|
Economic
Development
Federal Policy for Community Revitalization - Community Development Block Grant Program - Brownfields and Vacant Properties - Fact Sheets on the Proposed Federal Budget for Fiscal 2008 - Federal Appropriations Fact Sheets - Public-Sector Economic Development - Energy and Economic Development - Reports - Briefings, Roundtables, Summits, and Other Events
Overview of Economic
and Community Development
The Northeast-Midwest Institute researches federal economic
and community development programs and opportunities as part of its mission to
encourage economic vitality for the region and the nation. The Institute explores strategies for federal
economic development initiatives, analyzes legislation, tracks trends, and
distributes information to educate and inform congressional staff, federal
policymakers, and state officials.
Institute efforts have addressed a range of federal policies, including
the Community Development Block Grant program, the Manufacturing Extension
Partnership, community infrastructure, brownfields redevelopment, housing,
business development, and industrial energy efficiency,
Federal Policy for
Community Revitalization
Federal policy can and does help the nation's older core
cities and close-in suburbs face challenges that impede their economic
vitality, but federal efforts have not kept pace with growing challenges. Many older communities, especially those
located in the Northeast and Midwest, lag behind the
nation when it comes to population growth – a trend that has adverse
implications for the upkeep of existing infrastructure, the effectiveness of
traditional revitalization strategies, and the flow of federal funds from programs
that allocate dollars based on population.
Sluggish markets and falling populations undermine the economic vitality
and strain the municipal resources of older communities. Some cities and suburbs face difficulties
with brownfields and vacant properties, aging infrastructure, housing,
commercial and industrial activity, and declining tax bases. Many older core cities and close-in suburbs
need the federal government as a partner in their revitalization efforts.
In response to a growing interest in federal action, the
Northeast-Midwest Institute is working with members of the Northeast-Midwest
Congressional and Senate Coalitions to explore how federal policy can help
older core cities and suburbs with community revitalization challenges. With
funding from the Surdna Foundation, the Institute is highlighting federal
options for a range of economic and community development issues.
The
Northeast-Midwest Institute presents some 40 specific policy options in its
report on Federal
Policy Ideas for Community Revitalization: Suggestions from Congressionally
Hosted Roundtable Discussions of Federal Policies for Older Core Cities and
Close-in Suburbs.
The report highlights findings from 2005 roundtable sessions with Sen.
Jack Reed of Rhode Island, Rep. Thaddeus G. McCotter of Michigan's 11th
district, and Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones of Ohio's 11th district on
federal policy for brownfield and vacant property redevelopment,
housing, water and transportation infrastructure, business and economic
development, and energy. The Institute report, funded by a Surdna
Foundation, compiles ideas from the roundtables and offers them for
consideration by members of the Northeast-Midwest Congressional and
Senate Coalitions and others. The Northeast-Midwest Institute will
build upon the suggestions and ideas from these roundtable sessions to
engage in ongoing work on critical issue areas and policy efforts
important to the quality of life in older communities.
The
Northeast-Midwest Institute produced a summary about the proposed
change in the allotment formula for the Clean Water State Revovling
Loan Fund as called for in the Water Quality Financing Act of 2007
(H.R. 720). Click here to read the summary.
As a follow-up to a Capitol Hill roundtable discussion of predatory
lending and federal policy, the Northeast-Midwest Institute, with
support from the Surdna Foundation, produced an issue brief on A Federal Suitability Requirement for Home Loans.
In summary reports, the Institute also has highlighted
existing federal programs important to community revitalization efforts for
older communities. The reports feature
information about:
The Community
Development Block Grant Program
The federal
Community Development Block Grant program provides funding to cities, urban
counties, and states for a wide range of activities focused on economic
opportunity, development, neighborhood revitalization, and housing. Not less than 70 percent of CDBG funds must
be used for activities that benefit low- and moderate-income persons, and other
CDBG activities must prevent or eliminate slums or blight or address community
development needs having a particular urgency because existing conditions pose
a serious and immediate threat to health or welfare. The current funding formula is structured to
ensure dollars for communities with older infrastructure and lagging population
growth or declining population.
In recent years, funding for the CDBG program has declined
and several proposals have been introduced to eliminate this important program,
scale it back, consolidate it with other federal initiatives, or change the
federal funding formula. In each case,
the suggested changes weaken the program or shift funding in ways that
adversely affected many communities in the Northeast-Midwest and elsewhere. Northeast-Midwest Institute research has
highlighted the importance of the CDBG program to older communities and
identified problems with many proposed changes.
The Institute also has provided important information about the CDBG
program to the Northeast-Midwest Senate and Congressional Coalitions on Capitol
Hill. Click here to read a Senate Coalition letter -- with
signatures from 58 senators -- requesting restored funding in fiscal 2007 for the Community
Development Block Grant (CDBG) program, which helps to revitalize
neighborhoods.
