Economic Development in three Urban Areas: Atlanta, Baltimore and Cleve

Executive SummaryThe following pages review the comprehensive strategies that have been used by the cities of Atlanta, Baltimore and Cleveland to improve their economic conditions. It should become apparent to the reader that the indicate of all(prenominal) city is determined by many factors including historical events, the balance of power amidst stakeholder groups, the ability of the city to capitalize on federal programs and the relationships between the private sector and the community. Unfortunately, no clear winning strategy arose from each citys economic development efforts they all caused both gainers and losers.Atlanta is a city that is led by business leadership whose main priority is to promote business interests that are at times at odds with the communities development. Baltimore, with rattling little private investment, relies heavily on its citizens involvement whose collective bargaining and activism have hindered its policy-making leaderships attempts at growt h. Cleveland has fallen victim to bone tower leadership that has led to financial mismanagement and increased community frustration.I have attempted to review the last decade in each city, and in the context of that city examine the strengths and weaknesses of their actions. The scope of this project is large. To focus the readers attention on the difficulty the cities have experienced in trying to meet their stakeholders needs and expectations, I have chosen to focus on a few specific actions that were taken in each city to promote economic development. This discussion is by no means exhaustive additional learnings can be gleamed from further research.AtlantaAtlantas political and social structure and development has been characterized by what author Clarence Stone labels politics politics in his book Regime Politics Governing Atlanta 1946-1989. The regimes determining factor is the loosely formed coalitions and collaborations between the white Atlanta elite and the black middle c lass leadership. The partnership (although the power was non balanced between the groups equally) has its beginnings in the 1940s when astute white businessmen properly predicted the growth of a black middle class and a shift in electoral power. Faced with two choices to use their social and economic clout to fight the inevitable changes in politic... ...nnovation Study Suggests Metro Area essential Change its Priorities to Increase Prosperity. Atlanta Journal & Constitution. Nov. 5, 2001.Shields, Gerard. 2 bills Aim to Bring BDC Into the Open City Senators Want Agencys Meetings Accessible to Public Mayor Opposes Measures Proposals Critics Say line of reasoning Dealings Require Secrecy. The Baltimore Sun. February 21, 2000.Siegel, Eric. Renewal Efforts Move at Slow Pace Empowerment Zone Shows Spot Successes Five Years After Grant. The Baltimore Sun. Jan 10, 2000.Smith, Jane. A parley on The Atlanta Project with Jane Smith, Executive Director. The Inner City Urban Poverty and E conomic Development in the Next Century. ed Thomas capital of Massachusetts and Catherine Ross. New Brunswick, NJ Transaction Publishers, 1997. pp. 291-297.Smothers, Ronald. Cleveland Mayor Warns Newark an Arena Is No Cure-All. New York Times. Oct 20, 1999.Stone, Clarence. Regime Politics Governing Atlanta 1946-1989. Lawrence, Ks University Press of Kansas, 1989.Videotape The Cleveland Turnaround leading In Action, (Boston Harvard Business Publishing Corporation, 1996).The Cleveland Today website. http//www.clevelandtoday.org/info/edit.html