the choice not to provide resources for social enterprise support. The other regions – with the possible exception of Yorkshire and the Humber – aren’t places, they’re lines on a map
Region records population gain for 2nd year in a row
For the second year in a row, that trend has been halted. The relative health of the local economy appears to be a motivator for retaining existing Pittsburghers and creating new ones.
The seven-county metropolitan region attracted 1,430 more people than the number who left it between 2009 and 2010, based on new Internal Revenue Service migration data, according to a report by Christopher Briem, a regional economist for the University of Pittsburgh's University Center for Social and Urban Research.
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Much of the recent net gain is from population centers in the Midwest, such as Cleveland, Chicago, Detroit and Columbus, Ohio, as well as other parts of Western Pennsylvania. While Pittsburgh still has a net loss of older adults to retirement centers … in-migrants are typically younger people seeking employment.
"The impact of the recession on different regions –
Tier council may aid regional cooperation: Job creation is up for debate | Star-...
The state's $49.4 million injection into the Southern Tier's economy is the smallest of any region in the state, and whether it will live up to its intended purpose -- adding jobs and fostering long-term growth -- is up for debate.
"There's a real limit on how much a state government can do in the short run to boost the economy," said Robert Ward, deputy director of the Rockefeller Institute at the University at Albany.
The resources the state has to spend on economic development are relatively small compared to the size of the economy, and the real value of the competition is to encourage regional economic planning, he said.
"It does seem likely that the state's leadership in generating very serious thinking at the regional level will be helpful," Ward said. "There's no doubt we've had a lot of parochialism over the years, and that has hurt us."
SCAG members get regionalism right - San Bernardino County Sun
This month, however, Southern California finally got something to be regional about.
At its regional council meeting Dec. 1, the leadership of the Southern California Association of Governments unveiled its draft Sustainable Communities Strategy and Regional Transportation Plan. … respond to the demands of Senate Bill 375, the 2008 law that requires urban regions in California to coordinate their land use and transportation planning in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
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Duane Elgin on sustainability, consciousness, and our world in transition
Sustainable Ways of Living—Exploring “sustainable prosperity” and simpler, more balanced ways of living.
Our World in Transition—Understanding the big picture of humanity’s evolutionary journey.
The Living Universe—The integrative paradigm emerging from the combined wisdom of science and spirituality.
Mature Media Democracy—Trans-partisan engagement for media accountability and citizen empowerment.
Currency Composition of Official Foreign Exchange Reserves (COFER)
COFER is an IMF database that keeps end-of-period quarterly data on the currency composition of official foreign exchange reserves. The currencies identified in COFER are:
U.S. dollar,
Euro,
Pound sterling,
Japanese yen,
Swiss francs, and
Other currencies.
Regional Councils Receive Huge Economic Boost - Oswego County Business Magazine
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Willamette Valley Cities, Counties To Consider 'Compact'
The Willamette Valley stretches from Portland south to Eugene. It includes the state capitol and is known for its diverse agriculture. Some two-thirds of Oregon's population lives in the valley.
Advocates of this proposed compact say the agreement would facilitate better regional cooperation on a range of issues including the environment, transportation and economic development.
Roger Hamilton is with The Resource Innovation Group. The consulting non-profit is affiliated with Willamette University and is facilitating the meeting.
… Hamilton says. "The focus is on what we call 'regional resilience,' which is simply planning for the future in a coordinated way."
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Willamette Valley Regional Resilience Summit
IU Kokomo Chancellor speaks about regionalism at national conference - Kokomo Pe...
… conference titled, "Accelerating Regional Solutions: Finding Unique Pathways to American Prosperity," hosted by Transformative Regional Engagements (TRE) Networks. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss and address the nation's move to regionalism in growth and development.
"Universities are being transformed as well. We are taking on a new role - building coalitions, transforming our regions, and embarking on a new way of thinking about leadership," Harris said.
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"The future economic well-being in the state of Indiana lies largely in the success of regional campuses making a difference within the communities they serve," Harris said. "IU Kokomo follows the direction of IU President Michael McRobbie to emerge as a leader in transforming north central Indiana."
Governor Cuomo Announces $785 Million in Economic Development Funding Through Re...
…, Regional Councils represent a fundamental shift in the state's approach to economic development from a top-down development model to a community-based, performance driven approach which empowers individual areas to develop comprehensive strategic plans that invest in regional solutions to create jobs and economic growth. As part of the Regional Council process, a Strategic Plan Review Committee was chosen to analyze and rank the strategic plans for each region competing for $200 million in specially targeted economic development funding.
