It's a tough time to ask for money these days. Even though West Virginia's state government is in better shape than most states, there is uneasiness about what is ahead. New expenditures are being frowned upon, areas of saving a high priority.
But at some point, in order to grow, investments in new, high potential opportunities must be made to break out of our economic doldrums. Growth requires intelligent risk-taking. No growth occurs without entrepreneurial, creative thinking.
That's why the Create WV team, with tremendous support from Vision Shared, has championed a Creative Communities Development Pilot program through the West Virginia Development Office in the Commerce Department. The timing could certainly be better in terms of going after excess budget, but we have recommended this legislation because we believe that in difficult times, it's important to seek new paths for creating opportunity.
The Creative Communities Development Pilot Program (SB549), introduced by Senators McCabe, Caruth, Bowman, Kessler, Foster, Jenkins, Stollings, Plymale, Palumbo, Unger, White and Wells, provides the first official state program that encourages local communities - including their EDA's, schools, local governments and non-profit groups - to develop an in-depth new economy growth plan. The pilot program would provide matching funds, tiered based on size of community, to encourage these communities to identify breakthrough creative community projects that would help jump-start the new economy in their area.
The program encourages communities to think differently by focusing on projects that would address the key pillars of new economy growth: technology, quality of place, 21st century education, diversity and entrepreneurship. It would encourage communities to think about creative funding solutions, including private sector, foundation and Federal grants. It would also encourage communities to think together and form partnerships, because the bigger the community (which could be a county, regional partnership of counties, a metro government or a higher education institution), the more matching funds available.
Our West Virginia counties have been trained and incented with state funds to develop industrial parks to attract traditional industry. They've done some heroic work seeking to attract manufacturing firms and other organizations to expand in West Virginia. But this is admittedly a shrinking piece of the economic pie. EDA Directors have done a heroic job trying to fill these parks.
However, we can see clearly in the data that growth exists in the new economy. The new economy is based on attracting talent, not big buildings. It's about intellectual property and innovation, not brick and mortar. Yes, sometimes brick and mortar in the form of high tech incubators can help spur new economy development. But more often than not, new economy growth occurs when an entrepreneur with a great idea falls in love with a place, decides to launch a new idea, and finds a supportive community in which to take that risk and grow.
This legislation is not a panacea, but it is a new direction. And with West Virginia at the very bottom of too many economic statistical rankings for far too long, isn't it time to try a new approach?
Based on some successful models in Maryland and Nebraska, the Creative Communities Developoment Pilot Program encourages communities to think along new economy lines. To be sure, it's a new direction for many folks. But we see it happening all over the state - in Mercer County, in Huntington, in Buckhannon-Upshur. By providing a small bucket of matching funds, West Virginia can send a signal to communities that we "get" the new economy and we encourage them to move forward in developing it in their region.
According to a Create WV statewide survey administered by Marshall's CBER group to be released in two weeks, well over 80% of West Virginia citizens support creative community investments by our state government to improve entreprepreneurship, tech-based job creation, 21st century education, diversity and a community's quality of place.
Take a look at the legislation and, if you agree, please contact your local Senator and Delegate. You can find their contact information here. Phone calls are encouraged, but an email, a letter - any form of support is encouraged.
Difficult times call for new ways of thinking. This program is a relatively low-risk way for our state to embed new economy thinking into our formal institutions of state government responsible for economic growth and development. We thank the sponsoring legislators, and we encourage its passing!
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