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| REGIONAL SURGE SHOWS FOUR FACES By Neal R. Peirce May 30, 2000 The growth of regional consciousness and border-crossing alliances in America's metropolitan areas doesn't have one face -- it has at least four. That's the theory of Doug Henton, president of the California-based firm of Collaborative Economics and founder of a new Alliance for Regional Leadership that holds its first national meeting in Kohler, Wis., this week (May 4-5). Check new alliances forming in citistate regions across the country and the Henton thesis rings true. First they're regional efforts focuses on government reform -- trying to make sense of (or where need be, walk around) the hodgepodge of local governments in our metro areas. A top example: Georgia state government's creation of a powerful new Greater Atlanta Regional Transportation Authority, to make the tough decisions for new transit routes that localities have proved too timid to make. Next, we're seeing a rise of alliances sparked by entrepreneurs of the new economy -- leaders concerned their regions may falter in global competition if they fail to act quickly, intelligently, to assure reliable transportation, a trained workforce and high quality of life. A number of high tech figures are leading new economy regional alliances. One is Tom Meredith, just retired chief financial officer of Dell Computer, who co-chairs the recently-formed Austin 360 Summit with Lee Walker, a venture capitalist. But the new economy is more than high tech, Henton cautions. It's based on speed, services, networking. The Pittsburgh region is trying to shake the gritty image of its big steel history by focusing on its entrepreneurial firms in bioscience, robotics, software and high performance materials and their ties to such world-class universities as Carnegie Mellon. With Heinz Endowments support, a "hot team" of young entrepreneurs is developing a strategy to retain top talent and attractive venture capital to the area. Third, regional alliances are being sparked by advocates of "smart growth," calling for more livable, humane, walkable communities in less wasteful and more sustainable environments. Smart growthers may have some unreconstructed 60s liberals in their ranks. But increasingly, the movement is turning centrist. Take Chicago Metropolis 2020, an organization rooted in big business and foundation support. It's headed by George Ranney, former vice president of Inland Steel. Chicago Commercial Club business heavies are just half the Metropolis 2020 executive council; the other half's from local governments, community organizations, labor and faith groups. Metropolis 2020 helped wring big new transportation funding from the state legislature. But it wants the money spent -- for a change -- with efficient and compact land use in mind. Fourth, we're seeing community-based regionalism -- efforts to link lower-income neighborhoods and their workers with major metro area employers. Regional prosperity is clearly linked to reducing poverty and inequality, according to research by Manuel Pastor Jr. of the University of California-Santa Cruz. Among the burgeoning efforts is QUEST -- Quality Employment Through Skills Training -- in San Antonio. Begun by community organizers, it's pressed community colleges to offer neighborhood residents very specific training, then persuaded regional employers to take them on. The program's turned out and placed some 1,000 skilled workers, from diesel mechanics to registered nurses. But there is a problem, Henton notes -- leaders of today's four varieties of regional alliances often don't know each other, much less work together. The huge, impersonal nature of many regions, plus ethnic and cultural gaps, separate the camps. Yet if ways can be found to "connect the dots," regional advocates can reinforce each other and be much more effective. As the new economy blurs lines, the need for ingenious alliances may become self-evident. As Bill Bishop writes in the Austin American-Statesman, regions' array of governments "are taking on the shape of businesses that are driving their cities. The new economy relies on networks of suppliers, producers, attorneys and financiers." To be effective, Bishop suggests, government must now engage with "networks of business and labor leaders, small governments and nonprofit institutions. The new government isn't an organizational chart with, with descending boxes and arrows. It's more like a Web site, with multiple links and connections." If you think that sounds perplexing, welcome to the new century. The challenge, Henton suggests, is to mobilize "regional stewards" to communicate between the camps. And to learn more of the emerging art of creating win-win strategies for entire regions. That's the idea behind the Alliance for Regional Leadership meeting this week. Backed by the James Irvine and Morgan Foundations, it will include some of the country's lead regional practitioners, from such diverse areas as St. Louis and South Florida, Minneapolis-St. Paul and Chattanooga, Charlotte and Cleveland, Houston, Phoenix and Greater Washington (D.C.). The National Association of Regional Councils, mainly composed of councils of governments, has been ahead of the game with yearly "regional summits." But with the new Alliance, a number of major business and foundation leaders are becoming directly engaged. The result might just be the first truly high-octane effort to help our citistates function and prosper in a time of stunning economic change and global challenges. Copyright 2000 Washington Post Writers Group |
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