Events
On Saturday, November 14, Barry Bluestone, Director of the Dukakis Center for Urban and Regional Policy and Dean of the School of Public Policy and Urban Affairs, led a workshop attended by over 200 city mayors and senior municipal officials at the National League of Cities' annual "Congress of Cities Exposition" in San Antonio Texas.The topic of Bluestone's workshop was local economic development and his presentation was entitled "Practical Strategies to Attract Economic Investment." Bluestone was invited to the conference by the 2009 NLC 2nd Vice President, James Mitchell. Mitchell asked Bluestone to address participants, explaining the power that they have to better plan the economic destiny of their own cities and towns.
The centerpiece of Bluestone's presentation was an online tool developed at the Dukakis Center which provides municipal officials with the information they need to compete more effectively for investment and jobs. The Economic Development Self-Assessment Tool (EDSAT) is part of an ongoing research collaboration between the Dukakis Center, private industry, and local government. To date, EDSAT has been used in nearly 70 communities, clustered primarily in New England, in order help local municipalities better understand their potential to bring new industry to their area.
Working with the NLC, the Dukakis Center will now be rolling out the EDSAT program across the country, working with as many cities and towns as wish to join this growing effort.
To view a recording of Bluestone's presentation, please visit the NLC website.
Click here to download Barry Bluestone's powerpoint presentation.