ED222 Forum: Job Creation and Asset Development - Creative Strategies for a New Economy

Current economic challenges have local leaders and community development practitioners focused on the critical need to create jobs, generate economic activity and revitalize communities. Community wealth strategies are emerging as an increasingly popular economic development and revitalization strategy. These strategies aim at improving the ability of communities and individuals to increase asset ownership, anchor jobs locally, strengthen the municipal tax base, prevent financial resources from "leaking out" and ensure local economic stability.

This day-long forum will discuss strategies for stabilizing and revitalizing local and regional economies using a variety of community wealth building models. Participants will learn about the Evergreen Cooperative Initiative of Cleveland, Ohio, whose innovative strategies have received media coverage in the Economist, the Nation and Time, and was featured in the PBS series "Fixing the Future." Led by community wealth building experts from the Democracy Collaborative, participants will learn how these models can be applied in their communities. This session will be relevant for community development practitioners, local government officials, foundation staff and practitioners interested in green job creation and anchor institution strategies.