Regional Business Plan

The Plan

Vision Statement
	Our Vision: A metropolitan economy that is built upon: Sustainability Innovation Openness Individualism Four core values summarize our vision for our region’s economic future. Sustainability: We view sustainability as a unique regional asset for business competitiveness in the global economy. For decades, our region’s unparalleled livability has been a major attractor of people, talent, and commitment to our communities. We build businesses that grow and prosper, while also enhancing the region’s unique character. Innovation: We welcome the future, because we are creating it. We continually invent new ways to make our businesses, our communities and our world a better place. Whether it’s the fastest computer chips, best athletic shoes or finest tasting beer, our companies compete by generating world-class ideas, products, and services. We value creativity in the arts and in industry, and the quality of our businesses and economy are built on new ideas. Openness: We embrace new people, new ideas, new products and new processes. Our growing diversity makes our community and our economy stronger, more competitive, more creative, and more interesting, for all of us. Individualism: We march to the beat of a different drummer, whether it’s an obsession with outdoor recreation, reading more books, or drinking better beer and coffee. We’re independent thinkers, explorers, and entrepreneurs. We are not a pale imitation of some other place. We know our uniqueness is part of who we are.

Regional Business Plan Progress Report -
June 2008 (PDF - 1.25MB)

Regional Business Plan Progress Report -
January 2007 (PDF - 1.5MB)

Regional Business Plan Progress Report presentation, January 4, 2007 (PDF - 1.5MB)

Regional Business Plan - January 2006
(PDF - 3MB)

Businesses locate, start, and grow in this region based upon networks of related companies, suppliers, vendors, and intellectual capital that have developed and accumulated over time, a phenomenon referred to as "clustering". Every region specializes in certain industries and has its own unique array of clusters. Examples of some of our region's well-established clusters include the semiconductor industry, nursery products, metals manufacturing, transportation equipment, footwear, athletic apparel, and sports equipment. Of primary importance to economic growth and job creation is the success of traded-sector industry clusters.

Businesses in traded sectors range in shape and size, from a two-person engineering firm or a small nursery to leading global innovators like Nike, Nautilus, Intel, and Esco. Regardless of size, the common feature of businesses in traded-sector industries is that they sell their goods and services primarily outside the region. They bring new dollars in from across the country and around the world, generating jobs, opportunity, and new businesses across the region. While the greater volume of jobs exists in industries that serve the local population - grocery stores, hair salons, realty brokerages, restaurants, retail, insurance, banking, health care - creation of those jobs is dependent upon the growth of traded sector industries.

With traded-sector success as our focus, the formula for that success is straightforward - we must excel in the "Four P's": People, Place, Productivity, and Pioneering Innovation. Exceptional performance in each of these areas will translate directly into success for our traded sector industries, our economy, and our region's communities.

The Regional Business Plan identifies, on a continuous basis, both long and short-term action items for improving our performance in each of the "Four P's" thus improving our prospects for traded-sector business growth and region-wide job creation. The Regional Business Plan is not a voluminous study, nor a short-term reaction to an economic crisis. It is a vehicle for action that ensures our region maintains focus, acts strategically, and improves continuously in our efforts to create quality jobs.