Local economic development initiatives can be significantly strengthened by the synergy that results when public and private organizations establish effective mechanisms to work together. ICMA has facilitated public-private partnerships worldwide.

• In Mangaung (Bloemfontein), South Africa, ICMA facilitated the development of a plan that focused public and private tools and methods on the development of an industrial corridor to create jobs, public infrastructure improvements, and new and rehabilitated housing and retail opportunities.
• Working closely with the city of Johannesburg, ICMA developed the framework for an Urban Development Corporation, called the Johannesburg Development Agency (JDA) responsible for directing the economic revitalization of the city. Specific components of the JDA design included a rationale for the establishment of the JDA, visioning documents, a three-year business plan, Johannesburg city center performance indicators, Johannesburg audit of city center cultural assets, and a financial plan.
• In Bulgaria, with ICMA assistance, Stara Zagora formulated a new downtown development plan that featured public-private partnerships to encourage and control development and concessions by private developers to benefit the community at large; Blagoevgrad developed a public-private partnership model for operating an indoor market; and Gabrovo developed contracts between the city and three private firms for the construction of cardboard items, a café, two shops, and kiosks.
• ICMA helped the government of Jamaica, the city of Kingston, the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce, and other public- and private-sector stakeholders articulate a clear vision for using World Cricket Cup 2007 to spur development and obtain a commitment of resources from the private sector, prioritize activities and projects, and create and train a committed management team that ensured implementation of the strategy.
• In Bolivia, ICMA promoted tourism development committees at the municipal level in the Chiquitania region in the state of Santa Cruz that included the participation of the private sector, municipalities, and association of municipalities (mancomunidad de Chiquitania). The committees played an important role in the application of national and regional policies at the local level to increase infrastructure standards to market the area’s potential internationally.
• Also in Bolivia, ICMA retained private consulting firms and engaged the chamber of commerce in the development of urban LED strategic plans for three of the five biggest cities of the country (El Alto, La Paz, and Cochabamba). The private contractors were selected through open competition and develop the plans under the guidance of the municipalities.