SCHOOL OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS, UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO DENVER
PUAD 6600– Economic Development2018
SYLLABUS
Spring 2018Instructor: Randy Harrison8
TBA: 5:00pmto 7:45pm Senior Fellow SPA Institute
Location: Lawrence Building 1380 Lawrence Street, Suite 525
Room 450(303) 503-6304cell
Office hours by appointment
1
This course will utilize Colorado’s experience as a laboratory for understanding how economic development works; how business location decisions are made; how infrastructure decisions can build jobs and communities; how local workforce development and businesses can connect to match workers with skills and jobs; and how international trade is incorporated into state and metro economic development strategies. Colorado is attracting people and jobs – how does this formula work?
We often debate how to achieve economic growth, economic prosperity, a better quality of life, and social equity, but do we know how to utilize the tools to make those things happen in practice. What’s in your economic development toolbox? What policies, programs and actions can decision-makers, thought-leaders, governments and agencies make to achieve economic objectives? What’s the vision?
As governments search for new ways to be efficient, improve performance and leverage resources, they are also looking at their communities, states and regions in terms of competitiveness, international trade and globalization, innovation, collaboration and partnership. This course will look at practices where economic development includes these elements: the Colorado Innovation Network, the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade, the Metro Denver and Denver South Economic Development Partnerships, Mile High Connects, the Downtown Denver Partnership, and public-private partnerships across multiple sectors in transportation, broadband, water and innovation. Students will develop an economic development strategy based on knowledge and tools learned in the course. Political and professional leadership will be part of the dialog.
Students will exchange in class with guest lecturers currently leading economic development agencies and initiatives, and evaluate projects in class assignments doing research, analysis, exercises and field interviews. Students will enhance their knowledge and skills of economic development tools and practice and will gain an understanding the context and narrative of economic development in Colorado communities. The Syllabus includes guests to be invited and confirmed, and all have made presentations in past sessions.
Student learning objectives:
By the end of this course, students should:
- Understand the challenges and issues of economic development
- Topics such as location activities, growth and development, economic structure, land use, neighborhood development, and governance will be addressed and then illustrated with Colorado experience and context
- Current problems including transportation, poverty, and housing will be addressed in a regional development perspective
- Analytical and management tools appropriate to local and regional development will be included in class readings and presentations and linked to local examples
- Understand the fundamentals of financing economic development today
- Survey the range of economic models pursued by Colorado agencies and the financial tools made available in public, private, and partnership arrangements to support economic development
- Understand the policy and practical issues in financing economic development
- Understand how individuals and communities benefit and share risk in partnership opportunities
- Understand the variations in economic development strategies at the state, regional, local, and international levels in Colorado and how various sectors and community leaders shape economic development policies and outcomes:
- Transportation
- Development
- Education
- Health
- Meet the MPA objective/target competencies of NASPAA in relevant course activities:
MPA objective / target competency / Relevant course activities
Select and use appropriate research methods and analytical tools for collecting and analyzing data / Students will learn to apply and interpret the most commonly used means of collecting and analyzing data and demonstrate these skills in course exercises and assignments.
Find and synthesize existing data to inform decisions / Students will research and analyze current strategies, polices, and practices to develop foundation knowledge and understanding in the field of economic development
Critically assess, review, and understand research / Students will critically review and synthesize the existing literature as part of the course research project ; in class discussions with current practitioners; and participation in class roundtables and issues analyses
Understand and be able to apply different perspectives and assumptions to generate policy and management decision alternatives / Students will assess competing perspectives and integrate these into the class research project and in direct engagement of practitioners in class discussions.
Be able to communicate effectively in writing to a variety of audiences / Students will have multiple opportunities to develop writing and communications skills through course assignments, team project interaction, and direct engagement of current practioners.
Issue Roundtables and Class Exercises
Students will be required to develop and discuss four (4) issue briefs (1-3pages) with copies of articles to be distributed to the class in three general areas: regional economy, local economic development and public-private partnerships. The briefs are designed to stimulate and contextualize the discussion of economic development – a daily discussion at all levels of government and media coverage. Issue Roundtables are listed and scheduled in the syllabus. Student participation and contributions to the conversation are keys to building class knowledge and skills.
