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Regional Community Development News – May 27, 2009 [regions_work]

 

A 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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Contents

Top Regional Community stories … 1. – 9.

U.S. Regional Communities - sub-State, State or multi-State – news articles …10.01 - .39

Other Regional Community News for Our Local Planet … 11.01 - .23

Blogging about Regional Communities … 12.01 - .18

Announcements and Regional Links … 13.01 - .10

Financial Crisis …14.01 - .02

Custom search: region, regions, regional communities … 15.

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Top Regional Community stories

  1. Erie's agenda comes into focus amid spirit of realism, optimism - GoErie.com - Erie, PA, USA

… town-hall forum sponsored by the Erie Times-News and GoErie.com. … The idea going in, a couple of weeks before the municipal primary, was to turn the tables on the political candidates. Instead of them telling the rest of us what they can do for Erie and the region, we thought we'd get a conversation going about what they should be doing.

That's why we sought input from our readers, …

If one thread ran through the conversation -- in the run-up to voters in numerous political subdivisions choosing a county executive and a mayor, township supervisors and borough councils, school board members and constables -- it's that we're all in this together. That we're not competing across municipal lines, but with the outside world, and in the ways that matter in the long run we'll prosper or decline as one.

It starts at the center of things, in the city at the heart of our region's identity, history and prospects. And that leads directly to the subject of regionalism and what to do about the forces of time, inertia and outdated state law that have set up our urban core to fail.

…

Lawyer and longtime civic leader Jim Walczak made the case for "functional regionalism" through mechanisms such as regional authorities and an expanded role for county government. That approach targets some of the same goals and results without all of the political baggage of combining municipalities.

…

I'm a firm believer that a marriage arranged in Harrisburg, by scrapping a state municipal structure better suited to the 19th century, would lead to lasting happiness. But that's not going to happen, so the incremental regionalism described by Walczak and Elliott is probably the best path available -- and itself will require political vision, resolve and daring.

…

http://www.goerie.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090510/OPINION04/305109929

  2. Expert urges fractured region to change - Buffalo News - NY, United States

Urban areas that are fractured into dozens of municipal governments lag far behind unified regional governments in everything from economic development and affordable tax rates to racial disparity and sustainable growth, according to a urban planning expert who spoke to a group of activists, businessmen and politicians Friday in Amherst.

And, said consultant and former mayor of Albuquerque David Rusk, New York State laws designed for a different age are a major barrier to modern governance in the Buffalo area.

It’s not that the New York Legislature has never done anything to help the cause of regional government among its many municipalities, Rusk said. It’s just that it was clear across the state. And it happened in 1897.

As Rusk explained, that was when state lawmakers had the vision to dissolve what was then the largest city in the nation—New York City — and what was then the seventh largest city in the nation — Brooklyn — add the then largely rural areas of Queens, the Bronx and Staten Island and create the modern metropolis that soon became the capital of the world.

“If they were still a bunch of little boxes, do you think their subway would have gotten into Queens?” Rusk asked. “Yours didn’t get into Amherst.”

“Little boxes” is the term Rusk uses to refer to large communities that labor under the governance of fractured municipal authorities. Only when they are merged, or at least cooperate enough, to form “big boxes” do the communities stand a chance of providing modern services at affordable tax rates and attracting and controlling the kind of economic growth that is sustainable and beneficial to all.

Rusk was the main speaker at a forum entitled “No More Business As Usual.” It was sponsored by the activist groups VOICE-Buffalo, the …

…

http://www.buffalonews.com/145/story/673278.html

 3. Ready-to-Go Regionalism - Governing

... Right now regionalism and the right-sizing of government for the 21st century are on the back burner in most metropolitan areas. They certainly are in Buffalo. One might be tempted to conclude that urban America will never get genuine regional governments, no matter how badly it might need them.

But that's only part of the story because, hard as it may be to believe, every one of the large metro areas in the country already has a regional government. It has a council called a "metropolitan planning organization." If we figured out a better way to use these entities, we wouldn't need to do anything half so complicated as Joel Giambra tried to do in Buffalo.

