Top Regional Community stories

  1. A Regional New Year’s Resolution - Regional Excellence by Bill Dodge

Ugly cats! The phrase caught my attention as I was being introduced at a regional gathering. I had become used to the kind comments, and often hyperbole, of introductions, but I had never heard “He’s the sort of person who loves ugly cats!” She went on to clarify her comment, suggesting that regions were like ugly cats, and one had to have a something akin to a mother’s love to want to foster regional cooperation.

I have now labored for over three decades in the trenches of regional cooperation, helping local leaders and citizens to design ways to cooperate to address cross-cutting challenges. Unfortunately, regions have all too often been ugly cats. And that legacy might threaten the future of regional cooperation, just when it is needed most.

Regional cooperation has had some incredible successes, but it continues to fail to address the tough challenges in most regions. And the challenges are getting tougher, from decaying infrastructure to declining air and water quality, increasing natural and terrorist threats, accelerating climate change, volatile energy costs, and profligate growth. Without success in addressing the toughest challenges -- the true test for governing regions -- “bottom-up” regional cooperation will die, and along with it the ability of individual citizens and their local governments to shape their own futures.

Unless regional cooperation provides an effective tool to address tough challenges, and quickly, it will be displaced by "top down" state and national government actions in response to public frustration. And there is no guarantee that higher levels of government will do better.

I draw this conclusion, reluctantly. Have I, and the many colleagues I respect, been wasting our working years practicing regional cooperation? Were our efforts to educate individuals, establish regional mechanisms, share public services, and design compacts to address timely challenges all for naught?

A resounding no! Our efforts have resulted in building some amazing regional cooperation mechanisms -- from regional councils of governments to regional chambers of commerce, academic institutes, citizens leagues, and sewer and transit authorities. It has resulted in …

http://regional-communities.blogspot.com/2009/01/regional-new-years-resolution-by-bill.html

  2. House Speaker Armond Budish pushes regionalism plan - The Plain Dealer - cleveland.com - Cleveland, OH, USA

Ohio's big cities could see special treatment from the state with income tax breaks on new jobs, more money for school construction and free broadband services for urban businesses under a plan unveiled Monday by new Democratic House Speaker Armond Budish.

However, those potential freebies wouldn't come without a price - Ohio's urban areas would have to participate in state purchasing cooperatives and abide by the results of a study focusing on whether regionalizing services such as fire and trash pickup would save public dollars.

Cities also would have to match the income tax break on newly created jobs with their own municipal tax breaks.

The push for regionalism by the first House speaker from Northeast Ohio in more than 70 years could provide a needed spark for local leaders, who have promoted regionalism for years but made little progress. Budish is the first powerful lawmaker in Columbus to take the lead on the idea.

During his opening remarks to the 99-member House, now controlled by Democrats for the first time in 14 years, the Beachwood Democrat wasted no time pushing an agenda for urban areas that he said the Republican-controlled legislature has overlooked.

Budish called specifically for a compact between the state and major cities with special incentives in exchange for what would be an eventual move toward more regionalism.

"I don't anticipate forcing any cities to do anything, but with incentives and review, there may be a number of services that can be offered more efficiently by groups of cities or regions getting together," Budish told reporters after his speech, which officially kicked off the 128th General Assembly.

The push for regionalism by the first House speaker from Northeast Ohio in more than 70 years could provide a needed spark for local leaders, ...

http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/news/1231234291121530.xml&coll=2

  3. Rock County signs regional pact - Beloit Daily News - Beloit, WI, USA

Steps towards regionalization are still under way in the Stateline Area.

Leaders from Rock County have signed a landmark agreement with seven other counties called the Regional Principles of Collaboration. By signing, the county representatives agreed to work within a set of 10 principles for greater collaboration and a regional approach to economic development.

Leaders from Columbia, Dane, Dodge, Green, Iowa, Jefferson, Sauk and Rock counties participated in the regional agreement signing in December.

“The time is right to look for new ways to grow a strong, stable economy that will sustain our communities,” said Rock County Economic Development Manager James Otterstein. “The Regional Principles of Collaboration stand for the idea that economic development transcends county lines. They give us a roadmap for moving forward with a focus on cooperative projects that will benefit us all.”

President of Thrive Jennifer Alexander called the collaboration a landmark in regional culture. Now, for example, if a company called up Sauk County about moving in and Sauk County was unable to accommodate the company, Sauk Company would refer it to the other counties in the region.

The Principles differ from the problem many municipalities have of competing against each other to lure in business.

“These Principles are an important framework for how we all conduct our work, and how we all work collaboratively to promote the eight-county region,” Alexander said.

Although many areas of the country have made efforts in regional cooperation, there hasn't been as many places that have adopted a formal framework to work off of. The Principles of Collaboration include guidelines on competitiveness, equity, regional collaboration, stewardship, celebrating regional assets, a focused approach, servant leadership, innovation, transparency and measurement.

