Business "stakeholders" key to area development

Toledo Business Journal
December, 2006

(L-R) Mike Carroll, director of the Center for Regional Development at Bowling Green State University; Mike Taylor and John Bryson from the University of Birmingham; and Neil Reid, director of Urban Affairs Center at the University of Toledo.

In mid-November, the Center for Regional Development (CRD) at Bowling Green State University (BGSU) and its director Michael Carroll along with the Urban Affairs Center at University of Toledo and its director Neil Reid co-hosted a session that brought international economic development professionals to the Toledo area. The program was part of an effort to link development professionals and academics in other countries to share best practices.

Two British economic development professionals from the University of Birmingham and one professional from New Zealand traveled to Toledo to share economic development practices of their respective regions.

Mike Taylor from the University of Birmingham shared experiences from his work in Australia because of its similarities to the United States, including its federal system of government and its separate regions that each approached economic development differently. Over the years, Taylor observed economic development efforts that had significantly different approaches. The "consultative approach" involved outside consultants that were brought in to do a study and to issue a report. Taylor explained that this approach often did not work because the studies were done, but actions were often not taken.

Taylor observed another approach that involved stakeholders from the community actively participating in the development project work. Consultants could be involved, but only to assist in gathering information and providing support. He observed that the strongest results occurred when community stakeholders led an economic development effort and had support from others to do the project work.