Student ProjectStudents will be required to develop a phased transformative project in partnership with Downtown Colorado Inc. (DCI) class will support the annual community challenge process which culminates in a workshop format as a major component of the DCI Annual Meeting. Students will serve as project coordinators throughout the semester to facilitate the development of the workshops, document the process, and draft a report of action items and suggested steps for solving a community challenge in economic development. The participation of the students will provide a professional development experience during the conference and hands-on stakeholder involvement at the community level for the full semester.
- January: community selection process and review of the Challenge model/program resources
- February 28: Meeting with DCI on assignments and assessment model
- February-March:
- 2 Community visits to prepare research, briefing, and information materials on the challenge facing the community with DCI staff and local Stakeholders
- Create a community challenge profile, presentation materials, and assist in identifying skills and resources needed for the community challenge workshops
- April 10-13, Boulder DCI Annual Conference:
- Facilitate, record and report on challenge workshop discussions
- Participate in all aspects of the meeting for professional development and learning
- April 16-May 12: Support the development of a final report with an optional visit with the community stakeholders and staff.
- Prepare a final report as an action plan based on findings, deliberations. Ideas to address/transform the community challenge – an economic development strategy
- May 12: The class final exam will consist of a roundtable on findings, analysis of the challenges and discussion of how communities can meet future economic development challenges.
Texts & Reading Assignments:
Blair, John P. and Carroll, Michael C. (2009). Local Economic Development (2nd Edition). Los Angeles, CA: Sage Publications, Inc.
White, Sammis B. and Kotval, Zenia A. (2013). Financing Economic Development in the 21st Century. New York: M.E.Sharpe.
In addition, articles, reports and other items are assigned with website links, and will be available for download on Canvas.
Visiting Lecturers:
The course will incorporate presentations by practitioners who are leading, advising, and facilitating economic development in Colorado. This resource network will span transportation,development, transit oriented development, education, and healthat the local, state, international level. These presentations will support the case study project of students in the class and bring the Colorado laboratory into the classroom conversation. The current schedule is open (TBD).
Schedule
Sessions / Topic/Guest Lectures (to be confirmed) / Readings/AssignmentWeek 1:
Session1
Jan 17 / Course Overview
Engaging the contextof economic development in Colorado
DCI Partnership Engagement and
Project Exercise Simulation
Dynamics and Trends at Work
-Network Governance
-Collaboration
-Transparency
-Globalization
-Entrepreneurship / Scan: Metro Denver Economic Development Corporation website:
Read: (Available in Canvas)
Final Draft Report Regional Economic Strategy for the Denver Regional Council of Governments. 2014.
A Guide to Choosing the Correct Economic DevelopmentModel for Your Community
Community Economic Development - iCAST
City of Boulder Economic Vitality Program & Strategy
Session2
Jan 24 / Economic Development
Katherine Correll, Executive Director, Downtown Colorado Inc (DCI)
Jamie Schapiro, Rural Assistance Specialist, DCI / Read: Local Economic Development (LED) Chapter 1
Read:Financing Economic Development (FED) Part I
- Chapter 1: LED and Its Finance
Read: (Available in Canvas)
Economic Development: A Definition and Model for Investment. White Paper, Feldman, Hadjimichael, Kemeny, and Lanahan
Session 3
Jan 31 / Economic Development
Flo Raitano, Director of Partnership Development & Innovation, DRCOG
Consultant, Rural Economic Development
Exercise-Simulation: A meeting of the “new model OEDIT” / Read: (Available in Canvas)
Metro Vision: DRCOG 2040
Framework for Creating a Smart Growth Economic Development Strategy: A Tool for Small Cities and Towns 2016.