…

http://www.beloitdailynews.com/articles/2009/01/02/news/local_news/news05.txt  

Note: Wisconsin Department of Commerce – “Wisconsin is divided into eight geographic regions, each comprising a multi-county Regional Planning Commission (RPC).  Only the counties of Columbia, Dane, Dodge, Jefferson, Rock and Sauk are not members of a regional planning commission.”  Map - http://commerce.wi.gov/BD/MT-RPC-map.html

  4. Upper Minnesota Valley RDC loses role in senior services

West Central Tribune - Willmar, MN, USA

As of the new year, the Upper Minnesota Valley Regional Development Commission [http://umvrdc.org/ ] in Appleton no longer has a role in how services such as congregate dining or senior outreach are provided in the five counties it serves: Big Stone, Chippewa, Lac qui Parle, Swift and Yellow Medicine.

It has led some to worry that the region’s seniors could suffer as decisions and services for them are increasingly made and delivered from afar, especially at a time when budget cuts seem likely.

Until this year, the RDC had been part of the Mankato-based agency known as the Minnesota River Area Agency on Aging that oversees many services to seniors in 27 south central counties. It is one of seven such agencies serving the state of Minnesota.

The Upper Minnesota Valley RDC has had differences with the agency over administration and the disbursement of state and federal funding, according to Gary Johnson, a Yellow Medicine County commissioner who serves on the RDC board of directors.

The Upper Minnesota Valley RDC — one of nine regional development commissions serving the state of Minnesota — withdrew from the Minnesota River Area Agency on Aging last year with expectations of joining a different Agency on Aging to its north.

The Minnesota Board on Aging denied the request to join the Land of the Dancing Sky agency. It expressed its unwillingness to change the boundaries of the Area Agencies of Aging that serve the state, according to Dawn Hegland, newly appointed director of the Upper Minnesota Valley RDC in Appleton.

No longer a part of the Minnesota River Area Agency on Aging as of Jan. 1, the Minnesota Valley Regional Development Commission is talking about possible litigation and legislative action to resolve its differences.

Seniors in the five counties should not see any changes in services, according to Reggie Edwards, director of the Region Nine RDC …

http://www.wctrib.com/articles/index.cfm?id=45860&section=news

  5. Teamwork pays off on water, sewers - Detroit Free Press - United States

In a series of small miracles, regionalism is actually cropping up in southeast Michigan, with the most important example being the recent resolution of three decades of bickering over control of metro Detroit's water and sewer systems.

The regional agreement on water management would end 31 years of federal court control, initiated when Detroit was not meeting clean water standards. That oversight inevitably led to intense wrangling over rates and disputes over who had financial responsibility for which parts of the system. U.S. District Judge John Feikens, in alternating bursts of patience and impatience, has had the case on his docket the entire time.

The proposed settlement includes resolution of the most recent city-suburban disputes: disallowing much of what Detroit charged to the system for emergency radios put in place after 9/11, and setting the stage for suburban purchase of a major interceptor that most recently touched off a feud about who should pay for repairs after it suffered a disastrous collapse.

What lies ahead may test the region: The plan still needs final approval by the legislative bodies involved, en route to setting up a five-member group to resolve future disputes.  …

Obama's campaign emphasis on repairing the nation's rickety infrastructure, combined with repeated hints that big public works projects will form the foundation of his economic stimulus plan, apparently lit a fire under all the negotiators. Sorely needed upgrades probably won't qualify for federal aid if the region continues its quarrels.

Now, the challenge to the region's leaders is simple: Build on this. Persuade your fellow elected officials and their constituents to keep moving forward with this broader approach to water issues. If this works, and it should, southeastern Michigan may finally prove to all the doubters that regionalism is not a four-letter word.

http://www.freep.com/article/20090102/OPINION01/901020307

RC: Southeast Michigan Council of Governments -  http://www.semcog.org/

  6. TRANSPORTATION: Agencies unite to beg state for help - Atlanta Journal Constitution - GA, USA

The heads of four Georgia transportation agencies, which have spent years in turf battles, spoke with one voice Wednesday as they implored state government to help raise money to preserve Georgia’s transportation services.

Leaders of the Atlanta Regional Commission [http://www.atlantaregional.com/arc/html/], the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority, the Georgia Department of Transportation and MARTA reeled off the drastic state of transportation budgets at a conference in downtown Atlanta on Wednesday, uniting in a desperate cry for action. They talked of lost jobs, cuts in services and delayed projects.

At the meeting’s end, the chairmen of those agencies said they would draft a letter to the governor and the Legislature affirming that the state is in danger of losing hundreds of thousands of potential jobs in the coming decades if transportation is left underfunded, and asking for the resources to address it.

The chairmen’s boards will have to vote to approve signing the letter. Members of the MARTA board spontaneously shouted out their approval at the conference.

