Innovative Economic Development Strategies
Traditionally local government economic development policy has focused on attracting new business through incentives and subsidies. However new economic development approaches emphasize investment in the social infrastructure necessary to support a vibrant, creative, entrepreneurial economy. Many states are looking at the importance of infrastructural supports such as child care on regional economic well being. At the city and neighborhood level governments are exploring new public private partnerships to increase investment in downtown business districts (Business Improvement Districts). Often initiated by non-profit associations or community development corporations, these innovative approaches have come to scale and now attract support from the majority of local governments.
Professor Warner's Research
Professor Warner's research explores the role of community collaborations and investments in social infrastructure in promoting local and regional economic development. Recent articles include the following in addition to a Special Issue of Community Development: The Journal of the Community Development Society on the Economic Importance of Child Care for Community Development.
Warner, M and Christine Weiss Daugherty 2004. "Promoting the ‘Civic’ in Entrepreneurship: The Case of Rural Slovakia," Journal of the Community Development Society Vol 35, No. 1.
Warner, M.E. and Zhilin Liu 2005. Regional Economic Development and Local Services: The Case of Child Care, International Journal of Economic Development. 7(1).
Warner, M.E. and Zhilin Liu 2006. "The Importance of Child Care in Economic Development: A Comparative Analysis of Regional Economic Linkage," Economic Development Quarterly 20(1):97-103.
Warner, M.E., 1999. "Collaborative Planning Broadens the Local Economic Development Policy Debate." Journal of Planning Education and Research. 19:201-206. (Earlier version CRP Working Paper #169)
Child Care as Economic Development
The early childhood care and education field is at an exciting moment. Across the US, there is increasing recognition of the economic importance of child care. Early care and education is being recognized as an important economic sector in its own right, and as a critical piece of social infrastructure that supports children's development and facilitates parents' employment. The Linking Economic Development and Child Care Research Project aims to better identify the economic linkages of child care from a regional economy perspective. We support states and localities interested in using an economic development framework to build coalitions with the economic development community, business interests and policy makers to help craft new approaches to child care finance.
Innovative Economic Development Strategies
Survey results show community-based economic development strategies focused on low income neighborhoods are commonly supported by cities in partnership with non profit organizations.
Business Improvement Districts
While effective in promoting economic development, BIDs also raise important issues about governance and control over public space.