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Regional Community Development News – March 7,  2007  [regions_work] 

 

A weekly compilation of  news links about and for regional communities pursuing local and regional development. 

Published on line since November 11,  2003.

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Hello –

The purpose of this weekly eNewsletter is to make "regional community" development approaches visible. I send an email to organizations featured – so if you are already subscribed,  please be tolerant of this duplication.  

It is a free subscription – use this email link regions_work-subscribe@yahoogroups.com to subscribe. No other information is required. Unsubscription is just as easy,  an option at the end of every issue.

This is published weekly. I select what stands out for one reason or another, positive or critical,  from articles that the Google News search finds. It is meant to be scanned. If you don't have time for this invitation,  maybe a staff person or other individuals would be interested. Suggestions for improvement welcome.

 Thanks.

 Tom Christoffel,  Editor

 
  1. Southwest Florida needs to get on the economic-regionalism bus - NaplesNews.com Naples,   FL

Let me begin by defining the Southwest Florida region. It consists of Lee,  Collier,  Charlotte,  Hendry and Glades counties,  all of which to differing degrees have their economic-development initiatives.

Regionalism in no way would diminish these efforts/organizations; rather it would strengthen these individual county groups,  serving to brand Southwest Florida collectively with leveraged human and financial focus and resources,  as a preferred business destination.

Multicounty economic-development organizations,  which have been a basic structure in economic development for about 30 years,  provide a broader and stronger leadership base to work together to plan and execute solutions to our local challenges and provide more comprehensive strategies to seize opportunities for our local communities

…

RC: Southwest Florida Regional Planning Council

  2. Wrong planks build board of myregion.org - Orlando Sentinel - Orlando, FL, USA

When Myregion-org formed in 2001,  the idea seemed smart: Get power brokers across Central Florida to view Orlando and communities around it as one big area.

That makes sense. We really are one. Consider that traffic flows across boundaries and businesses connect us,  as do the universities and colleges,  entertainment venues and Orlando's big hospitals.

The theory was we'd have more thoughtful growth,  a useful transportation system and improved education if everyone worked together.

So far,  what's happened? Nothing.

Over the last year,   myregion.org used an $850, 000 grant on a much-touted project called "How Shall We Grow?" that became controversial over a botched online survey. That's just a footnote,  however,  to the two flaws that leave Myregion-org and its project without credibility.

The organization is now -- and always has been -- backed financially and politically by …

RC: East Central Florida Regional Planning Council

Polk Co. in Central Florida Regional Planning Council

 

  3.  Leaders Announce Regional Planning Initiative - KOLD-TV - Tucson, AZ, USA

As organizers see it,  the approach worked for transportation,  so it should work for water or education or health care.

Back in May,  voters approved a half-cent sales tax along with a long-term transportation plan for Pima County.

In the year leading up to the election,  two different groups,  one technical,  the other a citizens panel,  hammered out a plan,  one they felt would do the most good for the most people.

Included in the citizens panel were environmentalists,  business leaders,  members of local governments and advocates for low income people,  among others.

It would represent a broad cross section of the community.

Now,  a town hall organized by the Southern Arizona Leadership Council promises to begin addressing other common issues to the region,  using the approach that seemed to work for the RTA plan.

"The objective of this effort is action,  and action is going to be at the core of everything we do, " said Ron Shoopman,  president of the Southern Arizona Leadership Council.

The regional approach to several issues is something Tucson Mayor Bob Walkup has talked about in the past,  saying if it could work for transportation,  it could work for a number of things.

Walkup said then it was an approach he would like to take.

…

RC: Pima Association of Governments

 

  4.  Water groups grapple with service boundaries - Monterey County Herald

Regional solution requires a definition of 'region'

If Monterey Bay water officials are looking for alternatives to ensuring a regional water supply,  they might start by deciding just what the "region" is.

Proposals fielded Wednesday at a Monterey Regional Water Supply Collaboration meeting,  called by the state Public Utilities Commission's Division of Ratepayer Advocates,  ranged from including all of Monterey County to tying Salinas and southern Santa Cruz County to a regional system. The meeting was held in Marina.

