Restoring prosperity
Marc Lefkowitz | 11/14/07 @ 4:22pm
Across the country, cities today are becoming more attractive to certain segments of society. Meanwhile, economic trends-globalization, the demand for educated workers, the increasing role of universities-are providing cities with an unprecedented chance to capitalize upon their economic advantages and regain their competitive edge.
But, older industrial cities like Cleveland aren't fully participating in the renaissance of urban centers. Targeted state policies can help fix that, according to a new Brookings Institution report, "Restoring Prosperity: The state role in revitalizing America's older industrial cities."
Ohio can design policy and choose to prioritize federal funds to improve education, affordable housing and to revitalize urban assets-including waterfronts, walkable urban grids, public transit, and historic architecture-important economic attributes in Cleveland, Youngstown, Akron, and beyond.
"?state programs and investments (have) focused predominately on managing urban decline, as opposed to stimulating economic recovery," the report reads. "Ultimately, states have the potential to help restore prosperity in the nation's older industrial cities-if they make revitalizing urban economies the central element of urban policy."
The report's lead author, Bruce Katz, will present the findings and describe the challenges facing these communities on Tuesday, May 29 in Cleveland. He will be joined by Ohio Lt. Governor Lee Fisher, who will give a local response to the report, at the Cleveland City Club. And Katz will also take part in a roundtable discussion at Cleveland State University that afternoon.
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