The history of MPOs can be told in a relatively short space. Almost every metro area has had planning bodies of some sort for the past century, often several at a time, but for 50 years they were essentially volunteer groups and those in political power paid little attention to them. In 1973, Congress changed that by requiring each metro region to designate an official MPO to participate in transportation planning and land use, and giving them some resources to help them do their research.

A couple of places took this language and ran with it. Portland, Oregon, created a metro council with broad powers and a membership directly elected by the voters. Minnesota's Twin Cities got a council appointed by the governor, but still with considerable influence over key regional planning decisions.

But those were outliers. The vast majority of MPOs spent the two decades after 1973 under the thumb of state transportation departments, which made the important choices and pressured MPOs to rubber stamp them.

Then, in 1993, … the new ISTEA transportation law offered MPOs a whole new set of tools. …

http://www.governing.com/column/ready-go-regionalism

  4. Regional Cooperation: A Pathway to Economic Recovery - Nation Cities Weekly - Washington, D.C.

Regional cooperation is a proven way to reduce costs, increase economic competitiveness, manage development impacts and create new opportunities and synergies between communities. This was true before the present economic crisis and is even more critical in a time of economic recession.

The long-term strength and stability of local jurisdictions depends on an economic region with a climate for growth, cultivated local assets and healthy, productive residents and businesses. As part of the national economic recovery strategy, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) supports these critical investments in regional development.

…

For example, …

… since 1959 the Metropolitan Development Association of Syracuse and Central New York Inc., (MDA) has been a catalyst for redevelopment of the region by working with local governments and the private sector to attract and create industries with high growth potential.

Robert Simpson, president and CEO of MDA, offered several “lessons learned” to local officials based on the success of MDA’s regional economic development plan, the Essential New York Initiative, including:

•    Forge a unified vision for the region;

•    Foster an entrepreneurial climate that encourages innovation and adaptation;

•    Leverage educational assets, including colleges and universities;

•    Facilitate collaboration within industry sectors;

•    Participate in regional organizations even if they cannot or do not drive the regional economic development agenda; participation builds trust and respect; and

•    Take advantage of the credibility and visibility of your local government by supporting the regional initiatives, even if that means following rather than leading.

Although the barriers to regional cooperation, including lack of trust among leaders in the region, disparate community goals or inability to agree on a particular regional strategy, are very real, the immediate and long-term benefits may prove worthy of the effort.

http://www.nlc.org/articles/articleItems/NCW52509/RegionalEcon.aspx

  5. Regional marketing campaign launched - San Diego Union Tribune - CA, USA

In an effort to promote more outside investment in the border region, a coalition of local business and civic leaders yesterday launched a marketing campaign aimed at selling San Diego County, the Imperial Valley and Baja California as a single manufacturing zone.

The plan, developed by the San Diego Regional Economic Development Corp. and its counterpart in Imperial County, is to market the area as the Cali Baja Bi-National Mega-Region.

The groups hope to attract foreign investors and manufacturers with the idea of tapping into San Diego's research centers and technology clusters, Imperial Valley's inexpensive and undeveloped acreage and Baja California's manufacturing base and low-cost labor.

“We've already got some companies showing interest in the region, but this provides us with marketing tools that unite the whole area,” said Timothy Kelley, who heads the Imperial Valley EDC.

With the help of a $225,000 Commerce Department grant and $90,000 in private contributions, the EDCs have been working together since April 2008 to put together a marketing plan that would identify the region's strengths and opportunities.

Now that the plan has been developed, the next stage is to begin promoting the areas. In mid-June, the EDCs will host 25 foreign journalists from such countries as China, South Korea, Japan, Canada, Germany and France, and take them on a tour of the region, focusing on companies such as Kyocera that do business on both sides of the border.

...

http://www3.signonsandiego.com/stories/2009/may/22/1b22edc205022-regional-marketing-campaign-launched/?business&zIndex=103595

  6. Georgia town hopes to benefit from VW - Atlanta Journal Constitution - GA, USA

...

At an industrial park in Chattanooga, where the Army used to make TNT, VW executives reaffirmed their Tennessee commitment Thursday. More than 2,000 workers will build Passat-like, environmentally friendly sedans .