Self-described "facilitator/autocrat" Steve Kasower of the University of California-Santa Cruz urban and regional water research team,  who chaired the meeting,  said all interested communities are free to attend the sessions.

While the water collaborators are "not a water management group, " he said,  "we're not just a touchy-feely group." Since the meetings have been called by the PUC and its ratepayer advocate division,  "it has teeth,  and can bite you."

Kasower is serving as a consultant to the Division of Ratepayer Advocates,  which has called the series of meetings to determine which water agencies would be on board for a regional approach. The event has drawn dozens of representatives from area water agencies,  private companies and citizen organizations.

North County's Pajaro Sunny Mesa Community Services District has not sent representatives to the meetings.

A report on future water demands outside California American Water's Monterey service area listed North County,  including Moss Landing and Castroville but not Salinas or Watsonville. Curtis Weeks,  general manager of the county Water Management Agency,  said demands outside Cal Am's service area should be addressed.

The report shows a current water demand in North County of 4, 970 acre-feet and a potential future demand for 11, 400 acre-feet per year.

Determining which "region" should be served should "focus on where the people are, " …

 

  5. Selectman says: It's time to regionalize - Swampscott Reporter - Marblehead, MA, USA

Regionalization is back on Swampscott's municipal agenda,  put there by fiscal reality if nothing else.

Nearly 15 years ago,  town officials of the day met with their Marblehead counterparts to discuss "regionalizing" many government programs,  from schools to police to firefighters to public works. But the only visible result — and it wasn't even with Marblehead — came later when Lynn took over dispatch for the Swampscott Fire Department.

But with a budget deficit staring Swampscott,  at least,  in the face with really big numbers,  some officials want to re-open old talks.

…

"It's time to get serious about regionalization, " Cassidy says. "and I've asked Andrew to get together with Marblehead on several things,  but apparently it's only civilian dispatch so far."

Cassidy notes that the two towns have spent $100 million over the past few years to build two new high schools.

"Everybody knows we should have regionalized when we did that, " he says,  "and we can still look at it. The Fire Department can be regionalized quickly and the Police Department can't be far behind."

…

   6. SEDA-COG plans Thruway push - Sunbury Daily Item - Sunbury, PA, USA

The SEDA-Council of Governments board members and staff hope their meetings in March with lawmakers will advance funding for the Central Susquehanna Valley Thruway.

SEDA-COG staff member Ryan Unger said they hope to make congressmen from outside the Valley aware of the importance of the project. "We want to get on the radar of congressmen who have not heard about it, " he said.

He told the SEDA-COG board Wednesday that SEDA-COG will be working with chambers of commerce,  industrial development corporations and trade groups to try to determine how the project,  which is important to the entire region,  can be funded.

Board members and staff plan to meet with lawmakers March 20-22 in Washington,  D.C. There will be sessions with the National Association of Development Organization,  which is an advocacy organization for SEDA-COG,  and meetings with U.S. Reps. John Peterson and Chris Carney and U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter. Aides are working on scheduling meetings with U.S. Sen. Robert Casey and U.S. Reps. Bill Shuster and Paul Kanjorski. While the word from the office of U.S. Rep. Tim Holden was that they would have to meet with a legislative aide,  Steve Kusheloff,  of SEDA-COG,  asked commissioners from Perry County to push for a meeting with Mr. Holden.

The group plans to meet with the Appalachian Regional Commission about an energy blueprint and with Energizing Rural America officials on biofuels and alternative fuels.

...

 

  7. Metro-York group offers glimpse into regionalization plans
York Dispatch - York, PA, USA

What were once esoteric planning concepts are turning into dinner-table conversation in the York area,  where efforts to promote regional cooperation are gaining steam.

That's good news for Eric Menzer,  co-chair of Metro-York. The YorkCounts project,  meant to address the problems of the area's fragmented government system,  is not only gaining wider attention,  he said,  but municipal leaders across the York area are pledging to work together.

Metro-York participants,  seeking solutions since the group was formed last spring,  are months away from presenting their final suggestions. But at an update last evening,  Menzer gave an idea of what solutions to the area's ills might be.

