|
Veritas Vos Liberabit (The Truth will set you free)
Select 'yes', 'no' or 'somewhat' for each question below. When you have answered all the questions, press the 'Submit' button. Your email address and all questions are required.
Your email address
Enter your community website (optional)
|
1. Does your community have specific and quantitative (rather than intangible) goals and objectives that indicate they are currently or soon to become a world class city? The key point here is in setting actual targets for the genuine catalyst projects that indicate world class mindsets, such as master planning their growth and vision for where they want to be in a decade and what it will take to get there. Do they actively review and utilize best practices from other locales to understand how to address their own issues?
Yes, I agree with all the points
I somewhat agree with the points
No, I don't agree with the points
|
2. Has your city identified a U.S.P. (unique selling proposition) that establishes a sense of place and purpose that resonates both internally to the residents and externally to others? With more than 12,000 economic development groups across the U.S. alone, have they clearly documented what makes your community or region truly different and special to others and has it been validated from the perspective of unbiased third party experts?
Yes, I agree with all the points
I somewhat agree with the points
No, I don't agree with the points
|
3. Does your local leadership (elected and appointed) fully understand what it takes to be competitive today and over the horizon for tomorrow? Are they playing an active role in helping the city organize and fund the efforts to succeed?
Yes, I agree with all the points
I somewhat agree with the points
No, I don't agree with the points
|
4. Has your community done a SWOT analysis to target your "best bet" what I refer to as the low hanging fruit on the tree of opportunity, for new development opportunities? If so has the city leadership identified and prioritized target core industries and economic investment activities where you either currently have or could easily develop a demonstrated competitive advantage?
Yes, I agree with all the points
I somewhat agree with the points
No, I don't agree with the points
|
5. Has your economic development organization developed a visually attractive, up-to-date and easily navigable website that is useful to those that seek answers to the pertinent questions most business prospects need to know when researching a new locations for business decisions purposes? Your Economic Development organization understands how to gain competitive intelligence from the deployment of useful information via their web site so that two-way traffic is created between those interested in investing in your city and region.
Yes, I agree with all the points
I somewhat agree with the points
No, I don't agree with the points
|
6. Does your elected and appointed leadership go to great effort to educate and inform the electorate and business community about the economic and social issues at work within the city and the outline the need for visionary investments and solutions for addressing such issues?
Yes, I agree with all the points
I somewhat agree with the points
No, I don't agree with the points
|
7. Does your City have a cutting edge vision and investment strategy for empowering and improving the educational attainment and outcomes for their students and youth? If so does it include work skills assessments and curriculum tied to such skills as are required today and by new businesses in the community that are yet to come? Do they reward youth educational attainment and have programs to reward businesses and youth for working together to fulfill both educational and workforce needs and desires?
Yes, I agree with all the points
I somewhat agree with the points
No, I don't agree with the points
|
8. Does your community have a vibrant and robust method for empowering and investing in new entrepreneurs and innovation based intellectual capital development such as patents, new business ideas, and products? Is this tied to the University and community college infrastructure as additional support? Is there business incubation space available in your city for new entrepreneurial businesses that does not create an economic hardship for the new entrepreneur (is the cost of it subsidized by the public)?
Yes, I agree with all the points
I somewhat agree with the points
No, I don't agree with the points
|
9. Does your city have unique workforce development programs that truly assist in the transition of under-employed or dislocated workers in your community? Does the economic development effort specifically target such workforce members for address with new or expanding business opportunities to reduce such stressful economic conditions on the families of such individuals?
Yes, I agree with all the points
I somewhat agree with the points
No, I don't agree with the points
|
10. Has your city or region created hybrid investment capital for new business opportunities and innovative business expansion projects from local resources that can make such investment decisions locally? Does this include customized incentives to lower business investment risks for making significant investments into your community? (An example would be as such; could your community provide as much a 20% of a project expense to support key catalyst projects?) Are these funds available for easy access when necessary or is there a large amount of discussion and cultivation that must go on to raise such resources? Experience suggests that "crash programs created rapidly to address situations as they arise tend to lack true capacity to be counted upon for private investment decisions in a timely manner."
Yes, I agree with all the points
I somewhat agree with the points
No, I don't agree with the points
|
11. Has your city invested in the establishment of performing and visual arts as well as natural and historical museums for the residents? Is the community aggressively creating a renewed aesthetic quality and thematic appeal to their core city centre to make it attractive to residents and visitors alike? This would include after hour activities that draw people into the city center and then provide a safe and clean environment for their enjoyment? Does your city have ample and expansive greenspace for the residents and are they requiring such greenspaces for new development and general community growth?
Yes, I agree with all the points
I somewhat agree with the points
No, I don't agree with the points
|
12. Has your city or region enjoyed continued population growth since 2000? Has the growth been evident in the 18-30 year old age group at the same or greater rate than the general population growth?"
Yes, I agree with all the points
I somewhat agree with the points
No, I don't agree with the points
|
13. Does your community have a fast track permit system that allows development to be done in an expedited format (15 days or less)? In addition, do they track and provide for economic development purposes an up to date list of shovel ready (ready to be built upon) commercial and industry sites via the economic development web site? Does your local and/or regional Economic Development organization utilize the IEDC data standards for tracking community profiles, buildings and sites local data for site location and business investment decision support? It is readily available on the economic development website.
Yes, I agree with all the points
I somewhat agree with the points
No, I don't agree with the points
|
14. Does your community have a program for dealing with dinosaur facilities (facilities beyond their original useful life) to refurbish and redevelop such facilities for new uses that meet the needs of the community with a new purpose yet maintaining some historic value within the community?
Yes, I agree with all the points
I somewhat agree with the points
No, I don't agree with the points
|
15. Does your community invest in maintaining and building transportation infrastructure? In addition, does your community invest in new cutting edge communication infrastructure such as high speed internet, Wi-Max, Wi-Fi and other connectivity tools for the residents and visitors alike? Does this mindset also invest in more user friendly transportation modes such as walking and bike paths, car-pool lane, light rail and ample public transportation modes? Is your airport modern and user friendly with ample flights to the hub airports of the world?
Yes, I agree with all the points
I somewhat agree with the points
No, I don't agree with the points
|
16. Does your community protect and create green space and public areas that are environmentally and aesthetically attractive to the citizens and visitors? Having ample green space is a huge asset for 21st century cities. Is the access to public parks very generous through the city and its neighborhoods? Are there ample nature and species preserves within your city?
Yes, I agree with all the points
I somewhat agree with the points
No, I don't agree with the points
|
17. Does your city have a aggressive energy and resource conservation policy that creates lower demand uses for scarce resources (water) and incentivizes (rebates, energy buy back policies and energy tax credits) the reduction of energy use(electricity and natural gas) by advocating and rewarding the use of energy conservation and alternative energy sources? Do they have a LEED supported initiative for new building development? Is there implementation of such standards on their public spaces currently or planned? Does the public sector advocate and use highly fuel efficient or hybrid vehicles for public servants today?
Yes, I agree with all the points
I somewhat agree with the points
No, I don't agree with the points
|
18. Are your cities schools on the average attaining higher than the state scores with regard to student attainment scores on math, science, language, and literacy skills assessment tests? Are your communities schools achieving higher graduation rates than the state average as a cumulative score? Is there a focus on providing the best educational facilities, curriculum and outcomes within your educational leadership and teacher cadre and not simply a meet the requirements attitude?
Yes, I agree with all the points
I somewhat agree with the points
No, I don't agree with the points
|
|