…

Tennessee shelled out a whopping $577 million in economic incentives to win Volkswagen. Georgia, a distant competitor for the prized manufacturing plant, gave Kia $258 million.

But Georgia officials jumped on the Tennessee bandwagon once Volkswagen narrowed its site-selection list that included Alabama and Michigan.

“We will benefit with the site in Tennessee just 12 miles from our state line,” says Ken Stewart, commissioner of the Georgia Department of Economic Development. “We have a lot of prime locations available for suppliers in Northwest Georgia, whether that be Trenton, Dalton or Rome.”

...

Landing a carmaker is the chest-thumping recruitment prize that governors and development officials hang their careers on. But auto-parts suppliers generate more jobs, taxes and economic well-being.

Volkswagen expects suppliers will create nearly 10,000 jobs across the region.

…

 “We expect to share some of the suppliers” with BMW and Mercedes, Fischer said. “But there should be no doubt that Georgia will benefit. One of our main focuses is to get suppliers to be based as close as possible.”

It’s Ken Stewart’s job to lure them south.

…

Easy access to the ports of Savannah and Brunswick, and a competitive incentive package, should lead to a “forthcoming” announcement from a supplier coming to Georgia, Stewart says.

“Most of the manufacturers have been very smart to locate facilities close to state lines,” he adds. “That causes states to compete against each other. But we’re in the sweet spot for German auto manufacturers. That makes (Georgia) an easy sell.”

…

http://www.ajc.com/services/content/printedition/2009/05/17/volkswagen0517.html

  7. Is Cascadia's train coming in? High-speed rail between Seattle and Vancouver could be a catalyst for regional development, and identity - Crosscut - Seattle, WA, USA

Cascadia boosters come in two main flavors: Ecotopians and business boosters. The greens want to let the environmental and spiritual health of the bio-region guide our politics; the boosters see prosperity through trade and economic cooperation.

Thus, Cascadians might wave "Old Doug," the Cascadian flag, on behalf of separate, but sometimes overlapping, agendas. The tribes and eco-activists want to save the orcas of the Salish Sea, while the conservative Discovery Institute's Cascadia Prospectus touts the benefits of public private partnerships to boost regional development and sees cooperation as a kind of local version of globalization.

A catalyst for Cascadian cooperation could be development of a high-speed rail link along the I-5 corridor between Vancouver, British Columbia and Eugene, Oregon. (Or even extending all the way to San Diego?) The Vancouver-Eugene segment is one of the stretches eligible for some of the $8 billion dollars in stimulus package money the Obama administration wants to dole out (and the administration is requesting even more). Some of our neighbors to the north would like to piggy-back on the U.S. push for high-speed rail. Imagine Wi-fied trains speeding business commuters between Seattle and Vancouver, cutting an hour or more off the current travel time and providing an more ecological alternative than flying or driving.

In a front-page piece in the Vancouver Sun, columnist Miro Cernetig says Canada should get on board with the U.S. project for the sake of Cascadia:

    It's potentially a game-changing development. We're no longer just talking about slight improvements to this unique Canada-U.S. rail link. The political will now exists in the U.S. for a real push to high-speed train travel in the corridor, much like Amtrak's Acela Express now running between Boston, New York, and Washington, D.C.

It's vital that Vancouver, the province, and Canada get aboard. …

...

http://crosscut.com/2009/05/12/mossback/18983/

  8. Warm fuzzies all around as southwestern Michigan officials chat about sustainability - MLive.com - MI, USA

… mayors of Portage, Kalamazoo and Battle Creek and a vice president of Western Michigan University gathered Wednesday at Edison Environmental Science Academy to talk about sustainability with editors from both the Kalamazoo Gazette and the Battle Creek Enquirer. A Battle Creek City Commission member and Kalamazoo's head of Public Services were also present.

This group, which was joined an hour later by the president of Western Michigan University, the superintendent of Kalamazoo Public Schools, leader of the Greater Kalamazoo Area Chamber of Commerce, the vice chair of the Kalamazoo County Board of Commissioners and representatives from Kalamazoo College, Borgess Medical Center and the Kalamazoo Nature Center, came together to sign the Southwest Michigan Regional Sustainabilty Covenant.