How Small Towns and Cities can Use Local Assets to Rebuild Their Economies: Lessons from Successful Places 2015
Session 4
Feb 7 / Field Study: TBD / Colorado City & County Managers Annual Meeting
Session 5
Feb 14 / Economic Development Strategies
Barry Gore
Adams County EDC
Trent Thompson
Economic Development Representative, US Department of Commerce, Economic Development Administration
Issues Roundtable
Class Project Planning Discussion / Read: LED Chapters 2, 3 & 4
- Business location, expansion, & retention
- Markets, urban systems, & local development
- Economic interdependence & local structure
Enhancing Economic Opportunity through Transit
Southeast Corridor 2013
Read: (Available in Canvas)
Scan:OEDIT and Denver South EDP Websites
Session 6
Feb 21 / Regional Economy: Growth
Field Visit: TBD
Elizabeth Garner
State Demographer
Department of Local Affairs
Class Project Planning Team Meeting / Read:LED Chapters 5, 7 8
- Regional growth & development
- Institutional Perspectives
- The Flattening World
Colorado Office of Economic Development & International Trade, Annual Report 2016
Session 7 Feb 28 / Economic Development Transformative Challenge
Discussion with DCI Staff
Assignments, teaming and scheduling challenge communities / Read: (Available in Canvas)
Briefing Materials from DCIModel for Discussion
Smart Growth Self-Assessment for Rural Communities
How Small Towns and Cities Can Use Local Assets to Rebuild Their Economies
Session 8
Mar 7 / Workforce Development
Joe Barela, Director (Invited)
Arapahoe/Douglas County Workforce Center
Scan: Arapahoe/Douglas County
Workforce Center
Annual Greater Metro Denver Healthcare Partnership Report: / Read: (Available in Canvas)
The Future of Jobs, World Economic Council 2016
The Fourth Industrial Revolution:
Technology, Jobs, & Future of Work (Briefing Note) 2015
and-growth/technology-jobs-and-the-future-of-work
Colorado Talent Pipeline Report Colorado Workforce Development Council 2016
Building Industry-Driven Career Pathways Systems in Colorado Workforce Development Council
Session 9
Mar 14 / Local-Regional Planning
Basics of Land Use Development Redevelopment
Carolynne White, Attorney, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP
Complete Communities
Emerging Trends
Healthy Communities
Rocky Piro, Consultant & Director Center for Sustainable Urbanism, College of Architecture and Planning / Read:LED Chapter 9
- Land value
- Land development process
- Land-use patterns
- Land use & economic development tools
Leveraging the Investment in Transit to Achieve Community and Economic Vitality. Denver Regional Council of Governments 2015.
Scan: EPA Smart Growth
EPA Smart Growth & Economic Success: Strategies for Local Governments 2014
Session 10 / Community Development:
Local Strategies
Bob Watkins, (former)
Director of Planning & Development Services, Aurora
Brad Calvert, Director of Community Development, DRCOG
7:30pm: Project Team Meeting / Read: LED Chapter 10
- Fundamentals of housing economics
- Residential location & neighborhood change
- Housing policy issues
- Social economy of neighborhoods
DRCOG Regional Housing Strategy 2015
Read: LED Chapter 11
- Poverty & lagging regions
DRCOG Metro Vision 2040 Health Communities Draft
State of Working Colorado 2014
Mar 19-23 / No class session / Spring Break
Session 11
Mar 28 / “Smart” Economic Development
Jake Rishavy, Director of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Denver South Economic Development Partnership
Dave Zelenok
Innovation Consultant
HR Green / Read: Financing Economic Development (FED) Part II
- 3: Concepts for Economic Development
- 8: Innovation & Entrepreneurship
Prime Health
Innovation Pavilion
DOLA Broadband Program
program
Session 12
Mar 4 / Infrastructure
Guest Speakers
Issues Roundtable
Michael Penny
Vice President Client Services
Brown and Caldwell
Scan: Department of Local Affairs
Mainstreet website / Read: Financing Economic Development (FED) II & III:
(select two of the subject chapters)
- 4: Revolving Loan Funds
- 5: Transfer of Development Rights
- 6: Municipal Bonds
- 7: Brownfields
- 9: Community Economic Development
- 10: Entrepreneurial Ventures
- 11: Rural Entrepreneurship
Session 12
Apr10-13 / DCI Annual Conference Boulder / Facilitate Conference Challenge Workshops and participate in the conference
DCI's 2018 Vibrant Downtown Event IN THE GAME will be heldon April 10-13 in Boulder, CO.IN THE GAME is a three day interactive educational experience. We focus on harnessing national, state, and local resources to expand the way our downtown champions think and provide real problem solving opportunities.
