Posted July 01, 2013 in News Items
(7/1/13) Nearly 100 community and philanthropic leaders met June 28 to discuss a new research study from the Fund for Our Economic Future, What Matters to Metros™: Foundational Indicators for Economic Competitiveness. The study identified key factors associated with economic growth in 115 mid-sized U.S. metropolitan areas, including Akron, Canton, Cleveland and Youngstown/Warren, in this post-recession economy.
As reported at the forum by study author Emily Garr Pacetti, manger of Research at the Fund, there were several key findings. Among them are:
- Together, higher education and innovation are associated with per capita income, productivity and GMP growth. The factor is neither positively nor negatively associated with job growth.
- Business starts and/or self-employment are associated with every measure of growth: jobs, income, productivity and GMP, and are especially pronounced in metro areas with more diverse and racially integrated populations.
- Many metros that experienced high levels of employment growth did not see these jobs translate into higher per capita income; in fact, inequality, poverty and crime tended to be more prevalent in those metro areas that saw the most job gains.
During the panel discussion afterward with a broad group of leaders from the region, there was significant discussion on steps already in place to address some of the findings, and additional actions needed in the future. Saint Luke’s Foundation CEO and President Denise San Antonio Zeman helped moderate the forum and provided the closing remarks. The forum was sponsored by the Saint Luke’s Foundation, The George Gund Foundation and the Community Foundation of Lorain County.
To see photos from the event, click here.
For more information about the study, to download it, watch a video of the forum and/or engage in the online community conversation visit http://www.futurefundneo.org/whatmatters