Regional Networks
Is economic development a zero sum game? Is there only one winner and many losers? Can areas partner together yet still be competitors?
At Northwest Kentucky Forward, we think the answer to all of these questions is YES! NWKF is working with the Greater Owensboro EDC, the Economic Development Coalition of Southwest Indiana, Richland County (IL) Development Corp, along with other partners in a new initiative call Regional Economic Network.
In November 2008, these partners worked together to host an incredibly successful Regional Economic Summit looking at our 26–county area. Now we building on these relationships to see where we can cooperate and collaborate while still maintaining our unique organizations and functions.
REN is working with Ed Morrison and Purdue University Center for Regional Development on the concept know as Open Networks. It is an innovation approach to collaboration. At NWKF, we use this model (though we didn’t realize it at the time) with our Rally 4 Education initiative.
I will be writing more about REN and Open Networks in coming weeks but this is an exciting new approach to growing our greater region.