Brownfields and
Vacant Properties
For many older cities, vacant properties and brownfield
sites constitute a significant portion of the land available for
development. Brownfields are abandoned
or underused properties where redevelopment is complicated by actual or
suspected environmental contamination.
Other properties may stand vacant in locations where changing economic
circumstances, deteriorating infrastructure, or weak markets have undermined
private investment. Brownfields and
vacant properties depress property values, discourage investment, foster
blight, and dampen tax revenues for local governments. Older communities need to promote the
redevelopment of vacant properties and brownfield sites as a way to revitalize
their economic base and in order to offer viable alternatives to development
that might otherwise occur outside their borders in newer locations. As part of its Surdna-funded federal policy
project, the Northeast-Midwest Institute is continuing research and education
efforts that focus on the challenges of brownfields and vacant properties. Click here for information and materials from a July 2006 Capitol Hill briefing on
brownfield and vacant property issues.
For more about the Institute’s brownfields program, go to http://www.nemw.org/brownfields.htm.
Fact Sheets on the Proposed Federal Budget for Fiscal 2008
The
Northeast-Midwest Institute produced a collection of fiscal 2008 budget
day fact sheets on selected federal community and economic development
programs (FY08 Federal Budget Proposal).
The fact sheets use text, graphs, and data to present information about
the president’s fiscal 2008 federal budget proposal for about a
dozen programs relevant to revitalization efforts in older cities and
close-in suburbs. The fact sheets also look at inflation-adjusted
appropriations levels over time and include summary information about
each program. The featured federal programs in the report are
among those that were cited in congressionally hosted roundtable
discussion sessions, which were organized around community and economic
development challenges for older core cities and close-in
suburbs. The Surdna Foundation provided support for this research
effort. The programs covered include:
Brownfields Categorical Grant
Brownfields Projects
Clean Water State Revolving Fund
Drinking Water State Revolving Fund
Brownfields Economic Development Initiative
Community Development Block Grant Formula Program
HOME Investment Partnerships Program
HOPE VI
Housing Choice Vouchers
Amtrak
Federal Transit Administration
Fact
Sheets on Appropriations Trends for Selected Federal Programs
With
support from the Surdna Foundation, the Northeast-Midwest Institute produced
brief fact sheets that use text, graphics, and data tables to present
information about inflation-adjusted federal appropriations levels back as far
as fiscal 1981. The featured federal programs are among those cited in
congressionally hosted roundtable discussion sessions, which were organized
around community and economic development challenges for older core cities and
close-in suburbs. The fact sheets look at appropriations levels over
time, comparing current to past levels after taking inflation into
account. The fact sheets also include summary information about each
program.
Public-Sector
Economic Development
Economic development increases a regional economy's capacity
to create wealth for local residents. Development depends upon the deployment
of a region's building blocks -- labor, financial capital, facilities and
equipment, know-how, land, other physical resources, and public and private
infrastructure. The Northeast-Midwest Institute report on Public-Sector Economic Development: Concepts and Approaches offers a framework for local, regional, and state policymakers to
use as they assess economic development prospects.
Energy and Economic
Development
Reliable, affordable energy is critical to the economic
well-being of cities and regions. Energy is fundamental to powering commercial
businesses, retail establishments, manufacturing plants, transportation, and
everyday life. Energy prices affect profit margins and influence business
location decisions. High energy expenditures reduce the money that consumers
and businesses spend on other purchases and, within the dynamics of the local
economy, may pull dollars out of metropolitan areas for payments elsewhere to
energy producers or retailers. The Northeast-Midwest Institute explored the
topic of energy and economic development at a July 2005 roundtable discussion
session in Pawtucket, RI,
hosted by Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI), co-chair of the Northeast-Midwest Senate
Coalition. The opening presentation from Skip Laitner, a senior economist for
technology policy with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, spelled out
the links between energy efficiency and economic impacts and highlighted their
importance to economic development. Download Laitner’s PowerPoint presentation
here.
Reports
For centralized access to Northeast-Midwest Institute
reports on economic and community development, click here. For access to reports and presentations on
brownfields, click here. To review profiles of recent economic data for each of the 18 northeastern and midwestern states, click here.
Briefings,
Roundtables, Summits, and Other Events
As part of its ongoing research and education efforts, the
Northeast-Midwest Institute coordinates briefings, roundtable discussions,
summits, and other events for Congress, state and local officials, experts, and
practioners interested in federal policy for economic and community
development. Past Institute events have
included the following:
- Capitol Hill Roundtable Discussion
Session on Federal Policy Issues for Predatory Lending in Older
Communities, Washington, DC, September 2006. For a session summary, click here.