The problems were diagnosed more than a decade ago by urban policy expert David Rusk and elaborated on by a small parade of others in the years since. Rusk and others have pointed to statistics that demonstrate a concentration of poverty in York City,  racial segregation,  areas of limited tax base and deteriorated infrastructure -- and warned that the problems would spread outward into older suburbs.

More than 30 people gathered at the Jewish Community Center in York Township to hear Menzer talk about solutions that Metro-York might propose this summer. They include:

--- A regional approach to public safety. Public safety services,  including police and fire,  are the most expensive thing that local government provides,  Menzer said. They also are services that beg for cooperation,  since criminals take little notice of municipal lines.

--- Multi-municipality planning efforts. State law could allow for a council of governments or other methods of coordination,  Menzer said. That could shape development and address multiple problems such as a shortage of affordable housing in some areas.

....

 

  8. Short-Sea Shipping Gets New Name and New Focus from MARAD and Congress – MarEx Newsletter,  Fort Lauderdale,  FL

...
According to MARAD,  "water transportation,  especially along our coasts and inland waterways is a sensible,  economical,  and environmentally friendly solution to many of our growing congestion problems." The initiative translates into investing into the marine highway system to facilitate the integration of waterborne transportation into the nation's transportation system.

MARAD defines "America's Marine Highway" as "an Initiative encompassing commercial waterborne transportation which does not transit an ocean. It is an alternative form of commercial transportation that utilizes inland,  coastal waterways and our Great Lakes to move commercial freight from one destination to another." MARAD also hopes that cooperative agreements with NAFTA partners Canada and Mexico will help to mitigate border congestion with these neighbors. MARAD says that these agreements are considered part of America's Marine Highway Initiative.

The ideas are not new,  but the renewed enthusiasm gives hope to the Department of Transportation where DOT Secretary Mary Peters,  a long-time expert on highway matters,  hopes to team with Connaughton on reducing road congestion while pumping up water-based commerce. On Thursday,  lawmakers appeared ready to back up that enthusiasm with new legislation to jumpstart the process. Connaughton himself verified that short-sea shipping was among the administration's top priorities and that specific proposals would be presented to Congress to further that goal.

 

  9. Upcoming planning workshop to benefit county and region - Rappahannock News - Washington, VA, USA

 

Rappahannock County is a front runner candidate to serve as host community of the 6th Annual RRRC Living Towns Planning Workshop. The purpose of the popular annual workshop series is "to bring together representatives of the region's towns with those of public and private sector entities to network and exchange information on planning,  revitalization and the preservation of towns as vital economic living centers." Among other goals of the program are to share ideas for planning and quality of life; preserve historic and natural heritage; promote networking among communities; integrate resources from multiple state resources,  and to enhance regional identity and community.

The Rappahannock-Rapidan Regional Commission,  or Planning District 9,  the series' convener,  will assist local community leaders in developing a detailed workshop agenda that focuses on current local and regional topics,  and responds to area needs. The workshop will employ a panel discussion/case study format,  with presentations to be provided by knowledgeable speakers from similar-size communities both inside and outside the region. RRRC will also provide assistance by taking care of registration,  preparation of workshop materials,  and public outreach.

...

 

10. U.S. regional communities - sub-State,  State or multi-State - in news articles. Highlighted words are Google search terms. In this and the following section,  links to websites of organizations are added to the news excerpt when this is the first time an organization has been found. A goal of this newsletter is to find every regional council in the U.S. in a news story.  In most cases,  where a full name is present a Google search will quickly get one to that organization. 

 

    .10  Next mayor must think regionally
Philadelphia Inquirer - Philadelphia, PA, USA
Now that the Democratic primary for mayor has kicked into high gear,  the next several months will surely demonstrate the wisdom of Tip O'Neill's adage that ...

 

    .11 Entire region should expect boost from Toyota: Officials
The Commercial Dispatch - Columbus, MS, USA
"We commend the effort that allowed the Wellsprings site to be certified,  thus demonstrating the community,  site and region's preparedness to land an auto ...

