Economic Development Council

This work includes Comprehensive Economic Development Strategies, Brownfields, and Broadband Efforts. To that end we will work with Federal, State, Regional and Local Partners to assess Economic Development needs and issues, and support those Initiatives that offer Employment and Economic Opportunities and Investment in ALL of our Communities. Our... concept of Economic Development is a process by which individuals, communities, organizations, companies, local, state, and federal officials and agencies can improve the economic, political, and social well-being of themselves and all of "we the people" of our communities. The term Economic Development, has been used frequently by economists, politicians, and others in the 20th and now going into the 21st century as well. The concept, however, has been in existence in the West for centuries. Modernization, Westernization, and especially Industrialization are other terms people have used while discussing Economic Development. We believe Economic Development has a direct relationship with the environment and environmental issues as well. Whereas Economic Development is a policy intervention endeavor with aims of economic and social well being of communities and people, we believe economic growth is also a phenomenon of market productivity with a rise in gross domestic product. Consequently, we believe, "economic growth is only one aspect of the process of economic development". Most of us are aware that Economic growth deals with an increase in the level of output, but Economic Development is related to increase in output, coupled with improvement in social and political welfare of people within a certain region or area. Therefore, we believe Economic Development encompasses both growth and welfare values as well. There are numerous other organizations whose primary function is not economic development that work in partnership with economic developers. They include the news media, foundations, utilities, schools, health care providers, faith-based organizations, and ...Read More