The leaders acknowledged that their staffs sometimes still disagreed on specific issues, but said their cooperation was unprecedented. Michael Walls, chairman of MARTA’s board, said he felt “a sea change.”

 “Three years ago, nothing like this would be happening,” he said.

Over the years, the agencies have periodically claimed to be reaching a new era of cooperation and always call each other “partners.” But a looming crisis threatening to doom them all seemed to bring them closer together.

“If you think the forecast is bright and sunny, I hope I’ve told you where we really are with transportation in Georgia,” said Gena Evans, commissioner of the state DOT, in one of the day’s presentations.

Evans said the Atlanta region would have to cut $888 million worth of projects from its plans for the current fiscal year. …

http://www.ajc.com/services/content/printedition/2009/01/08/transport.html

  7. Study: Collaboration would benefit area - Rexburg Standard Journal - Rexburg, ID, USA

The Yellowstone Business Partnership has released recommendations resulting from a year's worth of information gathering on economic-development issues related to the Yellowstone-Teton region.

Communities in the Yellowstone-Teton region have much to gain from greater cross-boundary collaboration, the partnership said.

The group has 250 members in 25 Idaho, Montana and Wyoming counties that surround Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks.

The business group used a $150,000 U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development grant to convene six multicounty task forces and explore economic development issues of greatest concern to their regions last year.

The task forces looked at public transportation needs, land-use planning coordination, availability of affordable housing and the potential for recreation and tourism development.

After a year of public meetings and in-depth research, the partnership has identified several areas where cities, counties and businesses would benefit by collaborating across jurisdictional boundaries.

These are the recommendations:

-- Create a tri-state transportation cooperative that establishes an integrated system of private and public operators across Greater Yellowstone.

-- Help businesses with workforce training, energy efficiency, marketing expertise, technology upgrades, financing for expansion and research, new market development and organizational capacity.  Create an overarching brand used by all tourism partners to convey a single, consistent image and message about the Greater Yellowstone region.

-- Provide opportunities for city and county land-use planning staffs to share computerized map layers and other planning tools that will improve their understanding of the region's demographic trends and growth patterns. Develop baseline affordable areas for needed residential and seasonal housing in all parts of the Yellowstone-Teton region.

-- Form a regional council of governments. Such an organization would bring community officials into regular contact with each other with an eye towards discussing collaborative ventures.

...

http://www.rexburgstandardjournal.com/articles/2009/01/08/news/35.txt

  8. A 2009 wish list for Northern Colorado - Northern Colorado Business Report - Fort Collins, CO, USA

The Northern Colorado Business Report editorial board - including the publisher, members of the editorial staff and visitors from the business community - met in late December to talk about the coming year and those things we would like to see happen.

The following - in no particular order - is our New Year's "wish list" for the benefit of our growing region.

• The Colorado governor's so-called "New Energy Economy" will take wing in 2009 in ways that we don't even anticipate, …

• The best minds in Northern Colorado will shed political considerations and move toward regional solutions for transportation problems that, if not addressed, will begin to paralyze our economy.

…

• The business incubator that operates under the auspices of the Rocky Mountain Innovation Initiative will have a new, and much more spacious, home where the most inventive companies in the region can thrive and grow, making Fort Collins and the region a research and development capital for the "Innovation Economy."

• A Northern Colorado Water Congress will form, putting the most knowledgeable and talented people in Larimer and Weld counties to work on seeking solutions to water-supply problems that pit cities and farms against one another in competition for this scarcest of resources.

…

• The board members of the Northern Colorado Economic Development Corp. and Upstate Colorado Economic Development will find valid reasons to start serious talks about merging the two entities into a single, unified regional economic development platform.

• The nascent collaboration among the region's four main colleges and universities will take some tangible form - as it already has in an office building at Loveland's Centerra development - and lead to workforce development plans that will make Northern Colorado's population ready for a strong economic recovery.

…

http://www.ncbr.com/article.asp?id=97936

  9. Group's goal is to help regions help themselves - News-Leader.com - Springfield, MO, USA

Would Ozarks-area residents be willing to commit to planting 1000 new gardens by Earth Day 2009?

That's one of the top goals of 80-plus people who gathered Saturday night at the Tower Club for the first regional gathering of the Transition '09 movement, which seeks to promote regional sustainability over globalization.

"When did we lose the capabilities to provide each other -- and our community -- with the basic necessities of life?" lead speaker Galen Chadwick asked those gathered.

Over many decades the local economy has moved away from locally-grown food to one where residents rely on food to be trucked in, participants said, and the system makes residents oil-dependent and is vulnerable to forces local residents can't control.

But increasing the number of backyard gardens is just the beginning of what Transition '09 supporters hope to do. The group has a Web site -- wellfedneighbor.com -- where interested circles of people are coming together to work and discuss ways the community can transition into a regionally sustainable community.

Another idea is to host a three-day event they hope would attract 50,000 on Earth Day, April 22.

By Thanksgiving 2009, the group hopes to have raised the consciousness of the whole area.

