The Role of Airports: Your Opinions are Valued

The Transportation Research Board (TRB) Airport Cooperative Research Program (ACRP) project, Aligning Community Expectations with Airport Roles, is currently underway, and the project team is looking for your input.

The objective of this project is to develop a handbook that airport managers can use to explain, demonstrate, and facilitate discussions about the roles that general aviation and commercial service airports play in our communities. The project will address common “disconnects” between community expectations and the realities faced by airport management, to help reduce controversies.

This study will:

• Identify the “Top 10” most significant issues that arise as a result of confusion over the various roles played by airports (as opposed to the roles played by airlines and other entities).

• Develop a Handbook to describe best practices for communicating the diverse roles of the airport to the general public, elected officials, and the business community.

• Enhance the Handbook with a user-friendly database that incorporates supporting information and resources.     

• Date: Tuesday, October 14, 2014

• Time: 2:00-3:00 p.m. EST

Members of the APA Economic Development Division are invited to join the conversation in a one-hour teleconference which will provide valuable input to the project’s research.

Space is limited. To participate, complete the brief survey to provide your contact information to the research team.

The Airport Cooperative Research Program (ACRP) is an industry-driven, applied research program that develops near-term, practical solutions to problems faced by airport operators. Mead & Hunt, Inc. is a nationally recognized aviation consulting firm leading this research team. Learn more.

NADO Research Foundation Webinar: Strengthening Regional Economic Resilience through Business Continuity Planning

Businesses’ ability to withstand natural disasters is essential for the recovery and resilience of communities and regional economies as a whole.  The practice of business continuity planning can ensure that businesses survive severe weather events and other disruptions, providing a roadmap for ongoing operations under adverse conditions.  Regional development organizations (RDOs), local governments, Chambers of Commerce, and other public and private entities can build the resilience of their communities by promoting and facilitating business continuity planning.   

Join the NADO Research Foundation on June 17 from 2 – 3:15 p.m. ET for a free webinar, “Strengthening Regional Economic Resilience through Business Continuity Planning.”  Gail Moraton, Business Resiliency Manager at the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS), will provide an overview of business continuity planning, discuss how RDOs and local leaders can support it in their regions, and share free tools available from IBHS.  Timothy Malone of the Central Connecticut Regional Planning Agency will describe his work to coordinate a wide array of public and private partners and raise awareness of emergency preparedness and business continuity approaches for small and medium-sized businesses in central Connecticut.

Click here for more information and to register.  The NADO Research Foundation has applied for 1.25 AICP CM credits for this webinar; registrants will be notified once approval is received.  The webinar is supported by the U.S. Economic Development Administration.  Contact Megan McConville at mmcconville@nado.org with any questions.

2014 Donald E. Hunter Excellence in Economic Development Planning Award

The Economic Development Division of APA is pleased to announce the winners of the 2014 Donald E. Hunter Excellence in Economic Development Planning Award:

  AWARD WINNER: Uptown Columbus, Georgia for "Chattahoochee River Whitewater Park"
This 2.5-mile urban whitewater park, 10-plus years in the making, is the result of a public/private partnership between local communities, state, and national agencies. Whitewater Columbus opened May 2013 and was recently named one of USA Today’s "Top 12 Greatest Man-made Adventures on the Planet." One year later, more than 16,000 rafters have experienced the thrill of its rapids. When the park reaches its full potential, an economic impact study projects a $44 million economic impact.

HONORABLE MENTION: Royal Commission at Yanbu, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, for "Yanbu Economic Vision 2030"
The world’s third largest oil refining hub, the Royal Commission at Yanbu is a significant contributor to economic growth in Saudi Arabia, and a leading choice for investors in petrochemical and energy-intensive industries. Building on the city’s success, the “Yanbu Economic Vision 2030” seeks to identify future areas of opportunity and support diversification of the local and regional economy. The plan introduces 12 new initiatives and 43 projects, and is expected to enhance job growth by 31% over the next 15 years..

Please READ MORE about these award-winning projects on our website.

The Excellence in Economic Development Planning Award was presented at the Economic Development Division’s annual meeting and reception during the 2014 American Planning Association National Conference, held recently in Atlanta.

FREE Webinar: "Retail, Race and Regional Economic Development in Chicago’s Southern Suburbs"

Friday, June 6th 1:00 pm (Eastern)

Is race a driver or mitigating factor in retail location decisions?  The webinar will summarize findings of a two year Retail Investment Study conducted in the south suburbs of Chicago (Olympia Fields, Matteson, Park Forest, and Richton Park) that examined reasons, including race, for the lack of Class A retail and restaurant establishments in local communities.  The session will summarize the extensive research effort undertaken to evaluate the complex retail decision making process, and focus on solutions to address existing challenges and work cooperatively to provide the shopping and dining opportunities desired by residents.

Register HERE! CM credits pending.

EDD Activities at APA National Planning Conference in Atlanta

Economic Development Division

National Planning Conference Activities

2014 Atlanta

 NOTE: Meeting rooms may change, please refer to the final printed program for updated locations.

Saturday, April 26, 2014

April 26, 9-10:15am [S405] Division Session: Fiscal Analysis to Guide Community Growth (CM 1.25) - Room: Georgia Ballroom 2

What’s the good news about a bad economy? Local governments become much more aware of the bottom-line impact of planning decisions. Zero in on case studies of growth and planning in Manatee County, Florida, and Queen Creek, Arizona. You’ll discover best practices for using fiscal analysis to ensure smart, economically sensible community growth. 

