The Garage: An Invitation to Gather

Are Your Ready for a New Approach to Regional Economic Development in Northeast Ohio?

If, after reading this page, you are interested in exploring a new approach to regional economic development in Northeast Ohio, please fill out the form either at the top or bottom of this page. You will be expressing your interest in "taking the next step" to transform NEO's regional economy through expanded collaboration. If you want to learn more, please read on...

 

An Invitation to Gather in The Garage

From the information we collect, we'll see where to start experimenting with these new models in Northeast Ohio on a larger scale...in The Garage.

The Garage is a place of invention and experimentation. It's a place of focused energy to find out what works. It's a place of learning and collaboration. You'll learn more about The Garage in a minute, but let's step back. 

Some Background 

Over the past year, I have been experimenting with new, practical approaches for building regional economies and accelerating innovation. My collaborators include:

• Colleagues at I-Open, a 501(c)3 nonprofit dedicated to spreading these new approaches among organizations in our "civic space;
• Colleagues here in Northeast Ohio, including George Nemeth and Jack Ricchiuto, who have been developing a new approach to teach civic entrepreneurs of the strategic consequences of their conversations -- An Intentional Model for Building Community; (George, Jack and I first started talking about the concept of a garage to rebuild the civic spaces in Northeast Ohio); 
• Colleagues at the Purdue Center for Regional Development, one of our nation's leading centers developing new approaches to regional innovation;
  
• Colleagues at the Edward Lowe Foundation, a private foundation dedicated to accelerating entrepreneurship and the support for entrepreneurial support organizations;
• Colleagues at the Economic Development Institute at the University of Oklahoma, the leading organization for training economic development practitioners in the U.S. and Mexico;
• Colleagues at the Council on Competitiveness in Washington, D.C., an organization that represents a leading national voice for promoting regional innovation; (Note also that Akron University President Luis Proenza sits on the Council's board); 
• Colleagues at Near-Time, a leading Wed 2.0 company based in North Carolina;
• Colleagues at the Council for Entrepreneurial Development in Research Triangle, one of the nation's leading entrepreneur support organizations;
• Colleagues at EMSI, the leading provider of workforce development data and models;
• Colleagues at the U.S.  Department of Labor who have been developing new approaches to integrating economic development and workforce development in 39 regions across the country.

Our Current Situation in Northeast Ohio

Our current approach to regional strategy in Northeast Ohio improves on the past. Yet, it continues to suffer from significant shortcomings:

• It is relatively slow.  The Fund for our Economic Future, a collaboration among foundations, leads our newest efforts at a regional approach to economic development.  While the Fund has made significant investments over the past three to four years, the region is still missing a sensible set of goals.
  
• It is "Cleveland-centric". the current focus has been to invest and Cleveland -- based regional organizations in order to make them bigger.  This focus on Cleveland -- which is reflected in the Cleveland+ "regional brand" -- discounts the major competitive advantage of our region: the existence of four metro areas.
• It is expensive.  By focusing on the handful of large regional organizations, the current strategy creates a heavy "overhead" that is dependent upon continued large investments by foundations, state government, and the federal government.

Open Networks Are Already Emerging 

Underneath the prevailing regional strategy, Northeast Ohio, like other regions around the country, is making an adjustment to a new economy based on networks. Consider the following:

• In Lorain County, President Roy Church of Lorain County Community College has launched a series of collaborative initiatives that have strengthened his campus and made the college into a dynamic hub will win in the region. 
• At The University of Akron, President Proenza leads a team that is redefining the role of the public research university by promoting models of open innovation. 
• In Youngstown, The Youngstown Business Incubator is revitalizing downtown Youngstown with a remarkably efficient approach to support emerging businesses and build the networks among them.
  
• In Cleveland, NineSIgma, accelerates innovation among private sector clients, such as Proctor and Gamble, by promoting "open innovation".
  

Open Source Economic Development and "Strategic Doing" Provide a Tested Framework

These approaches are teachable and, therefore, scalable. 