The Northeast-Midwest Institute
and the Northeast-Midwest Congressional and Senate Coalitions hosted a
roundtable session with congressional staff and policy experts to discuss
predatory lending, its impact on older communities, and proposals and options
for federal action to reduce the practice.
- Capitol Hill Roundtable Discussion
Session on Federal Policy Issues for Older Core Cities and Close-in
Suburbs, Washington, DC, February 2006
The Northeast-Midwest Institute
and the Northeast-Midwest Congressional and Senate Coalitions hosted a
roundtable session with congressional staff and policy experts to discuss
suggestions gathered by during a series of 2005 sessions on critical issues for
older core cities and close-in suburbs and to hear of specific legislative proposals
related to federal policy suggestions.
Participants engaged in discussions about federal policy for 1)
brownfield and vacant property redevelopment, 2) housing, and 3) business and
economic development challenges in older core cities and close-in suburbs. The roundtable, sponsored by the Surdna
Foundation, explored the value and viability of suggestions from the 2005
roundtable discussions and considered legislative proposals related to the
roundtable suggestions.
- Roundtable Discussion Session on Federal
Policy Issues for Water, Sewer, and Transportation Infrastructure in Older
Core Cities and Close-in Suburbs, Cleveland, Ohio, December 2005
Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs
Jones of Ohio hosted a discussion
session on how existing and proposed federal initiatives for water and
transportation infrastructure could advance economic revitalization for older
cities. Participants engaged in
discussions focused on federal policy options for 1) water and sewer infrastructure
upkeep and development, and 2) transportation infrastructure upkeep and
development. The roundtable, sponsored
by the Surdna Foundation, explored ways federal policy does and could address
barriers and encourage revitalization for older suburbs and cities.
- Roundtable Discussion Session on Federal
Policy Issues for Housing in Older Core Cities and Close-in Suburbs, Cleveland, Ohio, December 2005
Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs
Jones of Ohio and Cleveland’s
Mayor-elect Frank Jackson co-hosted a discussion session on how existing and proposed
federal initiatives for housing could advance economic revitalization for older
core cities and suburbs. Participants
engaged in discussions focused on federal policy options for 1) preserving,
rehabilitating and constructing housing stock, 2) avoiding foreclosures and
abandoned residential properties, and 3) increasing home ownership
opportunities. The roundtable, sponsored
by the Surdna Foundation, explored ways federal policy does and could address
barriers and encourage revitalization for older suburbs and cities.
- Roundtable Discussion Session on Business
Development and Brownfield/Vacant Property Redevelopment in Older Suburbs and
Cities, Livonia, Michigan, September 2005
Congressman Thaddeus G. McCotter
of Michigan hosted a discussion
session on how existing and proposed federal initiatives for business
development and vacant property redevelopment could advance economic
revitalization for older suburbs and cities.
Participants engaged in discussions focused on federal policy options
for revitalization and addressing 1) financial capital needs for business and
economic development, 2) federal subsidies, incentives, and grants for business
and economic development, 3) redevelopment of brownfield industrial sites, and
4) redevelopment of other abandoned properties.
The roundtable, sponsored by the Surdna Foundation, explored ways
federal policy does and could address barriers and encourage revitalization for
older suburbs and cities.
- Roundtable Discussion Session on
Business and Economic Development Issues for Older Metropolitan Areas, Pawtucket, Rhode Island, July 2005
Senator Jack Reed of Rhode
Island hosted a discussion exploring high-priority
concerns and federal policy challenges regarding business and economic
development for older cities and suburbs.
Participants engaged in discussions focused on federal policy options
for revitalization and 1) addressing financial capital challenges for business
and economic development, 2) considering current and proposed federal
subsidies, incentives, and grants designed to encourage business and economic
development for older metropolitan areas, and 3) examining proposals, programs,
and suggested changes for federal workforce development initiatives. The roundtable, sponsored by the Surdna
Foundation, explored ways federal policy does and could address barriers and
encourage revitalization for older suburbs and cities.
- Roundtable Discussion Session on Energy
and Economic Development Issues for Older Metropolitan Areas, Rhode Island, July 2005
Senator Jack Reed of Rhode
Island hosted a discussion exploring high-priority
concerns and federal policy challenges regarding energy and economic
development in older cities and suburbs.
Participants engage in discussions focused on 1) the link between energy
and economic development, 2) federal and state policy changes relating to
energy supply, demand and efficiency, and 3) electricity restructuring. The roundtable, sponsored by the Surdna
Foundation, explored ways federal policy does and could address barriers and
encourage revitalization for older suburbs and cities.
Contact
Home
| Top of Page
http://www.nemw.org/econdevel.htm
|
