Strong Regions

Smart Business

Vital Communities

San Francisco Bay AreaSan Francisco Bay Area

• Economic growth and prosperityin the 1990’s

• Housing costs skyrocket, poverty accelerates

• Bank of America makes loans andinvestments of $5 billion to promote homeownership among low-income residents

Chicago, Illinois

• Jobs-housing mismatch lowers productivity

• System Sensor has urban workforce/suburban plant

• Employers sign “Metropolis Principles” — commit to locate plants near affordable housing/mass transit

Austin, TexasAustin, Texas

• Applied Materials locates manufacturing plant in East Austin

• Commitment to hiring local residents

• “Wealth Gap” between professionals and production workers

• AM launches 10-year Sustainable Neighborhood Initiative

Common Themes

• Business competitiveness linked to health of the region

• Individual business efforts have limited impact

• Solving regional problemsrequires collective approach

Workforce

Transportation

Housing

Education

Common Themes

Strong Region

• Business competitiveness linked to health of the region

• Individual business efforts have limited impact

• Solving regional problemsrequires collective approach

MetroBusinessNet

• Action learning network of business-based civic organizations

• Models for business-led socio-economic change

• Forum for sharing experiences, learning from experts

• Documenting lessons• Creating database of promising

practices

MetroBusinessNet Partners

• Bay Area Council

• Chicago Metropolis 2020

• St. Louis Regional Chamber and Growth Association

• Washington Board of Trade

• Austin Area Research Organization/Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce

MetroBusinessNet

Improving Business Competitiveness

Promoting Regionalism

Seeking Economic and Social Equity

Region is Operating Landscape for Business

Business draws on regional:

• Workforce

• Transportation system

• Housing

• Education and training system

• Supplier network

Smart Businesses = Strong Region + Vital Communities

• Walkable central cities

• Open space and parks

• Urban streetlife and nightlife

• Vibrant neighborhoods

• Good public transit

• Ample housing choices

• Good education systems

Regional Challenges are Business Challenges

Business performance impacted by:

• Abandoned central cities

• Racial segregation

• Sprawl

• Traffic and gridlock

• High housing costs

Regional Challenge: Housing Costs

In San Francisco,

• Exorbitant housing costs

• Firms unable to attract talent

• Competitive edge threatened

$128,094

$259,250

$475,900

1982 1992 2001

Source: National Association of Realtors

Median single family homeprice in San Francisco

Regional Challenge: Urban Decline

Urban flight in St. LouisPopulation decline over time

Source: U.S. Census

In St. Louis,

• Dramatic population decrease

• Racial segregationincreases

• Vacant lots andbuildings in urban core

• Struggle to attractyoung workers

750,026622,236

396,685348,180

1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

451,112

Regional Challenges: Transportation

In Washington, D.C. area,

• Congested highways stress employees

• 34% spend less time with families

• 26% taking more public transportation

• 28% considering moving from region

Problem-Solving Through Collaboration

• Not your father’sChamber of Commerce

• Progressive business civic organizations

• Collaborative model of decision making

The New Business Civic Organization

• Multisector collaboration

and partnership

• Regional perspective

• Research and analysis

• Activism

Bay Area CouncilBay Area Council• $100 million for “Smart Growth” Fund$100 million for “Smart Growth” Fund

• Investments in inner-city neighborhoodsInvestments in inner-city neighborhoods

• Market rate of return on investmentMarket rate of return on investment

• Social return to community in Social return to community in

jobs, housing, transitjobs, housing, transit

Regional Business Solutions: Invest in “Smart Growth”

Chicago Metropolis 2020Chicago Metropolis 2020

• Cost to business of Cost to business of jobs-housing mismatch documentedjobs-housing mismatch documented

• Metropolis Principles developedMetropolis Principles developed

• Workforce housing policies proposedWorkforce housing policies proposed

Regional Business Solutions: Business Location

Regional Business Solutions: Urban Revitalization

St. Louis

• Revitalize urban core through Bio & Life Sciences Technopolis

• Retrofit old warehouses and manufacturing facilities

• Attract firms and talent

• Improve neighborhoods

3 Key Roles for the Business Community

• Strategic investment of core operating resources

• Advocate for public policies that promote sustainable and inclusive regional growth

•Active partner in multi-sector regional coalitions

Key Challenges

• Hard for business leaders to move beyond the charity model

• Business leaders don’t necessarily see how their self-interest is served by a regional perspective

•Big cultural divide between business and community leaders

Shaping Your Region’s Future

• Work through business civic organization

• Build regional perspective

• Form collaborative partnerships

• Invest in research and analysis

MetroBusinessNet Resources

• MBN network

• Case Studies

• Best practices database

• Research and analysis tools

Visit

www.metrobusinessnet.net

Call

FutureWorks at (781) 574-6607