 

    .12  Planning Commission examines fate of transit system
UWM Post - Milwaukee, WI, USA
At the request of Milwaukee County and in light of a potentially serious funding shortfall,  the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission is developing a short-term plan for the county transit system. …

    .13  Chamber reserves regional name
The Coloradoan - Fort Collins, CO, USA

"By registering articles of incorporation it reserves the name 'Northern Colorado Chamber of Commerce;'… The filing is a way to make sure the chamber will be involved in the possible organization of a regional chamber. … "With the significant changes going on in Northern Colorado,  it's natural for individuals and groups to look at how they are positioned for the future. The idea may or may not have merit,  but if conversations are underway,  they should include the Fort Collins Area Chamber,  and securing the names ensures that will be the case, " May said. May emphasized the chamber has no plans to establish a regional entity.
…

    .14 White resigns for new post
The Gloucester County Times - Woodbury, NJ, USA
… White,  who was handpicked for the job,  would be responsible for overseeing regionalization projects being considered by the county. "We want to do countywide courts,  EMS and trash collection, " Sweeney said. "We needed a person who has municipal experience to help create this new type of government with countywide municipal services." …

    .15  State praises regional cooperation
Henderson Gleaner - Henderson, KY, USA
Economic development happens on a regional basis - not on a county-by-county basis,  according to Nathan Feltman,  Indiana secretary of commerce and the president of the Indiana Development Corp. ...

    .16 Mariposa clears regional planning hurdle
Palatka Daily News - Palatka, FL, USA

The Northeast Florida Regional Council approved several recommendations on Thursday regarding the impact mitigation process for the proposed Putnam County development of regional impact,  Mariposa. …

 

    .17  Tourism regions lost opportunity
Aberdeen American News - Aberdeen, SD, USA
House Bill 1243 was a smart idea that would have officially created tourism regions - formalizing the Northern Route to the Black Hills as an additional ...

 

    .18  EDITORIAL: Toyota Mississippi
Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal - Tupelo, MS, USA
An increasingly profound sense of regionalism and connectiveness permeates actions taken by boards of supervisors in Pontotoc,  Lee and Union counties,  ...

 

    .19  From jails to landfills,  regionalism's the way to go
Lynchburg News and Advance - Lynchburg, VA, USA
Regionalism is a concept that's had its ups and downs,  especially here in Central Virginia,  uhm,  make that "Region 2000." ...

 

    .20 Regional poll finds traffic more vexing
TheReporter.com - Vacaville, CA, USA
The poll,  by the business advocacy group Bay Area Council,  interviewed 600 people in the nine Bay Area counties to gauge what they believe are the biggest ...

 

    .21  CDQs form community development association,  hire executive director
Kodiak Daily Mirror - Kodiak, AK, USA
... community director of the Southwest Alaska Municipal Conference,  an Alaska Regional Development Organization and federal economic development district. ...

 

    .22  Illiana on short list for 'Corridors of the Future'
Munster Times - Munster, IN, USA
The US Department of Transportation initiative aims to accelerate multistate projects geared toward alleviating highway congestion....

 

    .23  Community workshop: Building on now for a better future
The Havre Daily News - Havre, MT, USA
Opportunity Link,  a seven-region poverty reduction organization working to unite resources and fight poverty,  has partnered with Hopa Mountain,  ...

 

    .24  Economic indicator shows Kanas still behind other states in region
Wichita Business Journal - Wichita, KS, USA
A economic survey economic shows Kansas continued to lag behind other states in the region for the month of February. The Business Conditions Survey rated ...

 

    .25  The New England Council Forms New Higher Education Committee
Business Wire (press release), CA

… higher education in the region including: public funding,  the ability of students to meet rising costs,  the future of research and workforce development challenges. …the nation's oldest regional business organization - recently formed a Higher Education

 

    .26  Solving the Duluth-Superior brain drain
BusinessNorth-com - Duluth, MN, USA
… The trick is to stop young people,  sometimes the best and brightest,  from leaving town. A national foundation has teamed up to bring out this region's economic creativity. …

 

    .27  Warming may change forests
Concord Monitor - Concord, NH, USA
New Hampshire has already signed the United States's first multi-state pact to reduce greenhouse gases. The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative,  would reduce ...

