State Econ Leaders Talk Incentives Policies, Federal Relationships
December 9, 2015.@CRECnet's state economic development agency leaders workshop has kicked off in Phoenix. #econdev pic.twitter.com/Ol1oO8GoaB
— Parry Carter (@PCarter222) November 18, 2015
State agency economic development secretaries from Hawaii to New England met for two days in Phoenix to discuss the challenges and opportunities they face in developing and delivering programs for the people they serve.
The invitation-only meeting, hosted by the Center for Regional Economic Competitiveness (CREC) and the Arizona Commerce Authority, focused on:
- Administering and evaluating incentive policies and programs
- The role of public-private partnerships in managing and implementing economic development policies
- Exploring state interests in federal-state economic development collaborations
- Improving state workforce development systems
The meeting was part of a project CREC began in 2013 with the Pew Charitable Trust to improve state tax incentive programs. As part of that effort, CREC and Pew identifies and works with states to establish and implement successful economic development tax policies and practices; improve participating states’ ability to collect and report data and information; and develop national standards and best practices to draw a roadmap for similar efforts in other states. During the Phoenix meeting, the state economic development officials reviewed other states’ incentive benchmarking efforts and performance indicators and discussed inter-state collaboration.
The agency executives also examined how states can play a role federal programs, such as:
Growth Potential:
State agency leaders and chief deputies who attended the two-day session in Phoenix say they see challenges in the eight sectors and honed in on policies that affect talent development as a key to finding overall industry solutions. Each said they hope to work toward future discussions that guide state-level policies that effectively close skills gaps and match employers with well-trained, well-educated employees. Federal involvement, the leaders said, plays a crucial role in the ways industry drives workforce development and supply-chain expansion.
About CREC:
The Center for Regional Economic Competitiveness (CREC) is an independent, not-for-profit founded to provide policy-makers from around the world with the information and technical assistance they need to formulate and execute innovative, regional, job-creating economic strategies. The organization’s team delivers its programs and services based on its Guiding Principles.