Planning Local Economic Development: Theory and Practice

Written by authors with years of academic, regional, and city planning experience, this classic text has laid the foundation for practitioners and academics working in planning and policy development for generations. With deeper coverage of sustainability and resiliency, the new Sixth Edition explores the theories of local economic development while addressing the issues and opportunities faced by cities, towns, and local entities in crafting their economic destinies within the global economy. Nancey Green Leigh and Edward J. Blakely provide a thoroughly up-to-date exploration of planning processes, analytical techniques and data, and locality, business, and human resource development, as well as advanced technology and sustainable economic development strategies.

Table of Contents:
Chapter 1 The Enduring Argument for Local Economic Development Planning Local Economic Development Planning in the Face of Globalization The Influence of Outsourcing and Insourcing People and Places Left Out of the New Economy The Future of Local Economic Development Planning References and Suggested Readings Chapter 2 The Influence of National and State Policies on Local Economic Development Three Approaches to National Economic Policy Monetary and Tax Policy Trade Policy Welfare to Workfare Policy Health Care Policy Employment Policy National Policy Targeting Local Economic Development Coordination of Local and National Development Efforts State Economic Development Approaches Challenges and Opportunities Inherent in Economic Development Policy Making Conclusion Notes References and Suggested Readings Chapter 3 Concepts and Theory of Local Economic Development Defining Local Economic Development Theories of Growth and Development Translating Theory Into Practice Theories, Models, and Fads In Local Economic Development Planning The Continued Evolution of Economic Development Theory Into Local Practice Conclusion Notes References and Suggested Readings Chapter 4 The Local Economic Development Profession and Professionals The Role of the Economic Development Practitioner The Task Functions The Clients The Professional Roles Economic Development Careers Summary and Conclusion References and Suggested Readings Chapter 5 The Local Economic Development Planning Process Preliminary Tasks of Local Economic Development Planning The Six Phases of Planning Managing Planning Resources in the Community Selecting a Local Economic Development Role Typology of Planning Approaches Features of Local Economic Development Planning Conclusion Putting It All Together: Creating a Local Economic Development Strategy (Part I) References and Suggested Readings Chapter 6 Introduction to Analytical Methods for Local Economic Development Planning Information and Analytical Requirements for Local Economic Development Planning Understanding an Economy’s Strengths and Weaknesses The Economic Profile Building On Comparisons Gathering Available Descriptive Data Occupational Data Employer Reports Examining Analytical Techniques Principles of Economic Projections How Do Changes Multiply Through the Economy? Identifying Industrial Clusters: The Most Important Parts of the Local Economy Conclusion Putting It All Together: Creating a Local Economic Development Strategy (Part II) Notes References and Suggested Readings Chapter 7 Local Economic Development Strategy The Goals of Local Economic Development Prerequisites for Successful Strategy Formulation Selecting Strategic Options Economic Development Plans Within the Context of Comprehensive Plans Common Traps In Strategy Formulation Assembling the Elements of a Strategy Projects from Strategies Plan Financing and Implementation Conclusion References and Suggested Readings Chapter 8 Locality Development The Link Between Economic Development and Urban Design Landbanking and Community Land Trusts Physical Infrastructure Development on Industrial and Commercial Land Speculative Buildings Zoning Regulations Business Improvement Districts Regulatory Improvement Through Simplification Townscaping Shopsteading Housing and Neighborhood Improvement Household Services Community Services Conclusion References and Suggested Readings Chapter 9 Business Development Creating a Good Business Climate Entrepreneur Development and Economic Gardening One-Stop Business Assistance Centers Start-Up and Venture Financing Companies and Development Banks Small Business Development Centers Microenterprise Women’s Enterprises Promotion and Tourism Programs Research and Development Enterprise Zones Incentivizing or Subsidizing Local Economic Development? Conclusion Notes References and Suggested Readings Chapter 10 Human Resource Development Workforce Development Realities of an Undertrained Workforce Public Role in Workforce Development Goals of Human Resource Programs Matching Human Resource Programs and Economic Development Objectives Education as the Foundation of Human Resource Development Implementation of a Human Resource Development Strategy Conclusion References and Suggested Readings Chapter 11 Community Economic Development Community Development Corporations Community Cooperatives Local Enterprise Agencies Employee/Worker Ownership Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Neighborhood Development Targeting and Marketing Neighborhood/Community Assets Conclusion References and Suggested Readings Chapter 12 Building the Implementation Plan Public–Private Partnerships Marketing Community Project Financing Assessing Project Viability Sustainability Analysis Detailed Feasibility Analysis Cash Flow Analysis Project Sustainability Organizational Design Monitoring And Evaluation Program Conclusion Note References And Suggested Readings Chapter 13 Institutional Approaches to Local Economic Development Organizational Requirements For Local Development Public–Private Partnerships The Economic Development Specialist Institutional Approaches To Local Economic Development A Typology Of Development Organizations Conclusion References And Suggested Readings Chapter 14 Local Economic Development Planning’s Response to A Global Economy and Climate-Challenged Planet Finding Solutions Through Innovation and Technology The Technology Development Process Fostering The Advanced-Technology Community Advanced Manufacturing and Clean Technology Resiliency in Local Economic Development Local Economic Development Planning for Resiliency Conclusion: The Future of Local Economic Development Planning Notes References and Suggested Readings