"The strategic goal of the Transition '09 movement is to orient all local laws, ordinances and policies toward a public commitment to genuine regional sustainability at all levels of governance," said Chadwick.

1,000 Gardens

"What I'm hoping to do is go to different neighborhood associations and offer to help people put in gardens that would be appropriate to their land," said master gardener Shelley Vaugine.

Besides backyard gardens, the group also envisions community gardens in public parks, on church grounds and on school grounds. …

http://www.news-leader.com/article/20090104/NEWS01/901040375/1007

10. U.S. Regional Communities - sub-State, State or multi-State - in news articles.

Bold font words are Google search terms. Bold italic words considered worth noting.  In this and section 11, 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 as well as recognizing other regional organizations. In most cases, where a full name is present, a Google search will quickly get one to that organization. News reports do not always get the organization name correct.   Contents

    .01  Your Letters: Too Many Administrators

Hartford Courant - United States

Who would argue against cooperation among proximate towns as a way to save money [editorial, Dec. 28, "For Region: Cooperation"]? It's a no-brainer ... What The Courant fails to report is that the real money, the fiscal insanity, is in manifestly redundant and overlapping administrative positions. What school superintendent, finance director, town manager, mayor, police chief or head of public works would relinquish a lucrative position for the greater good of a streamlined, more cost-effective bureaucracy? And while we're at it, why not regionalize collective bargaining, financial reporting, computer systems, voting methods and codes of ethics? Therein lies the golden promise of regionalism and the seeds of its own destruction as it confronts an impenetrable wall of resistance. ...

http://www.courant.com/news/opinion/editorials/hc-digbrflets0104.art4jan04,0,281970.story

    .02  Your Letters: Could Regionalism Spawn New Rivalries?

Hartford Courant - United States

For some time, The Courant has provided readers with very good arguments in favor of adopting forms of regional government [editorial, Dec. 28, "For Region: Cooperation"]. I have followed these ideas closely, because it is apparent that something needs to be done. However, I have often wondered how effective regional governments would be in such a small state. The major goal of regionalism seems to be stopping inter-town competition and rivalries, yet regional governments might create that same type of competition with the state government. That might actually be a good thing, but I'm not so sure. Could regional governments morph into such large beasts that they overpower our state government? This is not a reason to table regionalism, but I haven't seen The Courant adequately address this possibility. What are the geographical and political limits of regional governments?

http://www.courant.com/news/opinion/editorials/hc-digbrflets0108.art2jan08,0,2641272.story

    .03  Letters: ..., regionalization is best tax cutter

NorthJersey.com - Hackensack, NJ, USA

If ignorance of constituents’ concerns paid dividends, then state Sen. Gerald Cardinale, R-Demarest, would be a billionaire. ... Cardinale claims that sharing services is akin to towns losing their individuality. The truth is that a community’s identity is created by the camaraderie that exists among neighbors, sports coaches, business owners and the non-government institutions that involve residents. A municipal tax assessor, borough administrator or school superintendent has very little to do with the spirit and prosperity of a town. With 70 municipalities in Bergen County, it’s impossible to find a one-size-fits-all solution to rising municipal costs. But we owe it to our residents to explore cost-saving alternatives.  ...

http://www.northjersey.com/news/bergenpolitics/37055059.html

    .04  Community leaders demonstrate that regionalism can be achieved

The Plain Dealer - cleveland.com - Cleveland, OH, USA

"Community." It's a beautiful word. The power of community was celebrated in a big way on the far West Side with the recent opening of the long-awaited Bassett-Stearns connector... "Regionalization" is a word often used when multiple tiers of public service and private enterprise converge for the benefit of all. This example of regionalization is prototypical of the equation needed for Northeast Ohio's successful future. By celebrating the power of community, the opening of the Bassett-Stearns-Crocker Road connector is also a link to a better future for our region.

http://blog.cleveland.com/letters/2009/01/community_leaders_demonstrate.html

    .05 Medical mart fiasco shows why Greater Cleveland needs a regional approach

The Plain Dealer - cleveland.com - Cleveland, OH, USA

The squabbling between Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson and the Cuyahoga County commissioners over the proposed medical mart is another example of why Greater Cleveland should have some form of a consolidated regional government. Many people have stated that a medical mart would create a lot of good jobs and revitalize the region's economy, so why is this petty squabbling occurring? ...  

http://blog.cleveland.com/letters/2009/01/medical_mart_fiasco_shows_why.html

    .06  Commentary: Obama must get infrastructure investment right

McClatchy Washington Bureau, DC

Empower states and metropolitan areas. The federal government needs new partnerships to promote environmental sustainability and to strengthen metropolitan economies. A national sustainability challenge could be established to entice and fund partnerships that join housing, transportation, energy and other systems across states, localities and the private sector. Projects may cluster mixed-use facilities, build mixed-income housing close to transit stations, institute congestion pricing or extend commuter rails.

