It’s no secret that companies want to do business in thriving communities, and that individuals are seeking quality of life in the communities in which they reside. Resourced communities tend to have a larger pool of educated workers with higher disposable incomes and a large variety of quality-of-life assets. While under resourced communities struggle to provide the workforce for their current industry base, let alone the industry base they are trying to grow and attract. And attracting professionals to a less than vibrant community creates challenges.
When poverty reaches a point of critical mass in a community and efforts to reverse the problem don’t succeed, the people with the most resources tend to move out of the community, leaving behind enclaves of poverty. At this point, the community is no longer sustainable.
According to the International Economic Development Council, Economic Development is the practice of improving a community’s economic well-being and quality of life. It is a collaborative effort involving industry, government and myriad community stakeholders focused on improving a community’s competitiveness.
So, for communities concerned about their poverty rates, how do you reach your development goals? As you think about each of the goals of development: create high-quality jobs, develop vibrant communities and improve quality of life, if your community does not have the resources to reduce poverty it makes development that much more challenging.
Poverty Reduction as an Economic Development Strategy looks deeper into this and more, including:
- The role of Community & Economic Development in Poverty Reduction
- Understanding the Causes of Poverty
- Where Community Development and Poverty Intersect
- How a Community Can Create Upward Mobility for all
Audience: Key Community & Economic Development Professionals including, but not limited to: Chamber of Commerce, Economic Development Organizations; Business Associations, Labor Leaders, Workforce Development Organizations, Public-Private Partnerships, Community Nonprofits, Local/State/Federal Government, Educational Institutions, Businesses, Entrepreneurs, Developers, Philanthropic Organizations, Utilities/Special Authorities, Neighborhood Groups
Length: Up to Three Hours; Customizable to Preferred Length
To Schedule Contact: Lynn Jackson, (800) 424-9484 | workshops@ahaprocess.com
