Midwest Area Regionalization Initiatives

Buffalo -  

As a collaborative network of regional healthcare and wellness stakeholders, the Community Health Network Of Western New York serves as a hub for information and networking in the community and works to coordinate the region's health care resources. An initiative to improve Erie County schools through a more efficient and equitable delivery of education services, the Erie County Association of School Boards-Task Force on Regional Collaboration and Shared Services is overseeing a study to analyze existing models of collaboration in education as well as other areas that could benefit in terms of efficiency from those collaborative models. The study is expected to be completed by 2005. The Erie-Niagara Framework for Regional Growth is a collaborative effort among Erie and Niagara Counties and stakeholders from across the region to guide growth and development in Buffalo Niagara through the year 2020. Under review are a wide range of policies, strategies and partnerships to increase efficiency, improve livability, promote economic vitality and conserve sensitive natural and cultural resources.

Cleveland -

Team NEO is a private sector-led, regional economic development organization formed through the collaboration of many of the region’s leading business organizations to support and stimulate higher levels of targeted business attraction, retention, and expansion in Northeast Ohio. Team NEO delivers value added services to the entire region and its businesses through a new relationship management model supported by: 1) a targeted sales and marketing capability; and 2) more coordination and cooperation among existing economic development organizations in order to enhance regional assets.

The Fund for Our Economic Future (the Fund), a collaboration of private and corporate philanthropic organizations seeking to improve the region's economy, gained its fifty-second member in June and exceeded $25 million in contributions. Recent $1 million commitments by the Kelvin and Eleanor Smith Foundation and the Greater Cleveland Partnership brought the organization closer to its goal of raising and distributing $30 million over the next three years.  Since the Fund was introduced at the Great Again Conference in Akron last February, 24 new philanthropic organizations have come on board.  Along with increasing its financial base and membership, the Fund has made significant progress in achieving its three primary objectives: fostering regional economic dialogue, issuing grants for growth, and monitoring economic progress.


Pittsburgh -

The Allegheny Conference Regional Investors Council, which includes more than 200 businesses and organizations in southwestern Pennsylvania who provide expertise and resources to create opportunities for economic and community advancement.in a globally competitive market. The Conference and its affiliates have been focused for the last two years on implementing a regional agenda that addresses areas such as business climate, site and infrastructure development, airport-area growth, business attraction and retention, and education and school performance.

The Allegheny Conference on Community Development and its affiliates – Pittsburgh Regional Alliance; Greater Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce; and Pennsylvania Economy League-Western Division – are working in collaboration to stimulate growth in Southwestern Pennsylvania’s economy and improve its quality of life.

The Pittsburgh Technology Council has been the principal point of connection for companies from four primary clusters of the technology industry that are represented by a critical mass of businesses in southwestern Pennsylvania including Information Technology, Biomedical, Advanced Manufacturing/Materials and Environmental Technology.


Toledo -
The Metro Toledo Smart Growth Partnership (MTSGP) mission is to improve the quality of life in the Metro Toledo area through promotion of planned growth and regional cooperation.  MTSGP seeks to do this by advocating for: a vibrant and healthy core city; coordinated growth; environmentally sound development; inclusionary decision-making; and economic cooperation between jurisdictions.

National Regionalization Initiatives



•    Recently, more than 100 business, education and economic analysts gathered in northern Massachusetts to study a draft report for building a regional strategic plan.  The report focuses on two goals:  to develop new economic sectors for a stronger regional economic base and to establish a skills/training system to help low-income and working-class residents gain access to well paying jobs.  The region encompasses more than 50 towns in a three-county area.

•    In Tucson, Arizona, top-ranking community leaders have convened a panel to revamp and coordinate Tucson’s efforts to create jobs, assist business expansion and keep companies from leaving town.  After studying economic development structures already in place in Minneapolis, San Diego and Pittsburgh, the panel is set to recommend a new structure which will oversee the region’s economic development activities.  Currently Tucson has a number of loose collaborations between many city, county, state and private entities.

•    Four counties in north central West Virginia are exploring the possibility of creating a large economic development for the region.  More than 30 city, county and development officials agreed to pursue economic development throughout the region without regard to political boundaries or agendas. The idea that what is good for one county ultimately benefits several counties was universal.

•    Six school districts, know as the “Six Neighbors”, in Eastern Colorado have joined together to create an informal alliance.  Citing declining enrollment, rising costs and lack of funds, the districts have initiate a new cooperative partnership.   Talks began last year after teams from two neighboring schools arrived in 60-passenger buses that were half full.  The partnership calls for sharing of a superintendent, bus mechanic, and specialty teaching staff enabling the school districts to receive benefits that they otherwise could not afford.