Policies that Increase Labor Demans

I was at a great seminar this week sponsored by CALED - Keys to Successful Economic Development. Bruce Stenslie of Ventura County made a nice point about workforce development, identifying that there are TWO ways to increase workforce/job expansion, one is to increase labor SUPPLY -- i.e. to produce more and better trained workers, the other is to increase labor DEMAND by being more innovative in job situations, benefits, perqs so as to increase the worker's interest in going to these jobs. With the common complaints these days about the Gen X/Millennial workers, this is a place of great opportunity. Work from home situations, family involvement, child care resources, advanced training opportunities, team contributions, a vision of the big picture -- all of these opportunities will increase a business' supply of great workers and retain them to grow and prosper. With the turnover costs of hiring new employees at almost 7 times retention costs, figuring out how to make good workers want to be at your company is a boon. Also see Sac Bee yesterday on best 100 places to work, VSP of our fair city made the cut!

Our Sense of Well-being and Economic Development

Over the long weekend it was apropos to read in the Sacramento Bee results of a survey that studied the public's sense of well-being. One's own sense of well-being and personal happiness does not always uptick even with large growth in personal income, and in fact a sense of well-being is not always tied to factual reality at all.

So there are things that matter more than money. And that gives public policymakers an opportunity to guide economic and other community development in a direction that would make people happier, more productive, and fold over into increasing our prosperity both economic and emotional.

The article cites a few of the questions asked of residents in 26 US cities the results of which could guide economic development and community planning in a more significant way to improve our lives on a wide spectrum of factors. Questions such as: Do you feel safe? Do you have confidence in your city's leadership? Is your city tolerant of people who are different? Would you tell a friend to move here?

Not just money, salary and taxes have an impact, but a community where people are emotionally engaged and attached to their homes, neighborhood, leadership, and future vision can help lower and keep talented workers, increase local investment, and rally support when difficult decisions face a community.

The article gives an interesting example of how to adjust our public policy based on the results of such a survey. For example, if people hate commuting and give a high priority to socializing with coworkers, as was found, then promoting carpooling creates a policy that can satisfy both needs thereby increasing people satisfaction and commitment.

Article: Thursday, November 22, 2007 page A15, by Frank Greve,fgreve@mcclatchydc.com.

Local county buying foreclosed property

Check out Governing Magazine's October 2007 issue on page 11 discussing how Genesee County, Michigan has created a self-sustaining property tax fund of more than $8 million to allow the county to seize delinquent real estate property, pay back taxes, and repackage property for redevelopment or for re-sale.

The county created the Genesee County Land Bank which determines how to use property in the best interest of the community. The county land bank floated a $5,000,000 brownfield bond, a tax increment financing-based package. Working with community groups the Land Bank to demolish to abandon structures and developed single-family homes and affordable housing. It offered empty lots two adjacent property owners and rehab to single-family homes. In the interim the Land Bank mows lots and clears debris from properties it owns.

More information can be found at:http://www.governing.com/archive/2006/feb/finbrfs.txt

and for information about plans in Genesee County contact: Dan Kildee at 810-257-3024 or dkildee@sbcglobal.net.

Leaders -- everyday characteristics

Here's a great article about the everyday characteristics of leaders. I dare say they can't be faked, but they certainly can be nurtured. My favorite, of course, ... #6 -- invite participation and create meaning more significant than one can alone.



http://news.yahoo.com/s/bw/20071011/bs_bw/oct2007sb20071010093227

Innovations in Community Development - Visuals

Last week I was on a very interesting webinar about the use of technologies in Economic Development across the state. Especially intriguing was information about the use of visual modeling and 3D images for the proposals of new development in communities. Imaging how the pitch for a new arena would go if people could "walk" through models of the layout of the arena, parking, nearby housing and entertainment, even a "ride" on the trolley! Proponents say that using this modeling turned around a doomed project in their community... Listen at http://icma.org/main/ns_search.asp?nsid=3387.

Also, spend some time looking around the ICMA.org website, it has lots of innovative suggestions for communities, the latest is a look at how to get young workers interested in government/community development.

Call for suggestions of BAD for Business Federal regulations

Make your voice heard! It isn't that often that an organization makes a call for complaints!

The Office of Advocacy of the U.S. Small Business Administration is issuing a call for nomination of federal rules and regulations in need of review and reform. You can help us streamline and update outdated or ineffective rules by nominating those that keep you up at night. Nominations are due by December 31, 2007.

Nominate them on the Office of Advocacy r3 Web site at www.sba.gov/advo/r3 or send an email to advocacy@sba.gov. For help, call Keith Holman at (202) 205-6936. For press release, click here.


And info on the BEST palces to do business... http://money.cnn.com/popups/2006/fsb/beststates_top10/10.html