Toledo Talk - Lake Erie West

Lake Erie West, a regional organization, is a catalyst for both the public and private sectors to assist in sponsoring, promoting, and implementing a myriad of projects and events that promote the region. What for years we have laboriously been calling Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan...now has an identity Lake Erie West!

Lake Erie West Projects???

LEW boundary Definition

A time-based strategy, the epicenter of Lake Erie West is the crossroads of America - the intersection of I-75 and I-80/90 (the nation's busiest), and the region includes everything within a one-hour drive from that center.¹

This unified regional identity transcends all geographical boundaries, uniting communities within the region in a way not otherwise possible. It allows the best in strategic public/private partnerships by encouraging a joint effort, free to operate across political and geographic boundaries.

Lake Erie West does not compete with any local economic interest in the region. Rather, it supports those efforts and serves as a liaison and an umbrella marketing tool to heighten and enhance the visibility, both directly and indirectly, of the cultural, education, economic, and recreational activities of all communities.²

Advantages

Sustainable competitive features of the Lake Erie West region :

Time - At the crossroads of the two most heavily traveled roads in North America: I-80/90 and I-75.

Education - 33 colleges and universities within a one-hour drive.

Fresh Water - 18% of the world's fresh water supply.

Transportation - Four international airports within a one-hour drive.

Market Access - The center of a one-day drive, which reaches 50% of the population of both the U.S. and Canada.

Long Term Goals

Reinforcing and promoting an effective global identity for our region.
Producing regional marketing umbrella programs recognizing the cultural, educational, and business assets and resources of the region.
Build a positive attitude among Lake Erie West residents and encourage them to adopt the regional identity.²

Short Term Goals

Creating and launching a global marketing strategy.
Expanding our existing Sister Region relationship and developing new ones.
Encouraging businesses with global markets to become members.
Establishing a clearing house for information for business and tourism.
Implementing an umbrella marketing strategy to create more materials and events.
Promoting and supporting the arts and culture.
Encouraging a synergy and partnership between businesses and the region.²

LEW Articles

1993 Toledo Technical Topics: Another Story That Should Knock Your Socks Off
Technical Society of Toledo: The Midwest's New England
2005 Toledo City Paper: Open for Business
Flags Fly in Support of Regional Identity

Other Press

Toledo Free Press opinions by Dan Johnson president emeritus and university professor of Public Policy and Economic Development at the University of Toledo :

Jun 8, 2007 - Universities are key to revitalizing local economy
Aug 3, 2007 - Regional economic development: Are we playing defense or offense?
Aug 31, 2007 - Ensuring Toledo's role in the global economy

Discussions

Google search of Toledo Talk.

Regionalism vs Unigov

There is confusion about what constitutes regionalism as opposed to unigov. Unigov is easier to define: It is a combination of City/County Govt. It has been successful in places like Indianapolis, which is located in the center of Indiana.

Regionalism, in most cases, involves more than one county. Silicon Valley is a region. New England is a region. The Research Triangle is a region, consisting of Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill. In Ohio, Cincinnati has been a successful region that includes parts of Kentucky and southeast Indiana. Globally it identifies itself as Cincinnati,USA.⁴

Meetings

Lake Erie West Meeting Notes 28-Apr-2008
Lake Erie West Planning Session Agenda 6-Jun-2008

Map

Click to enlarge

Formula for Change

The Formula for Change was created by Richard Beckhard and David Gleicher and is sometimes called Gleicher's Formula. This formula provides a model to assess the relative strengths affecting the likely success or otherwise of organisational change programs.

D x V x F > R

Three factors must be present for meaningful organisational change to take place. These factors are:

D = Dissatisfaction with how things are now;
V = Vision of what is possible;
F = First, concrete steps that can be taken towards the vision.

If the product of these three factors is greater than R = Resistance, then change is possible. Because of the multiplication of D, V and F, if any one is absent or low, then the product will be low and therefore not capable of overcoming the resistance.

To ensure a successful change it is necessary to use influence and strategic thinking in order to create vision and identify those crucial, early steps towards it. In addition, the organisation must recognise and accept the dissatisfaction that exists by communicating industry trends, leadership ideas, best practice and competitive analysis to identify the necessity for change.³

Report Card

Lake Erie West Economic Development Report Card⁵

References

¹ LakeErieWest.org Web site

² Lake Erie West brochure

³ Formula for Change article included into this page.

⁴ Feb 26, 2005 Toledo Talk thread titled Regionalism vs Unigov

⁵ Mar 5, 2008 Toledo City Paper article

created by jr on Mar 16, 2007 at 08:44:32 am
updated by jr on Jun 04, 2008 at 12:44:34 pm Comments: 0

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