Strategic Economic Development Planning

Sound planning is crucial to economic development success, and ICMA works with cities, nongovernmental organizations, the business community, and other stakeholders to help create strategic plans that are based on assessment of local assets and capabilities and identification of realistic opportunities.

Sound planning is crucial to economic development success, and ICMA works with cities, nongovernmental organizations, the business community, and other stakeholders to help create strategic plans that are based on assessment of local assets and capabilities and identification of realistic opportunities.

  • In South Africa, with ICMA assistance, the city of Johannesburg successfully developed a strategic plan and a business plan for an urban development corporation; KwaDukuza developed a “sustainable community” framework; and Pietermaritzburg-Msunduzi adopted an economic development vision statement.
  • ICMA helped five major cities in Lebanon apply the community based economic development model. With this assistance the cities developed viable LED strategies by conducting SWOT (strengths-weaknesses-opportunities-threats) analyses and assessments to identify the sectors and projects that offered the greatest potential to create new jobs and attract investment.
  • In Ecuador, ICMA provided technical assistance for the creation of an economic development strategy as well as training on facilitating interaction among stakeholders who would play a role in developing the strategy.
  • In Bolivia, ICMA assisted the municipalities of La Paz, El Alto, and Cochabamba in the development of urban LED strategies developed with private entities. The strategies were approved by the municipal councils after an ample consultation process that involved key stakeholders.
  • In Hungary, ICMA helped the cities of Szentes and Oroshaza analyze their community assets and identify paths for future development; helped the Kis Balaton Area Association complete a strategic planning process to promote interlocal cooperation for tourism development and enhance opportunities for citizen participation; and facilitated a strategic planning process for Zalalovo that mobilized community resources. As a result, the community entered into agreements with Western European investors and capitalized on the government’s decision to reopen an international rail line in the city.