Leading Cities to a Vibrant Economic Future

LEADING Cities TO A VIBRANT ECONOMIC FUTURE:  The Role of the Elected Official

Although leadership can come from many places within the community, local elected officials are particularly well-positioned to take on this role. The political influence of elected leadership is critical to helping communities stay the course toward a vibrant economic future.  From the bully pulpit to the shaping and coordinating public policies, mayors and council members have opportunities every day to effect change and promote a strategic vision of economic growth for their community. 

What constitutes “success” in economic development and the right strategies to get there will inevitably vary from community to community. However, at least one element has been identified time and time again as an essential component to long-term, viable economic success: leadership.  How does the role of the local elected official impact, attract, and expand private investment, provide a sustainable tax base, and create well-paying jobs?

“In today’s economic reality, local elected officials play a critical role in economic development. The continuing decline in local economic and fiscal conditions requires strong leadership to help communities redefine their future and stay the course to realize their potential.” – NLC Executive Director Donald J. Borut

Navigating the Economic Development Landscape:
Governance is clearly changing, as city officials are continually called upon to develop new policies, set long range Economic development is a process of identifying local assets and weaknesses, and putting these in the context of economic goals and an implementation strategy.  To get there, the community needs to decide how it defines economic success, what tools it’s willing or able to use to accomplish these goals, and a plan to put them into action.

The renaissance requires knowing what drives economic growth in your community, now and in the future; understanding how you can ensure that you retain community character while charting a new course for economic prosperity, and developing a comprehensive strategy to improve your local economy. What role do you want to play?

Leadership Strategies: Moving Your Community from Surviving to Thriving
Economic development professionals say that they look to their elected leadership to work with the community, establish a vision for economic development, be a champion for the vision and trust staff to implement the vision. Is that how you see yourself?  Can you clearly define your role?

While elected officials don’t need to be economic development experts, they do need to be well informed, strategic decision-makers who can connect the policy “dots.”  Explore how you can help re-tool your development process by utilizing assets and city staff expertise to direct scarce resources for economic development in a strategic way. 

Taking it Home: Translating New Skills into Action
The old way of conducting business is being replaced with innovative approaches. Strategic implementation of economic development enables local governments to be more responsive and successful in an increasingly complex and uncertain economic environment. 

Enhance your understanding of the needs of the business community, establish an efficient regulatory environment, coordinate key stakeholders, work effectively with staff, and convey a clear and consistent economic development message.

Join leading scholars, experts and trainers as they guide you through an engaging program that will examine an innovative direction of economic development: the fresh ideas, the latest ventures, and new tools for your road map to success.

Core Competency:
Competent Practitioner… 8 Credits in the Certificate of Achievement in Leadership program