Session 13
Apr 18 / Public-Private Partnerships
Harriet LaMair, Executive Director
High Line Canal Conservancy / Read: LED Chapter 12
- Local Governance, Finance, & regional integration
Private Capital, Public Good 2014
Read High Line Canal Materials
Session 14
Apr 25 / Public-Private Partnerships
Randy Harrison
Senior Fellow
JJ Ament, Executive Director,
Metro Denver Economic Development Corporation / Read Financing Economic Development (FED) Part IV:
- 12: Tax Increment Finance
- 13: Development Extractions
- 14: Sports Facilities
- 15: Cobbling Funds for Revitalization
CSU Stadium Proposal
Metro Denver Economic Development Corporation website:
National Western Stock Show Project
Session 15
May 2 / Colorado’s Economic Development
OEDIT
Stephanie Copeland
Executive Director
Rebecca Gillis
Global Business Manager / Preparation: Development of background materials and research for this session will be based on the exercise in Session 3 model OEDIT and will focus on Colorado Blueprint 2.0.
Session 16
May 9 / Final Exam / Roundtable
Readings / Recommended for Context / Assigned Reading
Future Jobs
The Metropolitan Revolution
Aerotropolis
Collaborating to Manage / Blair, John P. & Carroll, Michael C. (2009), Local Economic Development, 2nd Edition. Los Angeles: Sage Publications, Inc.
White, Sammis B. & Kotval, Zenia A. (2013), Financing Economic Development in the 21st Century. New York: M.E. Sharpe, Inc.
Supplemental Readings
Community Economic Development Handbook, Mihailo Temali, Fieldstone Alliance, St Paul, MN 2012
Future Jobs, Edward Gordon, Praeger, Santa Barbara, California, 2013.
The Metropolitan Revolution, Bruce Katz and Jennifer Bradley, Brookings Institution Press, 2013.
Aerotropolis, John Kasarda, Penguin Group, New York, 2011.
Collaborating to Manage, Robert Agranoff, Georgetown University Press, Washington, D.C., 2012
Bold Endeavors, Felix Rohatyn, Simon & Schuster, 2009.
Public-Private Partnerships: Principles of Policy and Finance, E.R. Yescombe, May 2007.
Governing by Network: The New Shape of the Public Sector, Stephen Goldsmith & William Eggers, 2004.
DCI Recommended Reading
Thoughts on Building Strong Towns,Charles Marohn See podcasts and articles with Strong Towns
The work ofJoe Minicozzi (albuqurque example), also his talks are awesome, and he has been a great supporter of DCIshort talkLonger talk
Happy City, by Charles Montgomery, spoke at our 2015 conference, and his firm is currently working with us in Idaho Springs and Boulder; has important insights on the value of quality places.
Innovators Toolkit,David Silverstein - has great facilitation and stakeholder engagement exercises that DCI has used.Stephen Goldsmith (Author)
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Class Policies and Requirements
Academic Integrity: Students are reminded that the School of Public Affairs takes personal and academic integrity seriously. If you are confused as to what constitutes plagiarism, the following site provides a useful guide and examples:
Students are responsible for being attentive to and observant of campus policies about academic honesty as stated in the University’s Student Conduct Code. See the University’s website for detailed information:
Attendance and On-Time Arrival to Class: Regular attendance and preparation for class discussions are primary requirements for passing the course. More than three unexcused absences from class will adversely affect your participation grade. If you must be absent, then please inform me in advance of class (via email or voice mail). Students are expected to be respectful of their fellow students’ learning, and arrive to each class on time. Systemic tardiness will adversely affect your participation grade.
Reading Assignments & Class Participation: It is important that you complete each reading assignment prior to class in order to participate in class discussions. Students’ participation will be evaluated in part on the following: