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The Restructured Landscape of Economic Development

Author

Listed:
  • Edwin Meléndez
  • Ramon Borges-Mendez
  • M. Anne Visser
  • Anna Rosofsky

Abstract

Regional workforce development collaborations have emerged as a notable approach to tackle complex problems within workforce development systems. While much of the existing research on workforce development documents the importance of promoting regional workforce development collaborations, little research exists that adequately identifies the specific barriers that organizations encounter in establishing and maintaining these collaborations. Through several sets of interviews over a 10-year period, this article examines the experiences of three detailed case studies of regions—Greater North Bay area, CA; Greater Fort Wayne/Northeastern IN; and Greater Pittsburgh/Southwestern PA—to identify the barriers and emerging strategies for creating regional workforce development systems. The authors identify three primary barriers: high initial upfront costs, competition, and fragmentation. They also find that an effective regional workforce development system is promoted primarily through an anchor organization that possesses programmatic and jurisdictional authority throughout a region.

Suggested Citation

  • Edwin Meléndez & Ramon Borges-Mendez & M. Anne Visser & Anna Rosofsky, 2015. "The Restructured Landscape of Economic Development," Economic Development Quarterly, , vol. 29(2), pages 150-166, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:ecdequ:v:29:y:2015:i:2:p:150-166
    DOI: 10.1177/0891242414566151
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Christopher T. King, 0. "Federalism and Workforce Policy Reform," Publius: The Journal of Federalism, CSF Associates Inc., vol. 29(2), pages 53-71.
    2. Paul T. Decker & Jillian A. Berk, "undated". "Ten Years of the Workforce Investment Act (WIA): Interpreting the Research on WIA and Related Programs," Mathematica Policy Research Reports aecf2c5c6f334999b46a7cda5, Mathematica Policy Research.
    3. repec:mpr:mprres:7141 is not listed on IDEAS
    4. Paul T. Decker & Jillian A. Berk, 2011. "Ten years of the Workforce Investment Act (WIA): Interpreting the research on WIA and related programs," Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 30(4), pages 906-926, September.
    5. repec:mpr:mprres:7419 is not listed on IDEAS
    6. Paul T. Decker, 2011. "Ten Years of WIA Research," Mathematica Policy Research Reports 6f5198a0ebb6497ca878fe066, Mathematica Policy Research.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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