It's a simple, one-page document containing a lot of buzzwords. For example, the governmental, academic and business entities signing the agreement will work together "to ensure that the Southwest Michigan Region continues to be an excellent place to live and that each organization shall commit to the community's betterment through economic, social and environmental strategies germane to their mission for the benefit of future generations."

Or, as Portage Mayor Pete Strazdas put it much more eloquently and succinctly: "We want to leave this place better than we found it."

Now the fine citizens of Battle Creek and Kalamazoo County may have already assumed that their elected officials and business leaders were working to make the area a better place to live. Well, now we have it in writing.

On a practical level, this agreement means that all of the above groups and other businesses or organizations which want to sign on, have agreed to work together to share best practices for operating more efficiently and saving money wherever they can.

... 

Covenant – PDF pages 89-97 - http://www.kalamazoocity.org/docs/20090518DraftPacket.pdf 

RC: Southcentral Michigan Planning Council (Region 3)

http://blog.mlive.com/readreact/2009/05/warm_fuzzies_all_around_as_sou.html

     .9  New York Statewide Wireless Interoperable Communications Network Refocused on Regional Systems - Government Technology – USA

New York state spent the second half of the Bush Administration and over $100 million developing a statewide wireless network it was hoped would provide public safety and public service agencies across the state with interoperable communications only to go back to the drawing board earlier this month.

...

While officials acknowledged the setback which the termination of the contact with M/A-COM presented, they were also optimistic opportunities to utilize newer technology and improve governance of cross-jurisdictional communication and data sharing would come from it. For example, instead of building a statewide communications network and offering to connect counties and other local governments to it, the state would work to facilitate the development of regional networks that connected groups of partnering counties thereby improving its usefulness.

Several counties had no desire to participate in the statewide wireless network, according to Perry. "The new strategic road map we are pursuing de-emphasizes the one-size-fits-all notion and envisions an interconnected system of systems," she said.

…

"Two other reasons we should continue with this new regional approach: The major emergencies that have occurred around the state are far more regional in nature than they are statewide. Whether it's a plane crash in Eerie County, an ice storm in the Adirondacks or forest fires on Long Island these are all actual incidents that required a major commitment of resources. The public safety response was far more regional in nature. A regional radio network can handle these needs more directly with better local knowledge than a statewide system," he said.

…

Mayberry-Stewart said the governance structure would contain both top-down oversight and bottom-up collaboration.

Governance is a major part of all of the homeland security programs now, Gallagher said. "Your governance has to be in place. If you do not have that, …

http://www.govtech.com/gt/635218

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  New activism defines road builder's efforts

Atlanta Journal Constitution - GA, USA

In the frenzied final week of the 2008 legislative session, Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle broke away to take an urgent call from a key player in a highway funding debate. The caller wasn’t the governor, or the transportation commissioner or a lawmaker. It was Bill Hammack, president of C.W. Matthews Contracting Co., Georgia’s largest road builder. ... Matthews opposed basing new taxes for transportation on regional votes rather than a statewide referendum. Twice, the proposal has failed. Matthews wanted the state to let private firms build public toll roads. The idea was approved. Matthews criticized rail transit plans as too expensive. Those plans, already unpopular among lawmakers, stalled. ...

http://www.ajc.com/services/content/printedition/2009/05/17/cwmatthews0517.html

    .02  National PBS documentary points to Portland transportation planning

OregonLive.com

A national PBS documentary will point to Portland as one of three cities that exemplify how the nation can use transportation infrastructure to fight sprawl, preserve the environment and promote mass transit. "Blueprint America: Road to the Future" … It uses Denver, New York and Portland - and their nearby suburbs - as examples of how national policies on transportation can shape cities. ...

