Community Economic
Development
11.201 GATEWAY: Planning Action
Karl Seidman
October 26, 2005
GATEWAY: Planning Action
Slide 1
Talk Outline
ƒ Barriers to Opportunity
ƒ Opportunity Pathways
and Intermediaries
ƒ Types of Intermediaries
ƒ Workforce
ƒ Business Development
ƒ Financial
ƒ Leveraging Opportunity
for Development
Projects
GATEWAY: Planning Action
Slide 2
Poor Neighborhoods:
Many Barriers to Economic Opportunity
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Low educational and skill attainment
English language skills
Limited work experience
Career and opportunity “literacy”
Child care responsibilities
Health problems
Limited social networks and exposure
Transportation
GATEWAY: Planning Action
Slide 3
Opportunity Pathways & Intermediaries
ƒ Strategy of creating opportunity
pathways for low-income residents
ƒ Build community knowledge of opportunities
ƒ Structure accessible ways to access opportunity
ƒ Provide services and resources to address barriers
ƒ Intermediaries manage this process
ƒ Gain buy-in and build partnerships
ƒ Tailor services to special conditions/needs
ƒ Securing funds and other resources
ƒ Advocate for expanded access and resources
GATEWAY: Planning Action
Slide 4
Workforce Intermediaries
ƒ Manage employment & training services
for target populations and employers
ƒ Identify good job/career opportunities
ƒ Dual customer focus: job seekers and employers
ƒ Organize funds & partnerships to improve
employment outcomes, overcome barriers and fill
skill/labor gaps
ƒ Variety of Organizational Forms
ƒ CBO Networks, Community Colleges,
Workforce Investment Boards
GATEWAY: Planning Action
Slide 5
Workforce Intermediary Tools
ƒ Neighborhood employment & training
centers
ƒ Fort Worth New North side Partners’ Council
ƒ Sector/Industry Training Programs
ƒ San Antonio Project Quest
ƒ Career ladder programs
ƒ Phil. Customer Service Training Collaborative
ƒ Case management and post-placement
services
ƒ Seattle Jobs Initiative
GATEWAY: Planning Action
Slide 6
Business Development Intermediaries
ƒ Expand resources and strengthen
systems for small business development
ƒ Address multiple business needs
ƒ Education and training
ƒ Technical assistance, counseling, mentoring
ƒ Access to capital and specialized lending
ƒ Sector or industry initiatives
ƒ Target underserved entrepreneurs
ƒ CBO or lender based networks
GATEWAY: Planning Action
Slide 7
Business Development Tools
ƒ Microenterpise Programs
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ƒ Training-led vs. credit led models
Entrepreneurial development “leagues”
Small business incubators
Business networks and associations
Market development initiatives
Set-asides and procurement programs
Mentoring programs
GATEWAY: Planning Action
Slide 8
Financial Intermediaries: CDFIs
ƒ Access to capital as path to economic
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advancement
Asset development focus
ƒ Housing, businesses, personal saving
Link financing to development services
Financially self-sufficient institutions
South Shore Bank, Chicago
Opportunities Credit Union, Vermont
GATEWAY: Planning Action
Slide 9
Development Projects & CED
ƒ Improve image and physical conditions
ƒ Pre-condition for other goals
ƒ Tenants: primary lever
ƒ Jobs vs. services vs. locally owned enterprises
ƒ Relocated vs. new facility
ƒ Resident employment by tenants
ƒ Tenant fit with local jobs needs
ƒ Outreach, placement, training, career ladders
ƒ Real Estate project: secondary lever
ƒ Contracts with local firms
ƒ Resident employment/training
ƒ Linkage funds
GATEWAY: Planning Action
Slide 10
Commercial District Strategy
ƒ Shared vision and agenda
ƒ Key for buy-in and coordinated action
ƒ Relationships with 5 stakeholder groups
ƒ Merchants, property owners, residents, civic/nonprofit organizations and city government
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Manage development outcomes
Foster and market positive image
Incremental changes and large projects
Priorities vary with goals & context
GATEWAY: Planning Action
Slide 11