 

    .28  Group proposes long-term development ideas for MetroWest region
MetroWest Daily News - Framingham, MA, USA
… "MAPC's "Let it Be" scenario suggests problems the region faces today with sprawling development,  unaffordable housing,  educational inequality and water conservation." ...

 

    .29  MAG votes on measures to clear the air of dust
AZ Central-com - AZ, USA
… Maricopa Association of Governments committee … first set of measures aimed at clearing the dust out of county skies. The goal? Cutting 4, 594 tons of airborne dust pollution each year - …

 

    .30  TMACOG slates local meeting to discuss transportation plan
Monroenews-com - Monroe, MI, USA
The Toledo Metropolitan Area Council of Governments (TMACOG) will host a series of public meetings - including one in Monroe County …

 

    .31 Garcia to lead DRCOG
North Denver News - Denver, CO, USA
Its 2030 planning document is both a highwater mark in regional cooperation and a keystone in shaping the metro area's future shape. ...

 

    .32   X-rated zone too close for comfort
Boston Globe - Boston, MA, USA
... according to Stephen C. Smith,  executive director of the Taunton-based Southeastern Regional Planning and Economic Development District. ...

 

    .33  Author Promotes Ideas On Metro Government
Wheeling News Register - Wheeling, WV, USA
David Rusk,  author of the book "Creating a Greater Wheeling, " stands ready as a source of information for Wheeling and Ohio County in their efforts to grow the local economy through potential government consolidation. …

 

    .34  REGIONAL: NEW SURVEY CONFIRMS TRAFFIC AS BIGGEST REGIONAL GRIPE
CBS 5 - San Francisco, CA, USA
A new poll released today by the Bay Area Council,  a regional business advocacy group,  confirms that traffic remains the top concern of Bay Area residents. ...

    .35  Nevada's Rural Regional Center recognized with accreditation
Reno Gazette Journal - Reno, NV, USA
"Rural Regional Center is excited to partner with CQL to embrace a community-focused service model that breaks down the barriers between community members,  ...

 

11. Other in the news: Highlighted words are Google search terms.

 

    .10  Grants to nonprofits help form partnership
Colorado Springs Gazette - Colorado Springs, CO, USA

Grants given to nonprofit organizations and charities are not a handout or gift — they're a fairtrade agreement … Foundations and corporations expect that in exchange for a $5, 000 or $10, 000 grant,  there will be a worthwhile return: …

 

    .11  Analysis: Regional newspapers on the slide
Utalkmarketing (press release) - London, UK
The growth and immediacy of online media together with the availability of free papers has impacted heavily on the UK regional newspaper market according to ...

 

    .12  The making of South East Economic Commission
Nigerian Tribune - Ibadan, Nigeria
To further address these problems,  it was agreed that a regional body should be set up that would start critical thinking towards cultivating and nurturing ...

 

    .13  In a first,  NSG to provide cover at World Cup
Times of India - New Delhi, India
… India to provide comprehensive security,  including ships and even air cover during the games. … Regional Intelligence Fusion Centre in Port-of-Spain to collect,  analyse and coordinate intelligence during the World Cup. …

    .14  European agricultural regions discuss future policy
Fresh Plaza - Netherlands
... Areflh (Fruit Vegetable and Horticultural European Regions Assembly) ... 27 regions from six European countries (Spain,  France,  Italy,  Portugal,  Belgium and Greece) ...

    .15  EU Research highlights importance of polar regions for the global climate
EurofundingMag - Paris, France
The European Commission has today released a report highlighting the advances in understanding the role of polar regions in climate change and the ...

 

    .16  Study names socially disadvantaged regions
ABC Regional Online - Australia
Bourke,  Walgett,  Brewarrina and Lightning Ridge have been named among the most socially disadvantaged postcodes in New South Wales in a new study. ...

 

    .17  Regions call for EU treaty to be revived
EUPolitix.com - Brussels, Belgium
"The fact that it has fallen by the wayside represents something of a roadblock for Europe's regions and smaller states like Wales, " he added. ...