 

PBS: http://www.pbs.org/wnet/blueprintamerica/reports/road-to-the-future/overview/549/

http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2009/05/national_pbs_documentary_point.html

    .03  REGION: SANDAG adopts $1 billion budget

North County Times - Escondido, CA, USA

San Diego County's regional planning agency Friday adopted a $1 billion budget that will pump tens of millions of dollars into North County roads, including the long-delayed widening of Highway 76.  Well more than 90 percent of the budget for the fiscal year beginning in July will go for regional transportation projects, the agency's primary purpose. And at the top of the list is the ongoing face lift of Interstate 15. ... SANDAG's $1 billion budget represents about a 1 percent increase from the current $990 million fiscal plan. The agency's revenue will come in from a variety of sources, including federal stimulus money, traditional federal funding, state bond money and the local TransNet sales tax. …

http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2009/05/22/news/sandiego/zddc03371380aea5d882575be007c7120.txt

    .04  Regional planning agency hopes to avoid 'doomsday' budget situation

Medill Reports - Chicago, IL, USA

Board members for the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) are hoping they have successfully averted a budget crisis and reclaimed more than three million dollars in state funds. Six members journeyed to Springfield last week to meet with legislators and try to persuade them to reinstate the Comprehensive Regional Planning Fund. The fund provides $5 million each year for regional planning, $3.5 million of which goes to CMAP, which plans for transportation and land-use issues in northeastern Illinois.  ...

http://news.medill.northwestern.edu/chicago/news.aspx?id=129251

    .05  Temple City considers re-joining the COG

Pasadena Star-News - Pasadena, CA, USA

Four years after withdrawing from the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments, city officials are now considering re-joining the organization. Other than the small and largely gated city of Bradbury, Temple City is the only municipality in the San Gabriel Valley that is not a paying member of the umbrella agency, which lobbies on behalf of area interests. Temple City Mayor Judy Wong said she supports joining COG again. "I truly believe that a voice from a group, rather than a voice from a single person, is much stronger," Wong said. Wong voted against withdrawal in 2005 but was outnumbered by her former City Council colleagues, who chose to leave the COG. But a new City Council has come to power since elections in March - one that could be more COG-friendly. ...

http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/news/ci_12441837

    .06  Governor "My Man" Mitch Daniels Dismantling Indiana Government

Daily Kos

Indiana State, municipal and local governments are under threat from Governor Mitch Daniels ... If a state budget isn't passed by June 30th, the Hoosier state will shut down, and government services will no longer be available. ... more concerning has been the accusation by some that Governor Daniels in fact hopes that a budget does not pass due to a government consolidation proposal that was voted down. It is possible the Governor is seeking to starve the government of funds as a way to force consolidation. ...

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2009/5/24/734964/-Governor-My-Man-Mitch-Daniels-Dismantling-Indiana-Government

    .07  Metro: Where do we go from here?

St. Louis Post-Dispatch - St. Louis, MO, USA

The Missouri Legislature recently authorized a $12 million lifeline for the St. Louis region by voting in favor of an appropriation to restore some of the much-needed access to the region's transit system. As president and CEO of Metro, and on behalf of the approximately 100,000 individual customers we serve each week, I thank our state legislators and the many business leaders, community leaders, local elected officials and other constituents, including our customers, who aggressively supported this unprecedented action. ... since March 30, the region has come together as never before in an unparalleled dialogue about the importance of public transit in metropolitan St. Louis. ... In the near future, Metro, in cooperation with the East-West Gateway Council of Governments, will host a series of public meetings to discuss regional transit needs and opportunities. ...

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/editorialcommentary/story/0302439B65FB4576862575BE007E4C59?OpenDocument

    .08  Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments names environmental policy head

Washington Business Journal - Bizjournals.com - Charlotte, NC, USA

Jay Fisette, vice chair of the Arlington County Board, was tapped to head the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments' new regional environmental policy committee. The panel was created in response to a recently released regional climate change report by the COG’s climate change steering committee. ...

http://www.bizjournals.com/washington/stories/2009/05/11/daily89.html

    .09  Local companies partner for community health

Arkansas Online

Wellness Works is a collaborative effort between White River Health System, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences North Central Area Health Education Center and White River Planning and Development District [ http://www.wrpdd.org/ ]  and funded by a $363,000 grant from the U.S. Health and Human Services Administration. It is one of only two projects funded in Arkansas.

http://www2.arkansasonline.com/news/2009/may/24/local-companies-partner-community-health-20090524/

