Wayfinding Signage as an Economic Development Tool
A growing number of communities are using wayfinding signage programs as economic development and tourism promotion tools. Such signage systems assist visitors and residents in finding popular destinations.
In Portage, Indiana, the local economic development corporation recently unveiled new wayfinding signs that were installed throughout the City. Project organizers believe the effort will provide a significant boost to local businesses by helping visitors and tourists find key amenities in the City such as shopping, restaurants, or parks. In Steuben County Indiana, local officials are considering a similar program as well.
The proposal would create a Steuben-County themed design for signage that would welcome and guide visitors and residents to various resources throughout the county. Steuben County is in Northern Indiana and is considering expanding its tourism program. The initiative was one of the recommendations in the County's Economic Development Strategic Plan developed earlier this year by TPMA.
TAA and Community Colleges
The nation's community colleges are eagerly awaiting the details of a major federal grant program aimed at helping dislocated workers improve their knowledge, skills and employability. The program, known as the Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training Program, will award $2 billion over four years to the nation's community colleges and institutions which offer 2-year degree programs.
The federal Trade Adjustment Assistance program targets workers who have lost their jobs as a result of increased imports or shifts in production outside of the United States. Grants under this program will be designed to enable community colleges to expand their capacity in serving TAA workers and meet industry needs while improving college retention and achievement rates.
Details on the grant program were originally scheduled for release in October, and then delayed until early December. As this newsletter was being finalized, program details had still not been released as the US Dept of Labor was seeking congressional amendments to the program. Thomas P. Miller and Associates will assist colleges or consortia in at least two states develop and prepare their applications.
How to Bake an Economic Development Cake
For a good short and sweet primer on strategic planning for economic development, go to this blog posting from Fred Steinmann in the Inside Business Blog of the Nevada Small Business Development Center. Steinmann's blog entry is based on a speech he gave last month and outlines a nine-step comprehensive economic development strategic planning process proposed by Steven Koven and Thomas Lyons in their 2010 book, "Economic Development: Strategies for State and Local Practice."
For the blog posting, go here
For the park Web site, go here
EDA Posts 2011 Funding Opportunities
The U. S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) has announced its 2011 funding opportunities in the areas of planning, technical assistance, public works, economic adjustment assistance and the Global Climate Change Mitigation Incentive Fund (GCCMIF) economic development assistance programs. The funding opportunities are in two pdf files.
For planning and technical assistance programs, go here
For public works, economic adjustment assistance, and GCCMIF, go here.
