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State needs dose of ‘tough love’

Montana may need tough love to make significant strides in moving up the economic ladder.

By Leslie McCartney of The Montana Standard

Consider these ideas from David Gibson of the state Office of Economic Opportunity:

Support people who do the kinds of things that have proven successful.

Demand accountability for economic development efforts.

Don’t accept meaningless rhetoric or empty praise.

“ We need to do what it takes to move forward and it’s not the feel-good stuff,” he said.

Gibson had blunt words — along with a draft blueprint for forging economic change — as he explained his plan to Montana Standard editorial board members Monday.

The blueprint is based on economic data, work with experts and Montanans’ comments, which Gibson gleaned from a lis tening tour he began more than two years ago.

“ As a state we are not going to go back to the ’50s,” Gibson said.

He said that Montana’s oncerespectable economy, much of it built on good-paying mining and manufacturing jobs, is gone and the state has to forge a new future to create economic oppor tunity for its citizens.

And he cautioned that those changes take time.

“ This is a 30-year deal,” he said.

Gibson hopes to bring to the state a lead effort on economic development and a coherent state view on what Montana can and should do to help itself.

“ Everything is organized in a hodge-podge fashion,” he said.

While the data may seem damning, Gibson said he has hope that the situation can change if Montanans recognize that real growth requires real change.

“ As a state we can do some thing,” he said.

To build a strong framework, the Office of Economic Opportunity reports that no one industry is going to solve Montana’s woes.

The equivalent of 50,000 jobs that pay at least $30,000 annually are needed to move the state’s per capita average to 40th from 46th, according to Gibson. Ideas presented by Gibson’s office to create high-paying jobs include:

— Montana needs to target and support industry sectors.

— It needs to support the primary ingredients for productivity and wage growth, namely investing in worker skills and technology.

— Market the state to targeted industry sectors

— Organize for success and provide leadership

— Create a more competitive business climate

A key component is to focus on established networks of growing businesses. As part of that goal, the state hopes to have an online directory of Montana businesses in place by next summer.

“ We need a good quality, usable network of business resources around the state,” Gibson said.

Creating such a network could help prompt Montana businesses to work with each other and maybe that interaction will help cement ties in the state.

“ If you have something for them, it makes it harder and harder for them to think about leaving,” Gibson said.

He pounded on his theme that measurable economic success takes methodical, sys tematic hard work. Part of that accountability should be able to be measured.

He also realizes that his office, like other state agencies, is being examined for its usefulness.

“ We have had quite a bit of support and there’re some people who would like us to go away,” he said.

The office, however, will continue its work while legislators debate its fate and funding level. And Gibson, regardless of what the future holds and whether he’s at the helm, wants efforts to continue.

“ We’ll defend (our work), but we’ll keep moving forward,” he said.

— Reporter Leslie McCartney may be reached via email at leslie.mccartney(at)(at)mtstandard.com.

http://www.mtstandard.com/newslocal/lnews1.html

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