At the Purdue Center for Regional Development, we are continuing to design and build new tools to accelerate innovation in a network-based economy.  Called Open Source Economic Development, this new model meets the challenge of undertaking complex projects in open "civic space". The tools help civic entrepreneurs move ideas into action quickly.

This spring, Purdue and The University of Oklahoma will be collaborating to offer new certificate course in Open Source Economic Development. We could teach these skills to civic leaders throughout Northeast Ohio. (This idea, of course, raises the question, "Who is a civic leader?" The answer in a networked economy is simple: A civic leader is anyone who is being followed.)

Web 2.0 Leverages the Interactive Power of the Internet 

At the same time, new web-based tools are emerging that harness the interactive power of the Internet.  Called Web 2.0, this basket of technologies makes it easier for most people to collaborate online.  For the past year, I have been collaborating with a company based in Research Triangle Park, Near-Time, to integrate these tools into easy-to-use web sites.

(To learn more about Web 2.0, you can watch these videos.) 

The Soft Stuff is the Hard Stuff 

Technology does not trump behavior, though. Economic development takes place in the "civic space" outside the four walls of any one organization. How people behave in this civic space -- whether they behave in ways that build trust or not -- determines in large measure how aggressively they innovate and how quickly they move. The reason is straightforward: Trusting relationships form the basis of networks, and it is through these networks that we now create wealth. 

The regions that build these civic networks will be more competitive in the long run. They will learn faster. They will spot opportunities faster. And they will act faster.  So, in The Garage, we will be focused on applying some of the leading edge practices from around the country in building these networks in Northeast Ohio. 

Expertise Starts Here

Where is the expertise to design and deploy these new approaches to open innovation and"strategic doing"?  The answer: right here.

• It just so happens that one of the leading practitioners of social network analysis lives here in Northeast Ohio.  Valdis Krebs has pioneered the development of new software tools to analyze social networks.
• By the same token, David Cooperrider at Case Western Reserve University has pioneered the development of disciplines to engage in network -- centric organization's and move them and focused strategic directions.  We have a large, informal network of skilled professionals trained in Cooperrider 's Appreciative Inquiry and other proven methods of large group interventions.
• We have successful organization deploying these network-based models, including Entrepreneurs for Sustainability, WIRE-Net, CoolCleveland and -- on the private side -- NineSigma. In addition, The University of Akron is actively investigating the role of the public research university in promoting open networks of innovation. Lorain County Community College is redefining the role of the community college in much the same way.
  
• Jim Gilmore, author of the internationally recognized Experience Economy, is a resident of Northeast Ohio.  Jim consults with international companies regularly in order to guide them in crafting their marketing experience for customers. Jim is available to help civic leaders in Northeast Ohio to develop authentic and aligned brands across the region.
  
• Our colleges and universities have strong centers of urban design, economic and regional development.the strong centers represent legacy investments by our foundations, whose leaders long ago recognized the importance of building a local capacity to analyze and understand regional trends.  This strength is bolstered by the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland with its extensive resources.
  

The Rules of The Garage

We will have rules in our Garage. Here are the rules to start: 

• Behave toward each other in ways that build trust and mutual respect.
• Believe we can change the world by transforming our communities and our region.
• Work quickly, experiment, and embrace failures as a path to learning.
• Accept no politics, no bureaucracy, only networks and connections.
• Take "the Shanghai Perspective" and see our work form a global perspective. 
• Share your tools. 
• Build our network by closing triangles. 
• Believe in the power of diversity to gain new insights and learning.
• Presume that you will share your information and insights.
• Promote transparency and welcome new faces.
• Hold as confidential only the information that is essential to your economic security and well-being.
• Innovate.

Garage Gatherings 

To experiment with new approaches for Northeast Ohio, we can come together in person and on-line. My initial thought is that we will gather in our Garage -- somewhere in Northeast Ohio -- at least every quarter. 

At our gatherings, we will have focused conversations -- workshops on "strategic doing" -- to build our networks and alignments toward transformation. 

If you are interested in participating let me know by filling out the form below. I'll get back to you with some thoughts about how we will move ahead.