 

    .18  EU project CONNEX presents databases on EU governance
CORDIS Noticias - Bruselas, Belgium
At www.connex-network.org the largest socio-scientific catalogue of data on the topic „Governance in the European Union" is publicly available online. ...

 

    .19  Demystifying SOA Governance
SDA India Magazine - Singapore
This is where SOA governance comes into play. Governance means monitoring and managing the life cycle of services. SDA Asia spoke to Dan Ternes,  ...

    .20  Local bodies first line of defence in governance system: PM
Associated Press of Pakistan - Pakistan
... the Local Bodies system has also allowed representation of all segments of society particularly women,  minorities,  labour and agriculturists. The Prime Minister said that a sense of participation in governing the affairs of the district has been created as a result of these reforms. ...

    .21  Managing human capital
Financial Express-bd - Bangladesh
Human talent is mobile and knows no regional boundaries. Businesses and nations have this challenge of being competitive in the global market place,  by using the global human resources. ...

 

    .22  Deal reached to extend Toronto's subway into York Region: report
680 News - Toronto, Ontario, Canada
The province,  including Toronto and York Region have already committed money to the project. The latter two agreed last September agreed to split the cost. ...

 

    .23  Scathing report throws future of regional assemblies into doubt
This is London - London, England, UK
And the inquiry by a left-wing think tank called for a "redesign" of regional assemblies and warned that it is possible they may be abolished. ...

 

    .24  Regional governance is 'unfinished business'
ePolitix - UK
Treasury ministers John Healey and Ed Balls have welcomed a new report which sets out ways to overhaul the governance of England's regions. ...

 

    .25  North super-agency urged by think-tank
ic Newcastle-co.uk - Newcastle, England, UK
"We recognise the Government has determinedly devolved powers to the regional development agencies (RDAs) who have worked well and made great strides in ...

 

    .26  New Model of Security Emphasizes Partnership,  Cooperation
NewsBlaze - Folsom, CA, USA
The traditional concept of defense has given way to a new model of security,  bringing concepts such as partnership and cooperation to the fore,  ...

 

    .27  'Clearing house' to vet sharing of the Nile's water
East African - Nairobi, Kenya
Establishment of a permanent Nile Basin Commission has already been agreed on. Once the framework is fully agreed upon and can be used as a regional working ...

 

12. Blogs: Highlighted words are Google search terms.

 

    .10  Will Outside.in nail the community Web site? Maybe
It has one useful,  powerful feature we haven't seen before: You can switch the focus of your region easily — using a map feature at the top left of your region. This lets you zoom in or out to include more or less surrounding regions or ...

 

    .11  MARC-Model Atlanta Regional Commission
By Sonia Wilcox
In an effort to involve the youth of the region in planning for the city's future,  the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC)-the official planning agency for the 10-county Atlanta region-created a dynamic youth leadership program in 1998 ...

 

    .12  SES transmits the information service from the European Union
By Andy
... transmission of this service by the SES satellite fleet gives it a wider multi regional coverage and allows the European Commission to reach all EU countries as well as other continents ...

Link: Europe by Satellite

 

    .13 Heart of the Triad update
By Sandy Carmany (Sandy Carmany)
One representative from each of the 3 regional authorities: Piedmont Triad International Airport,  High Point Furniture Market,  and Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Utilities Commission. * The requests of the four chambers of commerce and ...

 

    .14  Will Lovikkavanten survive?
By David Carlson
I was writing about this issue in the David Report bulletin called Supreme Regionalism where I bring forward the importance of regional culture and traditions in a world getting more and more mainstream. ...

 

    .15  Wine Blog Atlas - Welcome to the World of Regionally focused blogs
By Ryan
Houston,  we have lift off! The newest addition to the wine blogging universe is now ready to go - though,  I'm sure,  not without some problems. Bugs,  critters and general miscues are apt to pop up in these first few days,  not to mention ...

 

    .16  Study Shows Possible Drop in Homeless in Virginia Municipality
But many shelter directors and homeless advocates say it's too soon to tell whether cities are seeing a true downward trend. Regionally,  about 1200 homeless people were identified during a "point-in-time" survey late ...