    .10  Take a trip upstate Pennsylvania without ever leaving your home

Scranton Times - Scranton, PA, USA

You don't have to go to New York to visit Upstate anymore. You're already there - in Northeast Pennsylvania. Five regional tourism agencies on Wednesday will unveil an 11-county marketing strategy promoting Northeast Pennsylvania as "Upstate PA." ... "We're not trying to re-brand Northeast Pennsylvania," said Tracy Barone, executive director Lackawanna County Convention & Visitors Bureau and president of the Upstate PA board. "It's an advertising campaign that is tied to our new regional name for tourism's sake." ...

http://www.scrantontimes.com/news/1.26665

    .11  TBARTA board adopts regional transportation master plan

Bizjournals.com

The Tampa Bay Area Regional Transportation Authority board has adopted its regional transportation master plan. ... Now the TBARTA board will begin to discuss priorities and funding options in the coming months, beginning in June 2009, it said in the release. The Florida Legislature created TBARTA in 2007 to plan and develop a multimodal transportation system that will connect the seven counties of the Tampa Bay region.

http://www.bizjournals.com/tampabay/stories/2009/05/18/daily70.html

    .12  Aerotropolis becomes hot topic for regional leaders

Crain's Detroit Business - Detroit, MI, USA

Fireworks flared Friday at the annual leadership luncheon of the Eight Mile Boulevard Association — but once the dust settles, Southeast Michigan's “Big 4” plan to be back to work on regional cooperation. ... Cobo was a passing topic of discussion Friday, but not nearly the lightning rod that Ficano's push for tax incentives related to the aerotropolis proposal turned out to be. ...

http://www.crainsdetroit.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090517/SUB01/305179969/1069

    .13  Six Businesses to Be Recognized During 9th Annual Leading Edge Awards

E-SoMD.com

Southern Maryland’s leading businesses and executives will be honored at the ninth annual Leading Edge Awards ceremony, ... The annual event celebrates individuals and businesses that spur economic growth within the region, and this year’s honorees exemplify the qualities synonymous with business success: performance excellence, innovation and an unwavering dedication to customers and staff. ... Silver sponsors include Charles County Technology Council, Constellation Energy, Maryland Technology Development Corporation (TEDCO) and Tri-County Council for Southern Maryland. ...

http://www.everythingsouthernmaryland.com/esomd/index.php/2009/05/six-businesses-to-be-recognized-during-9th-annual-leading-edge-awards/

    .14  Thrive: Madison region promoted at international biotech conference

Wisbusiness.com - Madison, WI, USA

For the second year in a row, a regional coalition (including the cities of Fitchburg, Madison, and Middleton; Madison Gas and Electric; Alliant Energy; Thrive, the Economic Development Enterprise for the eight-county Madison Region and the UW-Madison, new to the coalition this year) will promote the Madison Region’s biotech strengths at the BIO International Conference, scheduled in Atlanta May 18-21, 2009 (bio2009.org). The annual BIO shows are the biotech industry’s largest event, typically attracting a global audience of more than 20,000 scientific and executive leaders.  ...

http://www.wisbusiness.com/index.iml?Article=158856

    .15  Quebec company seeks $200M loan to build biofuel plant in Mississippi

Oilweek.com

... , the company has signed a letter of intent with the Three Rivers Regional Solid Waste Management Authority, which owns and operates a regional landfill that serves Calhoun, Itawamba, Lafayette, Lee, Monroe, Pontotoc and Union counties. Three Rivers has agreed to supply Enerkem with about 189,000 tons or 60 per cent of its solid waste annually as feedstock. ... Randy Kelley, Executive director of Three Rivers Planning and Development District, said while he is excited about the Enerkem project he is still "cautiously optimistic." "Is it a done deal? No," said Kelley. ...

http://www.oilweek.com/news.asp?ID=22806

    .16  Consolidation of Belleair Bluffs, Largo fire departments could set example, chief says

Tampabay.com - St. Petersburg, FL, USA

Facing an $18.5 million deficit in its upcoming Emergency Medical Services budget, Pinellas County is looking at consolidation as a cost-saving option. Starting with the upcoming fiscal year that begins Oct. 1, the county has canceled the final three years of five-year contracts with the 15 municipal fire departments and four fire districts that it contracts with to provide emergency services. The contracts are being renegotiated, said Mike Cooksey, the county's fire division manager. ...