"Regional collaborations and planning is a roadmap to get New Yorkers back to work …The plans submitted by all ten regions were truly extraordinary. For the first time, we are putting the power of the State Government behind the innovation of our people, giving them the tools to rebuild our economy."
Dan Casey: Old ways are done; I-69 corridor means prosperity | The Times Herald ...
In December 2010, the Michigan Legislature approved PA 275, the Next Michigan Development Act, which created the opportunity for Michigan to establish as many as five logistics hubs.
The Aerotropolis in Wayne County was the impetus and the first to be approved. The concept is to align existing multi-modal assets, such as airports and rail lines, with tax and other incentives, and market them through regional collaborations of government agencies.
Collectively, this effort could make these regions competitive havens for businesses that need access to their multi-modal assets.
… I-69 International Trade Corridor, the name given to a new collaborative partnership between four counties and at least 24 communities along I-69, all of them hoping to profit by working together. The counties include St. Clair, Shiawassee, Genesee and Lapeer with support from Oakland County and organizations in the province of Ontario that hope for some spill-over benefit.
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Regional Business Leaders Look to Outside Companies for Ideas | Essential Public...
“Companies have to change that mindset and say, ‘Yes, there are people outside our company that may have ideas that are valuable to us, that we may want to collaborate with.’ I think another challenge is overcoming intellectual property protections,” said Grant Wirth, President of Pittsburgh-based Kopp Glass.
His company relies on open innovation to explore all possibilities of growth. Wirth added that relying solely on internal ideas limits that growth.
The Pittsburgh Regional Alliance held a topic briefing on open innovation for county economic development leaders and representatives from small and medium-sized technology and manufacturing businesses. …
Team NEO awards nearly $3 million in grants for regional economic development ef...
Pending final documentation and approval, grants totaling nearly $3 million will be issued by Team NEO.
The largest grant, for $2 million, would go to a joint regional retention and expansion program involving five groups — Greater Cleveland Partnership, Team Lorain County, Youngstown-Warren Regional Chamber, Stark Development Board, and the Greater Akron Chamber.
The Wayne Economic Development Council would receive two grants. …
Team NEO itself would receive $475,000 for its business attraction strategy that targets companies in high-growth industry sectors.
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Mark Hackel praises Macomb County, regional cooperation | Detroit Free Press | f...
“It’s time to tell the rest of the world about Macomb,” … announced that the director of the Michigan Economic Development Corp.’s Defense Center would be assigned to the county “to grow our vision of becoming the defense capital of the world.”
... New Blue Economy initiative that would make Lake St. Clair and the Clinton River key economic resources. As examples, he described several upcoming events, such as a visit by Tall Ships to commemorate the War of 1812 as well as major bass-fishing and hockey tournaments.
In addition, Hackel praised the cooperation he’s received from regional leaders, ...
“We are competing as a region for world resources,” ... explaining that regional cooperation is not just a buzzword.
Trend Lines | CELAC Launch Underlines Regional Cohesion Against U.S.
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Alexander Main, a Latin America specialist at the Center for Economic and Policy Research in Washington, contends that the “two biggest factors in CELAC so far have been Brazil and Mexico taking the key initiatives in the process that led to its creation.”
Neither country represents the region’s far left. “So, the two countries that are the biggest in terms of their economic weight and their populations have been key promoters of CELAC,"
Indeed, backing from Brazil and Mexico, coupled with the participation of every one of the region’s other major players -- including Colombia and Chile, both also notably not pro-Chรกvez -- signals a level of unprecedented regional cohesion,
Joyce Roy: Senate Public Hearing on Regional Governance in SF this Thursday « Li...
Shared effort will bolster entire region | Lansing State Journal | lansingstatej...
A partnership of some 40 agencies and units of government worked together to win the $3 million Sustainable Communities Regional Planning Grant. Participants have pledged additional matching funds to bring the total to $10 million.
In the scheme of things, that's not a huge total. But the change it could leverage for the region is enormous.
Officials plan to focus the program on the 19-mile stretch that runs from Michigan Avenue in Lansing down Grand River Avenue, east to Webberville.
The sustainability effort focuses on strengthening environmental quality, economic opportunities and social equity. Of course, that means working on these goals during times of economic uncertainty and government cutbacks, which make the effort all the more necessary and the impact all the more important.
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Cityscape: Twin Cities communities falling far behind on affordable housing - Mi...
And with the nation in a prolonged economic slump, the prospects for significantly increasing the supply of affordable owner-occupied and rental housing remain bleak.
In 2010, just 1,541 new affordable housing units were added to the region's housing stock, according to the Council. While up slightly in each of the last two years, that’s down from the nearly 5,500 new housing units that were added in the peak year of 2001.
