How Economic Development Became a Six-Legged Stool
Economic development used to be simple. It was hard work, to be sure, but straightforward. You took your harpoon and went hunting for whales that could deliver investment and jobs to your community. And you talked to local businesses to find out what they needed and tried to get your leadership to provide it. Today, thanks to decades of technology innovation, economic development is complex. It requires EcDev professionals to understand more and engage with more aspects of their community. It demands an ecosystem that supports organic growth while making the community more attractive to inward investors. On the plus side, it produces greater results in the same number of hours. Join a co-founder of the Intelligent Community Forum and learn about the six-legged stool that can support your success.
About the Speaker
Robert Bell
Robert Bell
Robert Bell heads research, analysis and content development activities and directs the analytics that ICF uses to assess the potential and progress of communities, which also selects honorees for the annual Intelligent Community Awards program. Robert developed and leads the Intelligent Community Accelerator and Certification programs. Serving as the content lead for ICF's Global Summit, he is also the author or editor of ICF's research reports, and lead co-author of Brain Gain, Seizing Our Destiny and Broadband Economies.
Robert has contributed articles to IEDC Journal, Mayors & Cities, Global Urbanist, and Daily Yonder; and has appeared in segments of ABC World News and The Discovery Channel. A frequent keynote speaker and moderator at municipal and telecom industry events, he has also led economic development missions and study tours to cities in Asia and the US.
