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Let's Modernize and Decentralize Economic Development
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Reviewed Ideas
Forwarded to PlanPHX Leadership Committee and appropriate city department

While we recognize that the city's Community and Economic Development Department has it's hands in many different projects, I'd propose that we are letting a great deal of potential growth fall through the cracks. To most of us, the city's economic development strategy looks more like a wistful corporate relocation and foreign trade partnership development program (or maybe those are just the stories that make the news).

In looking at the city's organizational chart (link attached), the problem appears clear: our Community and Economic Development Department is a centralized group that appears to answer to no one other than the city manager. What if we instead implemented a model whereby economic development professionals were placed within a variety of departments that were either managed jointly or could coordinate their efforts via internal liaisons or an interdisciplinary team? This team should then have a primary directive of helping local businesses grow; to meet this objective, they should be regularly interfacing with CEDC organizations, SBA counselors, and groups like Local First Arizona.

In implementing this idea, we need to tie it to the general plan, with specific economic development goals for each area of the city (urban village or otherwise). This would provide a tool for keeping our economic development activities more accountable to the community they serve.

More Info:
http://phoenix.gov/webcms/groups/internet/@inter/@dept/@mgr/documents/web_content/016897.pdf
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