The 2010 production total included just 758 affordable owner-occupied units, the lowest output since the Council began collecting this data in 1996.
Menus in 2012 to feature American regionalism - Food Business News
American regionalism – Consumers are becoming more aware of regional specialties such as Kansas City or Memphis barbecue or New England chowder.
CNBC’s Maria Bartiromo To Headline Regional Development Awards Ceremony Thursday...
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Cuomo has turned events on the regional development councils into big productions. An “Open For Business” conference in September to tout the work of the 10 regional development councils was headlined by former President Bill Clinton and moderated by another CNBC personality, Ron Insana.
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Budget cuts spell doom for state’s regional library system | state, spell, cuts ...
The South Texas Library System and the other regional systems were set up in 1972 to support public libraries in every corner of the state. This past session … lawmakers signed the death warrant for those regional systems. The STLS and other regional libraries saw their funding eliminated as part of $15 billion in cuts in state funding in response to a massive budget shortfall.
The STLS, with its network of 55 public libraries, will close its doors Dec. 31. The system’s total state budget for fiscal year 2011 was $378,096. Included in that was $80,000 in Technical Assistance Negotiated Grant (TANG) money used to provide technical support for South Texas libraries. The nine other regional systems will stay open until August 2012. … most of the pain will be felt by local libraries large and small that have depended on the regional systems over four decades. …
Dutch coastal community that has been home to offshore wind farm shares lessons ...
The Egmond aan Zee offshore wind farm has had 36 Danish-made industrial wind turbines operating since 2007.
The tourism program manager for the northern Netherlands shoreline region told a group of West Michigan officials Monday that the Egmond aan Zee offshore wind project has not affected visitors to the North Sea nor hurt local tourism businesses.
The 36-turbine offshore wind farm, which is six to nine miles offshore, is usually not visible from the small beach village of 5,000 inhabitants, according to Adriana Stam, who handles tourism issues for the Development Company North Holland — a regional economic development agency.
… Grand Valley State University West Michigan Wind Assessment research project. The Holland-to-Holland conversation was conducted through an Internet conference ... GVSU Meijer Campus in Holland, Mich.
Cuomo pops in on LI pitch - Legislativegazette.com
Community Foundation celebrates 70th year assisting people in San Bernardino, Ri...
With more than 10,000 nonprofits alone struggling to capture or maintain donor dollars, competition is tough, but in order to do the most good for the most people, joining forces ultimately will lead to the most success, according to Daniel Foster, president and chief executive officer of The Community Foundation.
The Riverside-based group is a nonprofit public charity created by and for residents of both counties. Although the Foundation recently celebrated its 70th year of operations, its recent growth in staff and contributions is positioning it for a bright 2012 and beyond. And the ultimate beneficiary is the community and the people it serves.
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Indiana communities roll out welcome mat, smartphone apps to attract Super Bowl ...
The areas are all included in a list of 17 Super Celebration Sites chosen by the 2012 Indianapolis Super Bowl Host Committee.
Information technology jobs on the rise in region - News - Citizens Voice
Generating researchers to speed up regional developmen
The current situation in the country is to generate competent graduates that are well-equipped with research and practical techniques to speed up regional development.
A forum organized recently in Dar es Salaam by the University of Dar es Salaam in corroboration with the Norwegian government focusing on extending programs in universities to underscore African-Norwegian partnerships in academic capacity building at a crossroads; achieving experiences and the way ahead.
The forum addressed the effects of academic capacity building in institutions and society and the way forward for international partnerships that is moving from individual capacity building to institutional development.
Regional planning needed | TBO.com
Eighth-ranked MSA Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach has a combined population of 5.5 million people, compared to 19th-ranked Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater with over 2.7 million people. Yet the Miami MSA has many more times the financial clout of the Tampa MSA. However, if we further expand the view of ourselves as the West Central Florida MSA, we then have the population to rival the Miami MSA. We just lack the vision and political will to become a greater region....
Guest Commentary: Disappointed by Denver's decision on stock show - The Denver P...
We are disappointed with this direction, as we have always seen the application as an opportunity to build on our record of regional collaboration and success.
We understand the stock show is a respected Denver institution with deep community roots. Since the beginning of the Regional Tourism Act application process, we anticipated that the stock show would remain in Denver and continue to support it remaining in Denver. The original site plan for the project had the stock show located on Denver land adjacent to Gaylord, allowing both entities to benefit from the synergy they will create. It has never been the intent of the Aurora City Council to relocate the stock show out of Denver.
… Both Aurora and Denver spend considerable effort to bring jobs to the region, …