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/337/story/59659.html

    .07 Why States Need to be a Focus for Any Economic Recovery Plan

Stateside Dispatch

... fully funding the Broadband Data Improvement Act, S. 1492, ... would provide grants for states, among other things, to develop and implement statewide initiatives to identify and track the availability and adoption of broadband services, to create and facilitate in each county or designated region in a state or local technology planning team and to establish programs to improve computer ownership and Internet access.

http://www.progressivestates.org/node/22532

    .08  SD area hoping for a stimulus of its own

San Diego Union Tribune - San Diego, CA, USA

The San Diego Association of Governments, the region's planning agency, has compiled a list of 1043 public-works projects for the county that would cost nearly $7.5 billion – many of which can get started as soon as the federal government opens its wallet. ... 

http://www3.signonsandiego.com/stories/2009/jan/04/n20426095451-sd-area-hoping-stimulus-its-own/?zIndex=31822

    .09  So. Md. lists projects it calls shovel ready

So Md News - Waldorf, MD, USA

If Southern Maryland wants a piece of the pie in a likely upcoming federal economic stimulus package, local leaders had better be ready or they might miss out on much-needed funds. That's what Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md., 5th) told members of the Tri-County Council for Southern Maryland ...  This is not going to be a pork-barrel project," Hoyer said, but assured "a big chunk" of money will get to Maryland for meaningful projects. "You have to be prepared to act quickly or someone else will get the work." Charles County Commissioner Gary V. Hodge (D), who is TCC chairman, was one step ahead of him, saying the council has already drafted top priorities for projects that, because the major planning and engineering is complete, could be rolled out in 60 to 120 days after funds were awarded. ...

http://www.somdnews.com/stories/12312008/entetop100058_32195.shtml

    .10  Upstate delegation forms a united front in House

The Buffalo News - Buffalo, NY, USA

The 11 members of the House of Representatives from upstate New York have formed their own caucus to fight for the region’s interests. Founded by Rep. Louise M. Slaughter, D-Fairport, the new Upstate New York Congressional Caucus brings together nine Democrats and two Republicans who vow to work collectively to improve the region’s economy. ... “The region we represent faces a particularly challenging road ahead. The current economic crisis has compounded problems that have been developing in each of our districts for years.” ...

http://www.buffalonews.com/cityregion/buffaloerie/story/544239.html

    .11  Our view: Regionalism arrives at its apex in western Pa.

Chambersburg Public Opinion - Chambersburg, PA, USA

... finalized a merger of West Alexander Borough and Donegal Township in Washington County. Fans of the current local governmental system need not fret -- thousands of municipalities still remain. ... We've long advocated for a bigger-picture organization of municipalities, because regional governments have repeatedly demonstrated their ability to deliver more services for the same tax dollar, or the same services for fewer tax dollars. ...

http://www.publicopiniononline.com/ci_11365053

    .12  Are regional services a solution for tough times?

MetroWest Daily News - Framingham, MA, USA

The rising interest in regional services is also a practical one. Possibly one of the more visible signs of towns working together is the Framingham-based MetroWest Regional Transit Authority that provides public transportation in 11 communities. In operation since July 2007, the organization has about 10 bus routes that connect Framingham with surrounding towns. Communities are also banding together in case of a regional health crisis: MetroWest lies at the heart of a 34-town group that provides mutual assistance in case of a disaster, and similar groups are organized across the state.

http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/news/x1794959747/Are-regional-services-a-solution-for-tough-times

    .13  Region braces for busted budgets

Cape Cod Times - Hyannis, MA, USA

The combination of local aid and local receipts being down promises to provide a steady diet of officials calling for cutbacks, belt-tightening, layoffs and property tax hikes. ...  Provincetown … school committee consider regionalization efforts with other Lower Cape schools. The group also recommended that the school committee prepare next fiscal year's operating budget with regionalization in mind. ...

http://www.capecodonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090104/NEWS/901040332

    .14  Our Yankee legacy - The state should take the lead to encourage local governments in economizing

Journal-Sentinel Online

... report shows that Wisconsin ranked 11th in the number of governments with 3,120 in 2007, even though the state was 20th in population and 25th in land area. The reason for all those governments can be traced to the state's settlers, explained Dale J. Knapp, the Taxpayers Alliance research director. Many of them came from New England and brought with them the idea of town government. ...

http://www.jsonline.com/news/opinion/37022504.html

    .15  Most regional cities lost jobs over year

Bizjournals.com - Charlotte, NC, USA

The following are the 100 biggest labor markets in America, ranked according to raw change in private-sector employment between November 2007 and November 2008:

1. Houston, up 42,400 jobs

2. Dallas-Fort Worth, up 35,100 jobs

3. Washington, up 15,600 jobs

...

http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/stories/2009/01/05/daily34.html

