November/December 2005

Robert Yaro
President, Regional Plan Association
Member, ARS Board of Directors

Northeast Wisconsin Economic Opportunity Study

The single greatest benefit resulting from the Northeast Wisconsin Economic Opportunity Study has been the development of partnerships and regional collaboration.  Collaboration has been greatly enhanced between existing organizations and the NEW EOS has mobilized the private sector into action at levels unseen prior to the study’s release.   

Is there more work to be done? Yes but this is a work in progress and the results continue to unfold.

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Civic Entrepreneurs Can Fill the Governance Gap

This month, the James Irvine Foundation released a new report titled “Collaborative Regional Initiatives: Civic Entrepreneurs Work to Fill the Governance Gap.”  This report is the result of three years of research and analysis by the Institute of Urban and Regional Development (IURD) at UC Berkeley.  The research, outlined in this report, found that Collaborative Regional Initiatives (CRIs) can be important vehicles for engaging a range of stakeholders around a variety of regional-level issues.

The Irvine Foundation defines CRIs as “partnerships that engage diverse stakeholders seeking to enhance economic vitality, increase social equity, and protect the natural environment.”  From 1997 to 2004, the Irvine Foundation invested more than $20 million in 17 CRIs in California to see if such regional collaboration could help create long-lasting solutions.

[FULL ARTICLE]

Building Vibrant Sierra Communities:  A Commercial and Mixed Use Handbook

Forum Participants Share Advice, Questions on Government Consolidation

A record number of participants learned the lessons of Louisville, Kentucky’s 2003 merger with adjacent Jefferson County at ARS’s National Forum on Regional Stewardship last month. The 12^th and most successful ARS National Forum to date, which was hosted by Louisville and themed “Collaborative GovernmentIs Your Community Ready?” was preceded by a two-day workshop on “Lessons from the Merger” featuring Louisville city officials and veterans of the successful merger ballot campaign and consolidation process.

The topic of local-regional government consolidation clearly stuck a chord among government officials, business and civic leaders from regions around the country.  Representatives from more than 50 regions have contacted ARS and Louisville Metro to learn more about their experience.  In response, ARS has begun compiling existing research and breaking new ground in a guide that will help regional leaders diagnose their region’s assets and challenges, identify stakeholders and engage the public in the process, explore the numerous options available to address their unique needs, learn how to implement the solutions they have chosen, and measure and communicate their results.

[FULL ARTICLE]

DVDs Available for Louisville's 'Lessons from Merger' Workshop

As part of the November meeting of the National Forum on Regional Stewardship, Louisville’s recently-merged Metro Government hosted a ‘Lessons from Merger’ Workshop November 8-9.  Evaluations of the event were unanimously enthusiastic.

“Very thorough look at all aspects of the merger,” said one participant.  Another appreciated the “exposure to key leaders and candor”; and a third said the Workshop offered “real truthful information from numerous messengers.”

[FULL ARTICLE]

2006 Regional Stewardship Awards

To recognize the work of innovative regions and exemplary organizations, the Alliance for Regional Stewardship (ARS) Board of Directors established an awards program for regions that have made measurable progress towards implementing the Principles of Regional Stewardship and demonstrated effective and sustained cross-jurisdictional and multi-sector collaboration.

The Regional Stewardship Awards are presented to regions that demonstrate progress in all four Principles of Regional Stewardship:

• Innovative Economy
• Livable Community
• Social Inclusion
• Collaborative Governance

[FULL ARTICLE]

PolicyLink Launches Email Discussion Group on Inclusionary Zoning

Nearly 200 affordable housing leaders from across the country met in Washington, D.C. October 5-7 to talk about inclusionary zoning, one of the most promising tools available for creating mixed-income communities and offering housing choices for American families. PolicyLink is launching this online discussion tool as a way to continue to share information and strategies that emerged from the event and that can help win and expand inclusionary zoning.

Finding housing that is affordable, safe, and that provides access to opportunity is one of the biggest challenges facing families, especially in low-income communities and communities of color. City and suburban officials and community leaders across the country are adopting inclusionary zoning ordinances often as the result of advocacy efforts by residentsto make affordable housing available to residents at a wide variety of income levels, often serving extremely low- to moderate-income households.

[FULL ARTICLE]

The New Collaborative Region:  Suburbs and Cities Working Together

The 2006 Conference on the Suburbs will focus on new collaborative approaches that are particularly effective for suburban areas such as California’s Inland Empire. California State Treasurer Phil Angelides will be the luncheon speaker.

This year’s conference will feature speakers from around the country, describing successful regional initiatives in their areas. Other speakers will look at the involvement of private-sector groups and the issues that arose as heralded regional planning efforts reached the implementation stage.

[FULL ARTICLE]

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