(Charlotte, NC) Reporting on Day 2 of the ACCRA Conference, where the biggest brains in community research are gathered…
Ronnie L. Bryant, President and CEO of the Charlotte Regional Partnership, is outlining the “how-to” of “Sustaining a Regional Organization.” Here are Bryant’s key points followed by my analysis and observations.
The top challenge to regionalism is EGO.
It doesn’t matter if you raise $500 Million. It doesn’t matter if the public demands it. It doesn’t matter how many public officials, business leaders, or consultants say it makes sense. When one important leader - or a small cohort - think that THEIR ISSUE(S) trump the REGIONAL issues, the regional dog won’t hunt.
Parochialism is worst among politicians.
No kidding. They’re elected and re-elected by folks in a narrow band of zip codes. So asking them to do things that benefit a broader band of zip codes goes against their reptilian, re-election brains.
Regionalism is inclusive.
Bryant’s board has 93 members including representatives from utilities, the airport authority, local economic developers, local elected officials, colleges and universities, railroads, workforce development organizations, and the state department of commerce. Many of your regional development entities are overwhelmingly populated with Deep Pockets. That’s not enough. Run your list side-by-side with Mr. Bryant’s list and see how you’re doing.
Every community in the regional partnership must feel like they are equally represented.
If smaller or poorer communities feel like they aren’t respected and won’t have opportunities for growth, why would they stay at the regional table? If you’re a big, strong community, don’t be lulled into thinking you don’t need your smaller sisters. As Janet Miller at the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce will tell you, site selectors want the full, honest assessment of a region. And the things you think are “weaknesses” are often opportunities for enterprising, expanding clients. See how Bryan represents his communities equally here.
Trust is the currency of all economic development, regional or otherwise.
When Joe Raso (Iowa City, IA) and Mark Seckman (Cedar Rapids, IA) do economic development, they travel together. The respect each other. They know that their communities’ fates are interdependent. Theirs is a living, breathing example of the kind of trust and collaboration that’s required for true regionalism. (Mark and Joe, take a bow.) Look around your regional table and ask yourself, “Would I trust the person to my right to sell my community to the right client?” If not, whose ego or what issues are getting in your way?