Sunday, April 27, 2014

April 27, 2:30-3:45pm [S808] Division Facilitated Discussion: The Economy of Immigration and Planning (CM 1.25) - Room: Hall C1, Divisions 2

More than a quarter of Georgia's workforce is a part of "The Essential Economy." This occupational cluster includes low-wage, low-skilled, labor-intensive jobs often held by immigrant workers. What is their economic contribution, and how are Georgia planners working with the immigrant communities at the heart of this sector? Hosted by the Economic Development Division. 

April 27, 2:30-3:45pm [S493] Division Session: What are the Costs to Serve Development? (CM 1.25) - Room: Georgia Ballroom 3

Different development and use patterns often have different cost implications for local governments. What are the “costs to serve” for different types of land-use and development patterns? What fiscal impact do these costs have on development in a community? Learn how to determine the costs of providing public services and infrastructure — and how to factor in the impact of location, levels of service, and data availability.

Monday, April 28, 2014

April 28, 8-11:30am [W013] Mobile Workshop (with the Urban Design and Preservation Division): Repurposing Atlanta’s Olympic Sites (CM 3.0) - Ticketed Event ($70.00)

How do you give a site a second life after a large event? Find answers on a tour of Atlanta Olympic sites: Turner Field, Centennial Olympic Park, and Olympic Villages. You’ll learn how their post-games uses have contributed to the city’s revitalization. And you’ll look at the challenges ahead as Atlanta’s economy recovers from Olympic overbuilding. Hosted by APA’s Economic Development Division and its Urban Design and Preservation Division. Transportation: Motorcoach, walking.

April 28, 1-2:15pm [S560] Division Session: Immigration and Its Effects Upon Economic Development of Metro Atlanta (CM 1.25) - Room: A404/A405

You may not be aware of this, but over the past two decades, immigration has had a dramatic impact on Atlanta’s job market, school system, affordable-housing supply, and transportation infrastructure. Hear how planners in the unofficial capital of the Southeast are successfully handling a strong demographic shift and find out how other communities can follow their lead. Hosted by the Economic Development Division.

Monday Evening, April 28, 7-8:30pm

Economic Development Division Annual Business Meeting & Reception

Marriott Atlanta Marquis, M105 located on the Marquis level

Tuesday, April 29, 2014

April 29, 9-10:15am [S625] Joint Division Session (with the International Division): Using ‘Theme Roads’ for Regional Revitalization (CM 1.25) - Room: C206

Crooked Road in Southwest Virginia. Porcelain Road in East-Central Germany. These two so-called “theme roads” have revitalized their regions, primarily through increased tourism. Does your community have what it takes to support a project like that? Learn how to assess the potential economic upside and examine best practices for making such initiatives succeed. Hosted by the International Division. 

April 29, 10:30-11:45am [S837] Divisions Council Facilitated Discussion: Immigration/Migration Facilitated Discussion with APA Divisions (CM 1.25) - Room: Hall C1, Divisions 2

The Immigration/Migration track at the 2014 APA National Conference will feature the perspectives of various APA Divisions on an issue that is being addressed by many communities across the nation. This facilitated discussion will serve as a roundtable Q & A moderated with questions from Marj Press, Chair of the APA Divisions Council and from the audience. Come pick the brains of experts in the field in a facilitated discussion that highlights the multi-disciplined nature of the planning field while analyzing one of today's most important planning issues in the changing face of America. 

Wednesday, April 30, 2014

April 30, 10:30-11:45am [S685] Division Session: New Approaches to Sports and Economic Development (CM 1.25) - Room: C202/C203/C204

For decades, only a few local fishermen ventured to the borrow-pit lake in Benderson Park, Florida. That’s changed. Learn how this Florida community has transformed a scenic but underutilized area into a 600-acre regional park. It boasts a world-class rowing venue that will host competitions for more than a dozen aquatic sports — and it’s boosting the local economy. While competitive rowing may not be the first economic driver to come to mind, consider what sports could drive your local economy. 

 Additional Conference Information: http://www.planning.org/conference/

The Economic Development Division will be involved in several other Division-related activities throughout the Conference, in particular facilitated discussions and sessions organized by the Divisions Council. Be sure to check the Conference Program for more details.

Travel Scholarship Deadline Extended

NEW Deadline: February 1, 2014

Applications are invited from Master's level students enrolled in PAB-accredited planning departments in the United States, as well as individuals who have graduated from those programs in the past year. The $1,000 award is a travel scholarship provided by the Division to support attendance at the national APA meeting. The award will be decided on the basis of a letter of recommendation from a faculty member and an original student paper or work that is 2,500 words or less. The original student submission should speak to practitioners about a substantive topic related to economic development and planning in the United States.

The scholarship will be presented at APA's National Planning Conference in Atlanta, April 26-30, 2014. The paper will also be published on the Economic Development Division website and distributed electronically to division members.

Visit the Division's website for more information.

All submissions and inquiries should be directed to:

Margaret Cowell
Assistant Professor, Urban Affairs and Planning
Virginia Tech
mmcowell@vt.edu