    .16  Manhattan company hired to create regional plan for LI

Newsday - Long Island, NY, USA

Long Island Regional Planning Council yesterday named Arup, a Manhattan planning firm that has worked worldwide, to do its new $1.5-million regional plan, and will use the selection to raise $500,000 still needed to fund the study. ...

http://www.newsday.com/news/printedition/longisland/ny-poplan075989364jan07,0,4992411.story

    .17  Brownsville prepares to celebrate Chertoff's departure

Monitor - McAllen, TX, USA

... the Texas Border Coalition filed expressing opposition to the fence. ... Composed of border mayors, county judges and local economic development officials, the coalition advocates on behalf of communities along the Texas-Mexico border on issues that affect the quality of life in the region. It has been a stalwart opponent of the border fence initiative. ...

http://www.themonitor.com/articles/brownsville_21717___article.html/celebrate_chertoff.html

    .18  Three cities may opt out of tourism group

Minneapolis Star Tribune - Minneapolis, MN, USA

... executive director of Visit Minneapolis North, agrees that there are challenges for a tourism bureau that serves a broad and diverse region. ... 20-year-old organization ...  $1.7 million budget is funded by a 3 percent tax on hotel tabs in those cities, in addition to Explore Minnesota grants, advertising revenue and other sponsorships. ...

http://www.startribune.com/local/north/37050059.html?elr=KArksi8cyaiUjc7YUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUU

    .19  Northeastern States Push Toward Low-Carbon Fuel Standard

New York Times - United States

The 11 states — which are the same states, plus Pennsylvania, that entered into the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, a cap-and-trade system for carbon-dioxide emissions from power plants — aim to come up with a concrete plan by the end of this year. It must then be approved by the governors or perhaps the legislatures of the various states. ...

http://greeninc.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/01/05/northeastern-states-push-toward-low-carbon-fuel-standard/

    .20 Detroit light rail link may be only the beginning for mass transit

Detroit Free Press - United States

The Michigan Legislature passed a bill on Dec. 19 giving the Detroit Regional Mass Transit Authority the go-ahead to establish a governing body that will oversee a planned $10.5-billion tri-county mass transit system consisting of buses and light rail. The bill also gave the green light for the Detroit Regional Mass Transit Authority to create a tax increment finance authority to privately fund The Regional Area Initial Link (TRAIL), a 3.4-mile-long light rail line ...

http://www.freep.com/article/20090104/NEWS02/901040435

    .21  "Community Capitalism" meetings to resume Jan. 13

The Newark Advocate - Newark, OH, USA

...  meetings will be a followup to the recent series of discussions based on the book "Community Capitalism" about improving life in Kalamazoo, Mich. The discussions are designed to produce similar improvements here to what was accomplished in Kalamazoo. ... Ron Kitchens, author of "Community Capitalism," will speak ... [ http://www.southwestmichiganfirst.com/Community_Capitalism:_Lessons_from_Kalamazoo_and_Beyond.cfm]

http://www.newarkadvocate.com/article/20090104/NEWS01/901040313/1002

    .22  Local officials form Community Base Enhancement Initiative

Grand Forks Herald - Grand Forks, ND, USA

Making North Dakota airspace friendlier to unmanned aircraft will be at the top of the agenda for ...  the Community Base Enhancement Initiative ... Grand Forks Region Economic Development Corp. ... new group would combine the efforts of not only local leaders but also the governor and the state’s congressional delegation. Besides airspace, it also would work on other issues to make the area as amenable as possible to Grand Forks Air Force Base. ...

http://www.grandforksherald.com/articles/index.cfm?id=100106&section=news

    .23  Can Idaho become a “Mountain Mega”?

Idaho Business Review, United States

… Of even greater concern is the report’s assertion that an a priori requirement for the creation of these assets is effective regional governance systems that “work smoothly across boundaries to provide decisive, strategic decisionmaking in service of the regional good.”  Is it just me, or do we seem a tad vulnerable on this score? ...

http://www.idahobusiness.net/archive.htm/2008/12/31/Can-Idaho-become-a-Mountain-Mega

    .24  Kansas Small Business Development Center Launches New and Improved Online Resource Center

Reuters - USA

Kansas Small Business Development Center (KSBDC) has launched its enhanced Web site at http://www.kansas.gov/ksbdc  ... site includes information about how to access one-on-one

business consulting at no charge from one of 12 regional or outreach centers throughout Kansas.

http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS101488+05-Jan-2009+BW20090105

    .25  10 Reasons to be Hopeful about 2009, and 3 Reasons to be Terrified

Yes! Online – Bainbridge Island, WA, USA

8. DIY (do it yourself) communities are piloting the shift to a people-centered society. These folks understand that real security during tough times is found in the “social capital” of community. At the same time, they are creating experiments in green and just ways of life. They aren’t waiting for policy changes or bailouts, instead, they are helping each other now and getting on with the most extraordinary project of our time: building a better world.