http://www.tampabay.com/news/publicsafety/fire/article1003516.ece

    .17  Regionalized dispatching can still deliver

Scarlet Scuttlebutt - East Brunswick, NJ, USA

Green Brook officials are exploring plans to join a regional police dispatch service that would save money through eliminating four local dispatchers. And, as seems to nearly always be the case when such sensitive consolidations are considered anywhere in New Jersey, residents and other critics have been up in arms at a feared loss of services ... At the heart of this debate is an entirely unrealistic expectation by the public that government should be able to maintain and improve top-notch services at permanently low cost, and any failure to do so is merely a function of egregious government waste. ...

http://www.mycentraljersey.com/article/20090514/OPINION03/905140325/-1/newsfront/Regionalized+dispatching+can+still+deliver

     .18  AROUND NORTH IOWA

Belmond Independent - Belmond, IA, USA

County extension director Bev Peters talked about the big changes coming to Iowa's extension education system that were announced May 1. The 99 county directors in Iowa will be replaced by 20 regional directors by the end of 2009. Each county will still have an extension office, but the executive functions will be regionalized. ...

http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=20313893&BRD=1907&PAG=461&dept_id=133418&rfi=6

    .19  Earthtrepreneurship.  It may be tough to pronounce but the term is a great description of green rural growth opportunity

DailyYonder.com

Rural sustainability needs to be built on an earthtrepreneurial middle class that understands how to create, use, and sell appropriate technologies and services at home and around the world. In some cases, this might well be social earthtrpepreneurship, dedicated to helping others through a nonprofit organization. But it might also involve ways of profitably, but responsibly nurturing and cultivating the earth’s natural heritage. Earthtrepreneurship is based on respectful, earth-centered ingenuity. Earthtrepreneurs understand and love their own backyards. But they also understand that their ideas have markets elsewhere. They serve their communities, building sustainability at home. They also serve the world, building global sustainability. ...

http://www.dailyyonder.com/earthtrepreneurship/2009/05/14/2118

    .20  How much to seek in override? That is the question for officials

South Coast Today - New Bedford, MA, USA

"I would like to challenge the region," Lakeville School Committee Chairman David McQueeney said. "We in Lakeville are in favor of regionalization (which would include the elementary schools). The region should be able to function as if we were fully regionalized in fiscal 2010. It would mean the fourth grade would remain at (George R. Austin Intermediate School) and the region would have to sacrifice more." The $560,000 and $1 million override plans each are based on the $390,000 coming back to the town from the regional school. "If you're trying to save your elementary school on the backs of the region and if you're waiting for the region to come to your rescue before voting $1 million, I can't support it," Rodrigues said. ...

http://www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090523/NEWS/905230332

    .21  In Our Own Words: You and Me and National G

Ukiah Daily Journal - Ukiah, CA, USA

Question: What is National Geographic doing in Mendocino County? Answer: The esteemed Society has allied with the U.S. Bureau of Land Management and the North Coast Tourism Council to plan a digital map guide to natural and cultural resources of several counties from Marin to Del Norte, including our own. National Geographic's Center for Sustainable Destinations has produced "geotourism" guides for other regions throughout the world and will edit and design the North Coast map based on input from local communities. That means YOU! ...

http://www.ukiahdailyjournal.com/ci_12440596

    .22  Lake Chelan wine designation a big win for region's commerce

The Wenatchee World Online - Wenatchee, WA, USA

Lake Chelan’s recent designation as the state’s newest Agricultural Viticultural Area (AVA) is bringing new attention to a region already popular as a prime summer recreation area. The recognition will extend the tourism season and help the area grow and thrive more months of the year, say those in the wine and tourism industries. "It will literally put us on the map,"  ...

http://wenatcheeworld.com/article/20090518/BIZ01/705189996/-1/BIZ?Lake-Chelan-wine-designation-a-big-win-for-region%E2%80%99-s-commerce

    .23  Food Export USA Northeast