Stephen Crane
Town Manager
Longmeadow, Massachusetts
In Massachusetts, local governments rely heavily on property taxes, and the ability to increase them is limited by a state law known as Proposition 2.5. Costs for providing services often increase more than 2.5 percent each year, so municipalities need to have new growth or sustain assessed values to keep pace.
Longmeadow is almost fully built out with single family homes, so new growth is an extremely small revenue generator. The focus, therefore, is on sustaining property values, and the highly ranked school district is the primary economic development engine.
So instead of creating jobs, the goal is to stimulate home sales that keep prices and assessed values on the rise. The town recently built a beautiful $76 million high school, furthering the desirability of life in Longmeadow and offering a world-class education in a world-class building.
The town’s support of the schools as well as other quality-of-life amenities make it an ideal place to raise a family.
Amy Nelson
City Manager
Yankton, South Dakota
Community development partners in Yankton are taking a multipronged approach at fostering growth. The community is fortunate to have a diverse economic base with employers doing business in a wide range of manufacturing and service industries.
A 2014 city survey identified the need for 800 more employees in the next five years just to fill the jobs that are being created by existing businesses. Having a great start on the primary job base has allowed community leaders to focus on other important issues.
The local development corporation has helped create affordable workforce housing by filling gaps in the housing market. This year, some 50 to 70 new housing units will be available, with two-thirds of them specifically targeting price ranges for people entering Yankton’s workforce.
The National Field Archery Association headquartered here has also worked to optimize its positive impact by supporting archery tournament activities and creating an archery business park.
Noelene Duff
Chief Executive Officer
Whitehorse, Australia
noelene.duff@whitehorse.vic.gov.au
Our city’s economic development strategy for 2014–19 has the vision “Whitehorse, Gateway to the East” and sets the guiding principles for economic sustainability initiatives for both Whitehorse and the wider region. It includes:
- A council-approved investment attraction prospectus.
- An investment and development facilitation service.
- Whitehorse Business Week.
- A business engagement plan (digital/broadband) that includes funding across 10 municipalities.
- Small business mentoring.
- A partnership with our local university (Deakin).
- A city procurement policy that guides the purchasing of local products.
- The Whitehorse Business Group composed of business and councillor representatives.
T.C. Broadnax
City Manager
Tacoma, Washington
In Tacoma, city leaders have always maintained a deliberate and strategic focus on business retention and expansion and on small business development and entrepreneurship. Efforts include support services for veteran-owned businesses; international trade and investment, targeting opportunities with Pacific Rim countries; and downtown and neighborhood revitalization that involves historic preservation and arts and culture.
Tacoma’s economy is further enhanced by a large international port, three major health care employers, and a significant military presence at nearby Joint Base Lewis-McChord.
As part of the vision for Tacoma’s future, elected officials and staff are enhancing community access to jobs and ensuring that every zip code in our city benefits from investments made to foster a healthier economy.
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