http://www.yesmagazine.org/article.asp?id=3184

    .26  Top Ten Things I'd Do in Every Town

The Agurban - Boomtown Institute, Effingham, IL, USA

Community Foundation - A Community Foundation allows a community, whether it be a single town, county or even a region, to marshal small donations and funds into the efficiency of a large foundation, altering the fabric of that community for the long term.  ...

http://www.boomtowninstitute.com/Newsletters/20090106.html

    .27  Creative Community in the Lake Sunapee Region

Sunapee News - Sunapee, NH, USA

The creative community in the Lake Sunapee region is diverse and talented. Its artists–musicians, painters, potters, writers and woodworkers enrich our experience and help build, connect and maintain our community. ...

http://sunapeenews.wordpress.com/2009/01/04/creative-community-in-the-lake-sunapee-region/

    .28  Regional Tech Council seeks nominees for awards

Baltimore Sun - United States

Chesapeake Regional Tech Council is planning "TechAwards 2009," a celebration of regional technological innovation and excellence ... For award criteria and to submit nominations, go to www.chesapeaketech.org/techawards09

http://www.baltimoresun.com/services/newspaper/printedition/bal-ar.bizbriefs046jan04,0,3688695.story H

    .29  PlantCollections^TM - A Community Solution

American Public Gardens Association

The Chicago Botanic Garden, in collaboration with APGA, the University of Kansas, and 15 public gardens nationwide, is developing PlantCollections, a distributed database system for web-based querying that will allow information from multiple institutions currently in a variety of incompatible database formats to be accessed and integrated into comprehensive inventories. ...

http://www.publicgardens.org/plantcollections.aspx

    .30  Pa., Ohio counties eye job co-op

The Herald, Sharon, PA, USA

In what is being billed as the first in the nation, a five-county job partnership is being created between Pennsylvania and Ohio. ...  Mercer and Lawrence counties in Pennsylvania and Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties in Ohio would create a workforce partnership. ... Tentatively called “Five-Star In,’’ the idea behind this cooperative would be to break down governmental and other barriers erected between the two states. Further, it would allow the five counties to concentrate their resources as a region. Ideally, by forming this workforce cooperative it would also attract more federal and state funds for job creation.

http://www.sharon-herald.com/local/local_story_008210142.html

    .31  Groups collaborate to answer questions about regionalism

Hudson Hub-Times - Hudson, Ohio, USA

The Hudson Library and Historical Society and the Northeast Ohio Region League of Women Voters will co-sponsor three programs on regionalism in January and February. Organizers define regionalism as a way to address economic issues and global market competition by having neighboring cities and counties work together toward economic growth, new employers and jobs, and maximizing resources. Belinda Wing, president of the League of Women Voters of Hudson, said Northeast Ohio is active in its pursuit of bringing regionalism to the area, with the Northeast Ohio Mayors and City Managers Association as one of the prominent groups.  ...

http://www.hudsonhubtimes.com/news/article/4501990

    .32  Our View: Board puts regionalism before safety

IdahoStatesman.com - ID, USA

... Some local politicos have already said the Treasure Valley is underrepresented on a seven-member board designed to give equal representation to Idaho's geographic regions. They would prefer membership based on population, giving the Valley greater clout. But when Idaho Transportation Board members place regionalism over safety, it's a lot more difficult for us to defend them. ...

http://www.idahostatesman.com/106/story/627199.html

    .33  Streetcar Losing Money, May Soon Be Owned By Taxpayers

Tampa Bay Online - Tampa, FL, USA

... developers left a $5 million endowment to help fund the system in addition to revenue from fares, advertising, sponsorships and special assessment collections. The city said it would play a backup role in case the streetcar ran out of money. It looks as if that's happening."We're all concerned and we're trying to cut operating expenses," said David Mechanik, president of the streetcar board, which is comprised of appointees from the city and Hillsborough Area Regional Transit. ...

http://www2.tbo.com/content/2009/jan/11/tampa-streetcar-losing-money-may-soon-be-owned-tax/

   .34  Green public transit key to metros' future

Denver Post - Denver, CO, USA

… the audacious "green" formula of the authors of a just-released blue-ribbon commission report — "Sustainability and the MTA" — for New York's Metropolitan Transportation Authority.  ... insists that transit is the necessary centerpiece of planning the future as the New York region adds an expected 4 million new residents and 3 million new jobs by 2030. If New York or any other region hopes for a sustainable future, he insists, development needs to be channeled carefully, consistently, into transit-oriented clusters rather than sprawl.  ...

http://www.denverpost.com/headlines/ci_11408772

    .35  Planning for Chicago's future requires Burnham-style vision--and a big pair of green-tinted glasses

