Henry Luke- Newsletter  #23-COMMUNITY VISIONING RESULTS 

July 2001

 

WASHINGTON STATE-The Seattle MSA per capita income as a % of the US per capita income was 140% in 1999.  However,  “Washington State without the Seattle MSA” was only 84%.  This is a gap of 56%, which increased from 17% in 1975. (  see attached chart  )  This data, from the Bureau of Economic Analysis, raises troubling questions.

§         Despite the increase in the Seattle MSA, the entire state of Washington was actually higher in 1979 at 108% compared to 106% in 1999.  In the 2000 Census, the Washington State population was 5.89 million and Seattle MSA 2.4 million or 41%.

§         The largest part of the increased gap occurred in the 1990’s. Why does location make so much difference in the “New Economy”?   Will this location differential decline in the next 20 years?

§         Are there public policy issues that could decrease this gap?  Examples for “Washington without Seattle MSA” could be 1) to create a more competitive business climate, 2) emphasize infrastructure development, and 3) increase entrepreneurial development.

§         A divide between west and east of the Cascades is usually discussed in Washington.  This is different. No other areas in the state, except the Seattle MSA exceeds the US per capita income. Clark County, a suburb of the Portland MSA, is 98% and the highest MSA is Olympia with 90% in 1999.

We would appreciate any thoughts, comments or suggestions on these issues and on the Charlotte gap below.  Please forward this e-mail to anyone you believe would have an interest.

 

CHARLOTTE, NC-Mecklenburg County, the Central County of the Charlotte MSA, per capita income as a % of the US per capita income was 131% in 1999.  However, the “Charlotte MSA without Mecklenburg” per capita income as a % of the US was only 86%.  This results in a gap of 45%.  The gap was 21% in 1980. (see attached chart )

§         The “Charlotte MSA without Mecklenburg” had no net growth in per capita income as a % of the US from 1989 to 1999 even though Mecklenburg increased 14%.

§         The Charlotte MSA per capita income as a % of the US increased 16% from 1979 to 1999. Mecklenburg County’s population was 46% of the Charlotte MSA in 1999.

§         Could the widely reported income divide between the top 20% and lower 20% in the US be a location divide caused by the concentration of New Economy jobs?

§         Are there public policy issues that increase the gap?  For example, North Carolina counties usually have to fund infrastructure development from real estate tax or the general fund.  They cannot use sales tax to fund roads, mass transit, schools and other infrastructure as many states allow.

 

YAKIMA, WA-The Upper Valley of the Yakima MSA with a population of 143,000 has begun Phase I of the Vision Process.  On September 10^th, they will have the first Community Meeting for public input.  They have an excellent web site www.uppervalleyvision.net.   You can access my notes from interviews with 113 people on July 16-18.

 

CABARRUS, NC-The draft Envision Cabarrus is out for public input until September 6^th and is available on the web at http://www.envisioncabarrus.org/.

 

CURACAO, NETHERLANDS ANTILLES- Vishon Korsóu will celebrate their 2^nd year of Collaborative Implementation on August 15, 2001.  Henry Luke will be there to help celebrate and help move the process to the next level in Vision Partner implementation.  You are welcome to join the celebration at the World Trade Center and stay in the beautiful Marriott Resort on the Caribbean. http://www.curinfo.an/vishonkorsou/

 

GWINNETT, GA-Gwinnett dedicated Phase I of its North Advances Water Reclamation Facility on December 6, 2000.  The first Phase will reclaim 20 million gallons of wastewater a day.  Phase two will treat an additional 40 million gallons per day and be completed in 2005.  At a to-date cost of over $280 million the facility is cutting-edge to keep pace with growth and to protect the environment. The web page has the 2001 Final Report that is an update of the Key Benchmarks. http://www.gwinnettchamber.org/economic/vision.asp

 

SCHUYLKILL, PA-Schuylkill County’s VISION held their successful 2^nd Annual Fantasy Night Auction and raised $28,000.  Fantasy items were donated by 117 businesses.  The sale price ran from $50 to $4,000.  June was the 4^th anniversary of the beginning of the Vision Process. The January-April 2001 APPALACHIA Magazine had an excellent article on Schuylkill County’s VISION and its Executive Director, Denise Schlegel.  Click here http://www.arc.gov/infopubs/appalach/janapr01/itsmain.htm and read “It’s all about People”.  Schuylkill County’s Vision web site. http://pottsville.koz.com/servlet/randhsite_ProcServ/DBPAGE=cge&GID=00038000000961353781155409

 

SAGINAW, MI- Saginaw County Vision 2020’s High Tech Growth Alliance will sponsor a Telecommunications Forum on August 8, 2001.  Five speakers will address the questions…What is available now? Where is it? Where do we need to be in the next five years to be competitive?  What do we need to expand? and How do we get there? http://www.saginawcountyvision2020.org/

 

ASHEVILLE, NC-The Asheville-Buncombe Vision has issued their 3^rd set of Annual Community Benchmarks.  They can be accessed at http://www.abvision.org/

 

TUSCALOOSA, AL-Challenge 21, after beginning the Vision Process in April 1996, is still actively pursuing Vision Implementation including the following:

§         Four forums on Youth Violence are being held.

§         The Cultural Awareness Committee is exploring various issues that affect racism in the community.

§         The Baby TALK program recently celebrated its first year in Tuscaloosa.  Over 1,500 new mothers were visited at DCH Regional Hospital; the successful program provides valuable information to parents on the importance of brain development in the first few years of their child’s life.

§         The Infrastructure Task Force recommended that a feasibility study be conducted to look at converting the airport into an intermodal facility.  The City of Tuscaloosa allocated funds for this study and recently awarded a contract to a consulting firm to conduct the study.

 

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Henry Luke