 

    .17  Frank Jackson's State of the City
By rightangle
We can only do that with a regional economy and the City of Cleveland and our regional neighbors have laid that foundation. ... We'll see where he comes up with the idea to fund that,  although regionalism is an idea that must be embraced ...

 

    .18 Comment on State of the City; Mayor outlines Wi-Fi,  investment,  regionalism plans
… "Cleveland will be recognized as a city of technology. We will have an environment that promotes innovation,  and we will be able to compete globally." Simply putting up a wifi network doesn't do any of those things. Cleveland is late to the game …

 

    .19  Product Development 2.0

URENIO - Urban and Regional Innovation Research Unit
… term Product Development 2.0 to describe a concept that embodies the use of Web 2.0 concepts such as harnessing collective intelligence,  users as co-creators,  and turning applications into platforms …

 

    .20  Ideal number of regions
By Gφran Hansson(Gφran Hansson)
… Sweden doesn't differ much from most other European states facing pressure from below to decentralise power - except perhaps that Sweden is,  alongside France,  probably the most centralised state in Europe.  …

 

    .21  Offshoring and Regions
By Creativity Group
Brookings has just released this report on the impacts of "service outsourcing" on US regions. Twenty-eight metropolitan areas,  with 13.5 percent of the nation's population,  are likely to lose between 2.6 and 4.3 percent of their jobs ...

 

    .22  Gobal Warming could cause an agricultural collapse in some regions
By sduford
… agricultural experts who are increasingly worried that global warming will trigger food shortages long before it causes better known but more distant threats,  such as rising sea levels that flood coastal cities. …

 

    .23  One world language?
ProgressiveU-org - San Mateo, CA, USA
For an intergovernmental organization such as the European Union,  an IAL could be helpful with conducting the business of the organization. ...

 

    .24  Facing Tighter Budgets,  Nordic Nations Consider Greater Cooperation
Epicos-com (press release) - Switzerland
… tight future budgets,  mounting international peacekeeping responsibilities,  and force transformation,  it is logical that the Scandinavian governments would seek coordinated options to better ensure territorial protection. ...

 

    .25  Welcome To One Network by Akindele Akinyemi
By madwriter9(madwriter9)
We are excited to move in this new direction towards a new community. We are already building urban regional networks in Southwestern Michigan. Regardless of obstacles that will stand in our way we are moving ahead on schedule with or ...

 

    .26  Three Years After March 11th : Regional Challenges for a Globalizing World - Safe Democracy΄s International Conference
By Martin

discussion of not only the terrorism phenomenon,  but also the various regional inequalities that directly affect democracy and global security. …  a political and social system that promises security …

 

    .27  Milwaukee: a region under construction
Lawrentian (subscription) - Appleton, WI, USA
The Milwaukee 7,  a group formed from seven counties of southeastern Wisconsin … College newspapers from around the state participated in a familiarization conference hosted by the Milwaukee 7 …

 

    .28  Organisational Terrorism
By ShantanuDas(ShantanuDas)
The phrase evolved after Regional or Domestic Terrorism crosses national or regional boundaries by joining hands with each other in different countries,  Funds flowing across national borders through backdoors,  and with the acts of ...

 

    .29  Back to Biden,  Baker and Hamilton
By Maria Evans
Because Iraq's population is not neatly separated,  regional boundaries cannot be easily drawn. All eighteen Iraqi provinces have mixed populations,  as do Baghdad and most other major cities in Iraq. A rapid devolution could result in ...

 

    .30  Factlet of the day – UK Regions
By Dick(Dick)
This chart from Oxford Economics shows the regions that are net beneficiary of government expenditure (ie who receive more than they contribute in taxes). As you can see; London,  the South East and Eastern regions fund the rest of the ...

 

    .31 Regional US Intellectual History: The Right Direction?
By Tim Lacy(Tim Lacy)
While I firmly believe regional and micro-analyses have a great deal of validity,  there needs to be,  in 2007,  a commitment to firming up our national identity as US intellectual historians. For instance,  with regard to SIHC and the US ...

