Aligning Economic and Workforce Development Activities in Baltimore. Research Findings.

Recent efforts to build economic and work force development systems in seven leading cities were reviewed to inform similar efforts undertaken in Baltimore, Maryland. Research examining efforts to establish work force development systems in the following cities were analyzed: Austin, Texas; Berkeley, California; Boston, Massachusetts; Cleveland, Ohio; Memphis, Tennessee; Portland, Oregon; and Seattle, Washington. The analysis established that cities that have made progress in coordinating economic and work force development activities have tended to share the following essential characteristics: (1) the level of coordination among municipal agencies and organizations responsible for economic and work force development activities is high; (2) the business community endorses and participates in coordination; (3) the political will to make hard decisions is evident; and (4) coordination efforts involve a broad range of industries. The following recommendations were offered for Baltimore officials: (1) convene and mobilize key municipal participants; (2) utilize key programs; (3) determine the role of the mayor; and (4) organize activities around sectors of the local economy. (Discussions of the following topics are appended: the economic and political context for aligning economic and work force development in Baltimore; factors conducive to alignment in Baltimore; the methodology and comparison city selection criteria; and system performance measurement.) (MN)