Entire Winter 2022 Issue

How COVID-19 Reshaped the Battle for Talent: A Look Inside the Latest Talent Attraction Research

by Robyn Domber and Heather Gantz
A national survey of more than 1,000 working-age people across the U.S. who moved during the pandemic reveals important insights into what triggered relocation during COVID-19, talent migration trends, views on the importance of cash incentive offers, findings on remote work and the pandemic’s impact on career changes and training.

Supporting Inclusive Growth in Norfolk: Aligning Economic & Workforce Development Strategies

by Michael Paris
Following the Great Recession, Norfolk launched an innovative workforce program, Norfolk Works, aimed at ensuring its residents had inclusive access to job opportunities generated by its economic development projects and to support associated attraction, retention, and expansion efforts. Norfolk Works received IEDC’s Gold award for a Multi-Year Economic Development Program and a Silver award for Talent Development and Retention.

The Element of “Surprise” in a Strategic Plan: Is It Time to Update Your Strategic Plan?

by Jeanine Jerkovic, CEcD
The city of Surprise, Arizona, provides case studies, lessons learned, and insights in support of a proactive, bite-sized, and step-by-step approach to strategic planning during times of turmoil by applying practical IEDC disaster recovery and resiliency tools.

Proactively Assisting Small Businesses Through a Changing Business Landscape: The Small Business Resource Center in New Haven

by Keyri Ambrocio, Anne Benowitz, and Garrett Sheehan
The Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce identified a need to support the business community in the region that faced a myriad of challenges during the pandemic. To address these issues, the Chamber formed the Small Business Resource Center, a support system for businesses to unlock available resources, expand growth opportunities, and create a strong entrepreneur ecosystem. The Center received IEDC’s Gold award for a Business Retention and Expansion Initiative.

“A Hundred-Year Event” and the Perfect Storm for U.S. Manufacturing: What’s Causing the Escalating Skills Gap and What Tools Can Economic Developers Use to Address It?

by Cynthia Jenkins
The soft skills and middle level skills gap in manufacturing is escalating due to challenges from past decades, plus the more immediate emphasis on reshaping the supply chain through re-shoring and other means. This article explores the causes and provides solutions that economic developers and other stakeholders can use in tandem, coupled with adding use of game-changing virtual training tools

Return on Investment in Economic Development… Dollars and Cents and Inclusivity: Measuring the Benefits for Incentives

by Betsey L. Hale, CEcD
Elected officials and community leaders in Loveland, Colorado and Cheyenne, Wyoming asked their economic development professionals what the impacts and results of incentives in the forms of cash, fees waivers, and discounted land had been over time. The communities took different approaches to measuring outcomes, but the research informed their stakeholders of the quantitative benefits. Outcomes are not always measured by financial benefit but social and community goals.