 

13. Announcements and Regional Links

 

    .10 39th Annual International Conference of the Community Development Society Will Be Held In Appleton – Wisbusiness-com - Madison, WI, USA

"I encourage anyone interested in regional economic development to attend this informative conference, " says Department of Commerce Secretary Mary P. Burke. ... Sponsors include the Community Development Society (CDS),  the National Rural Development Partnership (NRDP),  and Wisconsin Rural Partners,   Inc. …

    .11    New Local Government Network (NLGN) – UK

NLGN works closely with individual local authorities,  national agencies,  central government and the private sector to promote ideas about how our objectives can be achieved in practice. NLGN has also been a key proponent of directly elected mayors,  something reflected in the ongoing work of our Mayoral Forum.

 

 

14. Subscription

 

End of the road for car culture? - Dallas Morning News (subscription) - TX, USA

 

Forget the myths,  says MICHAEL MORRIS; here are some transportation facts

…

As you set out for the office on the average workday,  you can safely bet your commute will be anything but predictable. With few exceptions,  whether you drive five or 50 minutes,  a rush-hour trip within our traffic-choked region promises painfully long delays.

 

The numbers suggest that things will drastically worsen if our focus remains on the traditional single-minded traffic remedies of more lane miles and massive freeway expansions.

 

The Dallas-Fort Worth area boasted 3.6 million jobs in 2005. By 2030,  studies project the region will employ 5.4 million people. Population,  which stood at 5.8 million in 2005,  is expected to grow to 9 million by 2030.

 

As more people move here,  road congestion naturally increases because,  even with more drivers paying taxes and innovations in transportation financing,  we can't build roads fast enough to meet the demand.

…

 

Fact 1: Our roads are unreliable.

…

 

Fact 2: Transit is a good alternative.

…

 

Fact 3: We deserve choices.

…

The North Central Texas Council of Governments and its transportation policy body,  the Regional Transportation Council,  are searching for ways to provide alternatives to automobiles. …

 

Fact 4: We must improve air quality in North Texas.

…

 

Michael Morris is director of transportation for the North Central Texas Council of Governments. …

 

 15. Google News for "Regional Community"

Other menu sections available from this link include : Regional Development; Regional Council;  Regional Commission; Regional America; Regional Asia; Regional Europe; Regional Competition; Regionalism; Intergovernmental and other search terms. They can be sorted by date or relevance. These are among the 50 search terms I use to produce this newsletter.   

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     My name is Tom Christoffel. I've worked in the field of intergovernmental cooperation since 1973. As a consequence, "I see regions work." Regional Community Development News is published weekly based on news reports as of Wednesday.

     Making visible analysis and actions at multi-jurisdictional regional scales is its purpose. "Think globally, act locally" was innovative in its time. Today the local scale is often too small to address today's needs and opportunities. "Think local planet, act regionally,  " is my candidate paradigm. (No one said we're only allowed one paradigm.)

     We can see that "regional communities" are organized locally and now act both to avoid tragedy in the commons and gain benefits. An effective multi-jurisdictional regional community has DNA: it is geographically Defined; has a common Name and its Alignment is inclusive of smaller communities and participatory in larger communities. So, by scanning this compilation, reading articles and checking organizations - you too will be able to see the regional communities that already exist.

     News references are found using the Google News search service. Media article links are "fair use" to transform globally scattered reports to make regional approaches visible. Links go to the publisher and do not compete with it. Such publishers are likely to have related stories and thus be seen by new customers. "Regional" is an emerging news category. There is no charge for this service and no profit is made from its use, though any user can become more aware of the topic itself. 

     To read and search previous issues go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/regions_work/messages The term "Development" was added to the name in January, 2006.

For a free subscription use this email link – no additional information required:

            regions_work-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

Questions, comments or items to feature in Regional Community Development News? 

Please e-mail the editor: Tom.Christoffel@...

Thomas J. (Tom) Christoffel,  AICP Making regions visible for Leaders and Problem-solvers. www.regionalintelligence.com or www.regions.ws __________________________________________________________________________