regions work! what’s a region?
DESCRIPTION
First Presented July 20, 1998 at The World Future Society Conference FutureQuest: Strategies for the New Millennium – Chicago, this launched the Regions Work Initiative and set out the Action Plan that is still being pursued today.TRANSCRIPT
Regions Work! What’s a region?
First Presented July 20, 1998 at The World Future Society Conference
FutureQuest: Strategies for the New Millennium – Chicago
Tom Christoffel, AICP, FeRSA, Editor, Regional Community Development News
© 1998
Regional?
“We need boundaries.” - Edith Wiener
“To solve problems we must cross boundaries.” Jessica Lipnack.
Two or more cooperating across a political boundary is regional.
Markets are regional and the economy is global. Production and/or assembly is local. Housing, labor, retail markets are
regional. There are local consequences of
business placement decisions, but many decisions are out of local control.
Local governments were designed to be local and they are good at it.
Regions consist of neighbors and peers.
Defined regions exist in U.S.
Formed in the 1960’s. Networks of local governments that
are statewide networks as well. This structure is now invisible to most
citizens and the business community. National Association of Regional Councils (NARC) National Association of Development Officials (NADO) States - Virginia Association of Planning District
Commissions
What’s the right region?
Metropolitan Statistical Area? Watershed? Bio-region? Sub-state district? A different region for each issue?
What are the opportunities? The right region is when the
geography fits the issue. Standard boundaries - counties and
state regions are data building blocks. Alignment of data sets on geography
increases efficiency - use a GIS approach.
Government alignment of regions speeds action when needed.
Regions work action plan. National data sets based on existing
regions. Region + or - neighbors (region or
county) to create the regional design that fits the market/issue.
Make visible to citizens, business and industry, non-profits.
State databases on regional geography. Regional Public Corporate Database.
“Think Local Planet, Act Regionally.”
Contact - 2012
Tom Christoffel, AICP, M
FeRSA, Editor
Regional Community Development News
Regional Intelligence – Regional Communities, LLC
Box 1444 - Front Royal, Virginia (VA), USA 22630
E-mail: [email protected]
Land line: 1- 540-635-8582
Cell: 1 -540-664-7037
Web: http://ri-rc.com/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/tomchristoffel
Regional Intelligence – Regional Communities, LLC
Tom (Thomas J.) Christoffel, AICP, EditorRegional Community Development NewsRegional Intelligence-Regional Communities, LLCP.O. Box 1444Front Royal, Virginia (VA), 22630, U.S.A.E-mail: [email protected] Phone: 540-635-8582Web: www.regionalintelligence.comThe “Regions Work” Initiative © 1998 - 2007