About the Author :
Nancey Green Leigh is a Professor and PhD Program Director in the School of City and Regional Planning Program at the Georgia Institute of Technology. She is a Fellow of the American lnstitute of Certified Planners and Co-Editor of the Journal of Planning Education and Research. Leigh teaches, conducts research, and publishes in the areas of local economic development planning, urban and regional development, brownfield redevelopment, and sustainable urban industrial systems.She is the author of Stemming Middle Class Decline: The Challenge to Economic Development Planning, and coauthor (with Joan Fitzgerald) of Economic Revitalization: Cases and Strategies for City and Suburb. Some of the journals she has published in are Economic Development Quarterly, Journal of Planning Education and Research, Journal of the American Planning Association, Journal of Industrial Ecology, International Regional Science Review, Journal of Resource Conservation and Recycling, Growth and Change, Journal of Urban Technology, IEDC Economic Development Journal, and the Journal of Planning Literature. She obtained her B.A. in urban studies and a master′s in regional planning from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and a master′s in economics and a Ph.D. in city and regional planning from the University of California at Berkeley. She is a former Woodrow Wilson Fellow and Regents Fellow of the University of California at Berkeley and past Vice President of the Association of The Collegiate Schools of Planning. Dr. Edward J. Blakely is Professor of Urban Policy in the United States Study Centre at the University of Sydney, Australia. He has held academic positions in teaching, research, academic administration, and economic development policy for more than 30 years, including Dean of the Robert J. Milano Graduate School of Management and Urban Policy and Dean of the University of Southern California School of Policy, Planning, and Development. He is a leading scholar and practitioner in the fields of planning and local economic development. Dr. Blakely served as a policy adviser to the mayor of Oakland and adviser to the Los Angeles Public School District. He was appointed by President Clinton as Vice Chair of the Presidio Trust, where he played a key role in the development of the former army base into a profitable civic facility. He has served on the Board of Directors of the American Planning Association, the Nature Conservancy, and Fulbright Association. In January 2007, Dr. Blakely was appointed by the Mayor of New Orleans to head the recovery effort following the devastation of Hurricane Katrina.

Review :
"Leigh and Blakely’s Planning Local Economic Development is the gold standard for texts in local economic development.  The book provides excellent breadth and depth of conceptual and analytical frameworks in the field of economic development while also integrating applied case materials.  My students appreciate the accessible writing style and the applied nature of the book, which generates class discussion of key concepts." "Planning Local Economic Development: Theory and Practice is the authoritative and comprehensive text for students of economic development planning and policy. The authors, leading scholars of the urban planning field, present an engaging and lively introduction to the field. The book strikes a perfect balance between theory and practice. Highly recommended." "Planning Local Economic Development: Theory and Practice is one of the most functional textbooks on the market. The key issues are covered in easy to read chapters. There is enough information to inform the students without overwhelming them. Students and faculty will both want to make this part of their permanent library." "Nancey Green Leigh and Edward Blakely’s Planning Local Economic Development: Theory and Practice is an engaging text.  I’ve used this book over the years both as a student and as a professor.  Each edition gets stronger and adds additional value to understanding a topic as complex as local economic development." "Planning Local Economic Development: Theory and Practice provides readers with a hands-on approach to learning economic development.  In as much as it provides the theoretical basis for working in the field, it also presents the challenges associated with the everyday economic, social, and political realities of planning local economic development."