Acknowledgements

The Advisory Committee wishes to acknowledge the extensive support from the United States Department of Commerce. This support has allowed considerable work to be accomplished in a short period of time. Special appreciation is expressed to Acting Deputy Secretary David A. Sampson and Deputy Assistant Secretary David M. Bearden, as well as to the administrative team and support staff within the Department, most notably from the Economic Development Administration and the Department’s Office of General Counsel.

At the meetings in Kansas City and Clearwater, the Committee benefited from special presentations from a number of outside speakers. These speakers traveled to the meetings on short notice, and they provided testimony that was most useful for the work and recommendations of the Advisory Committee. The Committee expresses its great appreciation to Dr. Geoffrey J.D. Hewings, Professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana, to Dr. Pamella J. Dana, Director of the Governor’s Office of Tourism, Trade and Economic Development for the State of Florida, to Dr. Brian Dabson, Associate Director of the Rural Policy Research Institute of the University of Missouri, and to Julie Meier Wright, President of the San Diego Economic Development Commission.

The Advisory Committee also benefited from public input during the course of its work on this report. It expresses its thanks to organizations and individuals who submitted written comments and also to those who traveled to the meetings in Kansas City and Clearwater to present oral comments at these meetings.

The Advisory Committee further acknowledges the meeting support provided by the City of Fresno, the Kauffmann Foundation, and the City of Clearwater for its three meetings, including special hosting and coordination from Fresno Mayor Alan Autry, Kansas City Federal Reserve Bank Vice President Dr. Mark Drabenstott, and former Mayor of Clearwater Brian Aungst.

Finally, because the members of the Advisory Committee served as individuals, the organizations, businesses, agencies, and governments with which they are associated contributed support staff resources and also accommodated the absence of Committee members for numerous meetings, subcommittee sessions, and other work demands. These contributions from the members’ organizations across the United States are also acknowledged.