Economic Development in Local Government: A Handbook for Public Officials and Citizens - Hardcover

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0786400951 ISBN 13: 9780786400959

Publisher: McFarland Publishing, 1995

Synopsis

Though local governments have long tried to shape their economies, Congressional passage of the Urban Development Action Grant in 1977 prompted public officials to develop highly focused inducements to entice new businesses to locate to their community. These economic development incentives often include, but are not limited to, land subsidies, low interest financing, flexible zoning laws and infrastructure improvements. The 37 articles in this work, written by some of the leading experts in the field, examine all aspects of economic development, including a general introduction to the field and information on how to set up the staff economic development organizations. An overview of the development process is next, including a review of the incentives available. The application of public-private partnerships is covered in depth, using primarily case studies of successful programs. The future of economic development programs is also examined.

About this title

About the Author

A municipal chief executive officer for Meriden, Connecticut, Roger L. Kemp lectures and writes from his accumulated experience of a quarter century in local government operations.

Reviews

For a long time local governments saw--and in many instances, they still see--business as an adversary and a source of tax and licensing revenue. A new trend has government forming partnerships with and providing incentives to business. Editor Kemp and more than 50 other contributors document this change in policy and make the case that there can be substantial economic benefits (new jobs, an expanded tax base, etc.) for many communities from encouraging private development. They report on existing economic development structures, practices, and incentives and provide many case studies of incentive offerings that have successfully attracted private sector investment; finally, they examine the future of local economic development. Incentives to business and industry have become a political campaign issue in some places, and officials have been criticized for "giving away the store," but such incentives are likely not only to continue, but to increase, which makes this book well worth studying in a great many communities. David Rouse

Edition details

• Publisher: McFarland Publishing
• Publication date: 1995
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0786400951
• ISBN 13: 9780786400959
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 346
• Editor: Kemp Roger L.