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7 Things that Shape Economic Development of Your Town
Two four-syllable words that shape where you live, work and play
“Economic Development” is a two-word phrase that is most often uttered by those seeking political office around election time.
The two four-syllable words are said by those who strongly express the need for more of it in their economically depressed areas and also by those in the strongest economic areas far and wide. People enjoy saying those words and it even makes those seeking votes sound a little bit smart and like maybe they are “in the know” and will get things done.
As a twenty-two-plus-year veteran economic development practitioner in the Chicago area, I have done a lot more than simply saying those two words. They have been in my job title since Y2K and I have not had a single workday pass without discussing it in some way, shape, or form.
I have also been certified through IEDC for about fifteen years although that means nothing to you, let alone the elected officials in my city for that matter. The day they take elected office, they automatically know far more about the topic than I ever will despite my having been grinding away at it for the past two-plus decades.
