Sustainable Economies Program

Mike O’DonnellOctober 22, 2012

2012 UEDA SummitAwards of ExcellenceResearch & Analysis

Iowa Economy: Regional Trade Centers

Characteristics of RTCs

Metropolitan Micropolitan Nanopolitan All Other

57%

16%12%

16%

62%

15%11% 12%

67%

14%9% 10%

Shares of People, Wage & Salary Jobs, and Wages and Salaries by Level of Urbanization in Iowa, 2010

Population Wage & Salary Jobs Wages & Salaries

Sustainable Economies ProgramA

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Economic Sustainability

Sustainability Indicators

Business Sustainability

Employee Wellness

Supply Chain Sustainability

Regional Assessment

Regional Planning

Mentoring

Identify Region

Business Assessment

Business Planning

Technical Assistance

Economic Sustainability Indicators• Indicators: Effective way to manage performance• Triple Bottom Line

• Many examples use in mid- to large-sized cities

Goal: Implement a replicable method to generate and use sustainability indicators for small cities in Iowa

Indicator Set

Financial

Growth•Population•Jobs

Income and Finance•Personal Income•Finance & Lending

Regional Linkages•Local Proprietors•Trade Capture

Labor Force•Workforce Constraints•Labor Utilization

Social

Schools•Student Performance•Staffing & Funding

Households•Access to Health Care•Child & Family Well Being•Poverty & Income Inequality•Housing Affordability

Community Culture•Arts & Recreation•Civic Engagement•Diversity

Environmental

Natural Environment•Air•Water & Soil•Conservation & Ecosystems

Built Environment•Housing•Transportation & Communication•Energy Use

Individual Indicator Analysis

• Performance Indicator• Comparison to other

RTCs• Also includes:

– Discussion– Relevance– Context

Lee21.5% - 28.5%

Peer Min 13.4%

Peer Max39.0%

Cost-Burdened Owner Households (With Mortgage)

13.4% - 21.5% 21.5% - 24.7% 24.7% - 26.5% 26.5% - 39.0%

Estimated % With Monthly Housing Costs >30% of Income (2006-2010)

Regional Economic Planning

• Economic Sustainability Summit• Backwards Mapping• Mentoring

Results• Provides “20,000 foot view”

and details– Indicators work for small

economies– Diverse community conditions

• Select indicators easily maintained by community

• Unique approach to gaining community consensus

CentervilleCarroll Ft. Madison& Keokuk

Highlights

• Community steering committee setting regional priorities

• Diversity initiative• SCORE chapter• Marketing changes• Employment opportunity

communication• $1.7M impact reported

• Strategic Planning• Leadership Academy• Junior Achievement program

Questions?

Contact Information:Mike O'DonnellEDAUC Program DirectorIowa State University Extension and Outreach, CIRAScell: 515-509-4379, office: 515-294-1588modonnll@iastate.edu, www.ciras.iastate.edu

Backup Slides

Carroll RTC

Key Participants

Region XII COG (EDA Funded)Chamber of CommerceCarroll Area Economic Development Corp.Elected officialsISU Extension13 Businesses

Findings

• Significant Regional Presence• Strong financial performance offset by

population loss• Strong indicators of social well-being• Potential regional environmental risks• Business growth constrained by population

EDA Projects

10 Business Technical Assistance Projects

3 Community Technical Assistance Projects

Collaborations

MEP: Green Manufacturing Training

SBDC: Score Chapter

Ft. Madison/Keokuk RTC

Key Participants

SEIRPC (EDA Funded)Chamber of Commerce – Keokuk Economic Development GroupsElected officialsISU ExtensionLocal Unions10 Businesses

Findings

• Significant financial and social distress• Personal and family well-being among

lowest in state• Lack of: education, industries with high

educational needs, and young adults• Significant local interest in driving change

EDA Projects

4 Business Technical Assistance Projects

4 Community Technical Assistance Projects

Collaborations

MEP: Green Manufacturing Training

DOE IAC: 2 Energy Projects

Centerville RTC

Key Participants

Chariton Valley Planning & Development (EDA Funded)Local non-profit groupsEconomic Development GroupsElected officialsISU Extension18 Businesses

Findings

• Low wages and associated social distress• Potential regional advantage in

natural/environmental area• Many active local betterment groups:

opportunity to coordinate and develop shared vision.

EDA Projects

6 Business Technical Assistance Projects

Other projects being identified

Collaborations

TBD

Lessons Learned

• Sustainability is complex– Rarely a “right answer”– Communities and businesses need support

• Regional Economy– Need strong outside mentoring– Informal leaders can be just as effective

• Businesses– Need action-oriented assessment– Significant “green” interest, but only if

secondary to daily business

Program ImpactCarroll RTC• Input into regional and

city planning efforts• Increased coordination

among public and private groups

• Increased participation in volunteer groups

• Businesses better able to communicate needs and identify opportunities

Lee RTC• Common, fact-based

understanding• Project groups beginning

to form• Businesses involved in

social issues discussion

RTC Carroll Projects & Events

Community

• Regional Economic Assessment– Sustainability Overview,

Backwards Mapping Session

• Employee Attraction Kaizen

• Economic Development Overview for City Offices

Business

• 7 Triple Bottom Line Assessments

• LEED Business Growth Opportunity Assessment

• Economic Impact Study• Thermal Analysis for

Energy Reduction

RTC Ft. Madison/KeokukProjects & Events

Community

• Sustainability Summit held 2/8/12

• Strategic Planning• Main Street Trade

Analysis• Junior Achievement

Program• Regional Leadership

Program

Business

• 3 Triple Bottom Line Assessments

• Waste Stream Mapping Project

RTC CentervilleProjects & Events

Community

• Sustainability Summit held 7/10/12

• Projects being defined

Business

• 6 Triple Bottom Line Assessments

Sustainability Indicators