July 7, 2009
In attendance:
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Points of Consensus (DRAFT)
VISION: The region’s economy should have the following characteristics:
- Built upon our local strengths and assets, including:
- Location (maritime)
- Neighborhood development as a starting point
- Agriculture
- Fishing/Marine tech. niche
- Transportation (highways and ports; need rail)
- Higher education
- Wind, water, tide
- Precision manufacturing history
- Lean Manufacturing
- Cultural and recreational assets
- Cultural work ethic
- Jobs of the future are green jobs as defined by:
- Paid a living wage including benefits
- Opportunities for growth
- "Green Collar" Jobs (as articulated by Van Jones)
- Restorative to the community and the environment
- Collaboration of labor and environmental entities
- Zero sum economy
- No net resource depletion
- Reuse of waste as a resource
- Regional self-sufficiency – the ability to meet the needs of today without limiting the region’s ability to meet the needs of the future
- Stabilization of local governments and growth of volunteerism.
- Green Economy with Green Workers – "Cradle to Cradle"
- Exportable commodities and services
- Importance of small business and entrepreneurship
- Development of technologies that will produce jobs
- Industries of the future
- Biotech/medical
- Marine
- Ecological restoration
- Energy efficiency and production
- Alternative energy (turbines, solar)
- Use of Tax policy (tax credits; TIFs) to support sustainable business
- Historic tax credits
- Film industry and support business
- Regulation – develop unified policies that promote sustainable economic growth
GOALS AND ACTIONS
- Assess current status against Vision 2020
- Understand that the "old" approach to economic development involved creating industrial land and importing businesses; the "new" approach promotes environmental and economic sustainability
- Holistic/Systemic approach to building our economy (consider other "silos")
- Make existing businesses more green
- Engage in mapping business ownership to evaluate what is available regionally versus what supplies must be obtained elsewhere (Donahue Institute)
- Involve the educational system in programs that prepare individuals for sustainable careers
- Promote understanding of consumptive use of resources
- Be proactive in being regionally resilient
- Be at the forefront of new industry (e.g. wind turbine production)
- Identify funding sources/streams
- Identify demand
INDICATORS
- Decrease "brain drain" (educated workers) by xx%
NEXT MEETING: July 28, 2009, 3 p.m.