Local and Regional Economic Development Planning and the Role of Community Development Practitioners

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Abstract
Changing national and international economies have altered local options for economic development. Traditional industrial economic development efforts offer limited opportunity as a growth strategy. Rural communities, especially, face economic difficulties because of a downturn in agriculture and the migration of manufacturing to low-wage, off-shore markets. This paper presents the results of a regional planning district commission survey that suggests local and regional governments are not responding to the changing economic options with broad-based development strategies. While some commissions are involved in traditional industrial recruitment activities, few are involved with strategies that recognize and build on local and regional strengths for alternative types of economic growth. The paper also discusses the role of community development practitioners in promoting broad-based local and regional economic development.

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