The Committee's Charge and Process

On February 9, 2005, the President’s Domestic Policy Council requested the Secretary of Commerce (the “Secretary”) to form the Strengthening America’s Communities Advisory Committee (the “Committee”). The objectives and duties of the Committee are to provide advice and recommendations to the Secretary, and to develop a comprehensive written report of policy parameters to assist in implementing the President’s Strengthening America’s Communities Initiative (the “Initiative”). This includes advising on its legislation and regulations, and providing other guidance. The Committee has been asked to advise on all aspects of the envisioned Initiative, including policy findings and declarations, eligibility, program delivery, monitoring, and performance measures.

Appointments to the Committee were completed in April 2005. The membership of the Committee represents diverse backgrounds and geographic regions. The Committee includes individuals working within the private sector, state and local officials, and individuals from community-based and research organizations.Within the membership are individuals with expertise in global, national, and regional economic competitiveness, rural and urban economic development, and social and community development.

Committee members were appointed to serve for a twoyear period, and the Committee was asked to submit an initial report to the Secretary in early summer 2005.

The Committee held its first meeting in Fresno, California, on April 15, 2005. Additional meetings were held in Kansas City,Missouri, on May 13, 2005, and in Clearwater, Florida, on June 2, 2005. Between the public meetings of the Committee, the members held administrative briefings and work sessions of subcommittees. Reports from subcommittees to the full Committee were made at the Kansas City meeting and were submitted prior to the June 2, 2005 meeting in Clearwater. At a teleconference meeting on June 27, 2005, the Committee conducted a final review of this report and authorized its submission to the Secretary.

Meeting notices, agendas, and transcripts of the Committee’s meetings are posted on the Department of Commerce website at www.commerce.gov, where there is a link to all the public postings for the Initiative.

Expert Testimony

The Committee was fortunate to have presentations from outside experts at the meetings in Kansas City and Clearwater. Their knowledge and perspectives stimulated discussion and contributed significantly to the development of the policy recommendations of this report.

• Dr. Brian Dabson, Associate Director of the Rural Policy Research Institute of the University of Missouri, presented perspectives on how entrepreneurship works to energize and evolve regional economies, and what federal policy can and cannot do to help.While he focused his remarks on rural America, Dr. Dabson emphasized that many of the principles presented were relevant to all regions across the urban-rural continuum.

• Dr. Pamella J. Dana, Director of the Governor’s Office of Tourism, Trade and Economic Development for the State of Florida, presented perspectives on federal policy as it relates to state community and economic development efforts. She discussed specific experiences in Florida’s disaster recovery efforts following the 2004 hurricanes.

» Page 2 of 2