Edward J. Blakely

Balancing Social and Economic Objectives: The Case of California's Community Development Corporations

Community development practice is primarily concerned with building social and economic development institutions that lead to community self-sufficiency. The community development corporations formed by the federal government and foundations were designed to promote this form of economic and social independence. However, the economic and social goals of self-determination are increasingly in conflict as government resources shrink and public support of social programs dwindles. This paper examines the balancing of these two conflicting types of goals in thirty-four California community development corporations. The results indicate that both social and economic goals suffer from the lack of resources and the lack of skilled practitioners to organize and run the community development corporations.

Transfer or generation? Biotechnology and local-industry development

This paper examines the local (regional) economic-development aspects of the emerging biotechnology industry and considers the relative importance of generationoriented policies over transfer-oriented policies. Results from a study of the biotechnology industry in California are used to support the analysis. Basically, it was found that there is a complex industrial ecology associated with biotechnology. The firms choose to locate neither randomly nor entirely in order to be close to similar firms. Rather, it appears that they emerge in locations that have a nurturing biotechnology milieu. The presence of a critical biotechnology human-resource base creates its own dynamic, which diffuses into the surrounding medical, electronic, and other related industries. Thus, what develops is a local biotechnology-generation complex. Technology transfers role seems to be subsidiary to the process of technology generation in the area.

US state competitive strategies for the biotechnology industry

Abstract Individual states in the USA, large and small, are vying for competitiveness in commercial biotechnology. The result is a host of programs that target the industry from the laboratory bench to the marketplace.

Industrial Restructuring: Public Policies for Investment in Advanced Industrial Society

The American economy is undergoing a fundamental process of industrial restructuring. The manufacturing sector is being reorganized and deindustrialized, the location of capital investment is changing, labor markets are becoming increasingly polarized, and new job-displacing technologies are rapidly being introduced. Although this restructuring process maintains profitability for large corporations, it imposes heavy costs on workers and their communities and adversely affects the nations long-term economic and social stability. As a consequence of restructuring, concern about job retention and creation is higher now than it has been since the 1930s. However, the authors argue, the current policy responses of liberal, industrial policy advocates and conservative less-government proponents are inadequate because they subordinate the needs of workers and their communities in order to restore the conditions of capital accumulation. The authors outline an alternative strategy based on a new national framework for investment, greater community involvement, and increased worker control and certainty over their own livelihoods.

New roles for community developers in rural growth communities

Abstract Community development in rural areas has long addressed the problem of declining communities, depressed economies, and unorganized populations. The recent growth of rural communities and economies will drastically alter the role that community developers play. Based on the survey responses of 533 new migrants to five different types of California rural communities, data is presented that illustrates the new types of issues which community developers will need to address. It is argued that the major role of community developers will be to coordinate and facilitate organizations in rural areas rather than to provide assistance to individuals.

A Califonlia Study: Capacity Building for Housing, Community Development Act In Non-Metropolitan Cities

AbstractRoland Warren in his keynote address at the Annual Meeting’ in July 197S pointed out quite clearly and cogently the inevitability of federal forces at work in the local scene. There is “good news and bad news” as Dr. Warren Suggested. The New Housing and Community Development Act is supposes to be part of tile good news. However, the new Act may not mean the same thing for every jurisdiction.In many California non-metropolitan jurisdictions the New Housing and Community Development Act (l974) was Seen as an opportunity for small local governments to increase their: capacity to solve local problems. In particular, the Community Development Act as it is known has been proposed as the· vehicle to stimulate local government initiative in social planning and problem solving. Some evidence exists that community development programs are possible in cities over 5,000. But for the very smallest communities the Creative Federalism may not be a viable alternative. This paper analyzes basic administrative Str...