The political mantra of the 21st century is jobs, jobs, jobs! But how do states and local communities create thejobs, economic opportunity, and a tax base thatimproves civic life for everyone? While cities can't create private-sector jobs directly, they can create the conditions that generate jobs. And that's what Developing Local Economies: How to Create Jobs, Expand the Tax Base, and Improve Opportunities for All is about.
Drawing upon author Francis X. Mahady's 40+ years of experience in economic development and planning, the book explains: What a local economy is, and how it compares to the regional, state, and national economies How to craft an economic development strategy for your community that enhances economic opportunities for residents How to engage a city's business leaders--who already have political clout and credibility--to lead improvement initiatives Whyit's critical to revitalize downtowns and waterfronts How to attract businesses and real estate developers How to create economic and fiscal impact analyses of development projects
Developing Local Economies covers the topics that both professional and lay participants in local economic development must deal with on a day-to-day basis to create an economically vibrant community. Besides hands-on, actionable information, Mahady reveals the secrets, myths, misunderstandings, successes, and failures of economic development learned over the course of decades helping communities develop a thriving economic base.He backs his advice with a combination of straightforward analytic techniques and case studies from his extensive professional experience.
Developing Local Economies is written for economic and community developers, city officials, state and local politicians, policy analysts, bankers, real estate developers, Chamber of Commerce members, entrepreneurs, and influential businesspeople who understand that what's good for their community is good for their businesses.Itwill helpcommunities develop successful projects that end up improving the quality of life in myriad ways."
About the Author: Francis X. Mahady, principal of FXM Associates, is an economist and planner with 40 years of professional experience in community and regional planning throughout the U.S. He is the author of over 400 professional reports, journal articles, and conference presentations in the fields of economic development, transportation, land use, economic and demographic forecasting, social and economic impact assessment, and real estate development. He has directed and authored over 250 research reports assessing regional, community-wide, downtown, neighborhood, and site-specific economic and real estate development potential. Prior to founding FXM Associates in 1991, he was a senior vice president of Economics Research Associates, where he led that firm's transportation and economic impacts assessment practice nationwide for fifteen years. Mahady and FXM are internationally recognized leaders in economic and fiscal impact assessment methodology and practice and apply their understanding of the direct and indirect consequences of projects job creation, business sales, and tax revenues in economic development project work. Mahady holds a BA from Harvard College and a Master of City Planning degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