Chicago Tribune - United States

The region will be celebrating the 100th anniversary of one of the greatest city plans in history. The Burnham Plan, named for its principal author,  the Chicago architect and urban planner Daniel Burnham, was formally unveiled in 1909 ... A new generation of planners prefers compact, walkable communities to sprawling, auto-dependent developments. They want to use rail lines, both new and existing, to get people out of their cars, not only for local trips but long-distance ones. They see wisdom in developing new forms of transit that reflect how jobs are scattered across metropolitan areas, no longer concentrated in downtowns. And they want to protect the open space the region already has while adding new parkland and trails in both the city and the suburbs. Their aim is not a White City, but a Green Region.

http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/theskyline/2009/01/planning-for-ch.html

    .36  Challenge to NYC watershed protection plan fails

Newsday - Long Island, NY, USA

The city is able to avoid costly filtration in its Catskill and Delaware region watershed under a waiver from the federal government that requires the city  to purchase land around the reservoirs. ... attorney for the towns, said local officials were concerned that the purchases could lock up so much land that it would hurt the local economy. ...

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/newyork/ny-bc-ny--nycwatershed-laws0105jan05,0,781991.story

    .37  Umatilla County part of new watershed region

Walla Walla Union-Bulletin - Walla-Walla, WA, USA

Umatilla County has become part of a new watershed region formed recently by the state of Oregon. The Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board has included the county along with Morrow, Gilliam, Sherman, Wheeler and Grant counties in the Mid-Columbia management region.  ...

http://www.union-bulletin.com/articles/2009/01/06/local_news/090106local04watershedregion.txt

   .38  Conservation alliance gets Patagonia grant

Jackson Hole News - Jackson, WY, USA

The Jackson Hole Conservation Alliance [http://www.jhalliance.org/index.htm   announced last week that it has received a $6000 grant from outdoor clothing company Patagonia [ http://www.patagonia.com/usa/patagonia.go?assetid=2927  ] to help protect wildlife habitat. Patagonia awarded the money to be used toward the group’s campaign Corridors and Communities: Keeping Jackson Whole. The campaign advocates for the integration of conservation science into local land-use planning. Funding will go toward the alliance’s outreach efforts, which support strong policies to protect habitat and wildlife connectivity throughout Jackson Hole and the southern Greater Yellowstone Eco-system. ...

http://www.jacksonholenews.com/article.php?art_id=4091

    .39 Dirty snow causes early runoff in Cascades, Rockies

BrightSurf.com

Soot from pollution causes winter snowpacks to warm, shrink and warm some more. This continuous cycle sends snowmelt streaming down mountains as much as a month early, a new study finds. How pollution affects a mountain range's natural water reservoirs is important for water resource managers in the western United States and Canada who plan for hydroelectricity generation, fisheries and farming. ... This study revealed regional changes to the snowpack caused by soot, whereas other studies looked at the uniform changes brought by higher air temperatures due to greenhouse gases.

http://www.brightsurf.com/news/headlines/42448/Dirty_snow_causes_early_runoff_in_Cascades_Rockies.html

    .40  Economic Solutions & Jobs from Community Collaboration & Partnerships - How LA’s Mayor Sees 2009 

City Watch - Los Angeles, CA, USA

I want to thank the 1,600 neighborhood council and community leaders who have worked so diligently to improve the lives of Angelenos.  Your dedication to Los Angeles has truly been exceptional. In many respects, this has been a difficult year for the City of Los Angeles.  ... I have always believed that the strength of this City is built on a spirit of service.  That is why it I am so proud of the Neighborhood Councils and community members for being key partners with the Days of Service events held in five different regions in the City of Los Angeles throughout 2008.

http://www.citywatchla.com/content/view/1877/

 11. Other Regional Community News for Our Local Planet   Contents

    .01  National Intelligence Council’s Global Trends 2025: Highlights and Some Lessons for Hawaii

Hawaii Reporter - Kailua, HI, USA

This report is a must-read for all policy makers, company executives, regional planners, long-term strategists and concerned global citizens. ... Regionalism may solidify in three blocks: North America, Europe and East Asia. This, among other things, may undermine the goals of World Trade Organization (WTO) or international agreements (Kyoto protocol.) Regionalism may lead to regional product standards for information technology, biotechnology, nanotechnology, intellectual property rights, and other aspects of the “new economy”. ...

http://www.hawaiireporter.com/story.aspx?ee03a974-e062-48cb-ab00-5b0ae8235a2b

Global Trends 2025 Report: http://www.dni.gov/nic/NIC_2025_project.html

     .02  The Caucasus: a region in pieces

openDemocracy News Analysis

... Ergneti was possibly the widest “confidence-building measure” in the entire Caucasus region, with people of all nationalities doing business. It is arguable that the day it closed was the day the countdown to war in South Ossetia began. ... At the beginning of 2009, it seems likely that only one big international organisation – the European Union – has the transformative power to treat these countries as a single region and promise them benefits that make it worthwhile for them to overcome the divisions and obstacles that hold them and their neighbours back. The experience of the Balkans since the wars of the 1990s provides good proof of this.  ...

http://www.opendemocracy.net/article/the-caucasus-a-region-in-pieces

    .03