Overview
Metropolitan regions that compete successfully for jobs and educated, creative people in the 21st century will be those that build active networks among the people and organizations with the power to stimulate economic growth.
Last year the Center for Regional Economic Issues (REI) at Case Western Reserve University’s Weatherhead School of Management launched an initiative to build networks in Northeast Ohio through its “Making Change” series.
Today’s conference, jointly sponsored with the SBC Foundation, looks at three topics crucial to regional economic development: “The Value of Creative Industries,” “Sustainable Business Practices” and “Inner City Prosperity.” This is the third conference since REI began the initiative a year ago.
“We are making great progress in developing civic entrepreneurship networks throughout the region,” said Ed Morrison, executive director of REI. “It’s been very exciting to see the various organizations and individuals in the area begin to make connections among one another, and harness their knowledge and expertise for use in fostering economic development.” This conference includes a seminar on open-source economic development, a concept pioneered at REI which focuses on inclusion and networking as building blocks for regional economic development.
The focus on building networks is part of a broader roadmap REI has developed to help metropolitan areas move from traditional manufacturing economies to an “innovation economy.” The map calls for a series of initiatives including strengthening intra-regional dialogue and extending it to include all aspects of the community; building a region’s brainpower by developing and attracting highly educated individuals’ connecting networks of innovators and entrepreneurs; building quality places with connected neighborhoods, vibrant mixed-use districts and a healthy environment; and creating a compelling brand identity for the region.
The “regional roadmap” REI has developed for northeast Ohio encompasses 22 counties in the state, stretching from Ashtabula County in the northeast to Crawford County in the southwest, as well as one country in western Pennsylvania.
- Jeff Bendix
Return to Making Change November 15
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