Regional Economic Development

"My wife and I cannot see ourselves moving away from this environment," he said. "There are so many benefits that come from being surrounded by so many like-minded people who want to live, work and shop in the same place. There is no question that this move has been good for my business."

The results will provide an added tool for business recruiters looking to convince outside companies to relocate or add facilities in Boise, said Shirl Boyce, vice president of the Boise Metro Economic Development Council.

"We need to build the infrastructure, the bandwidth, the education, the health care and the access to capital for entrepreneurs …," he said, "so that communities can strengthen and diversify."

The Inland Northwest Revitalization Act, which Crapo introduced earlier this month, addresses many of those issues.

"I know this may not seem like a big story today, but it will mean a lot down the road," White said.

Small businesses like Hardesty’s have become the driving force in Colorado’s job market, if only by adding one job at a time.

The Scorecard puts a spotlight on the long view and the questions that most matter over time: Are we living longer, healthier lives? Are we building strong human communities? Are we handing down to our children a place whose ecosystems are regenerating?

By highlighting the places who “score” best, the Scorecard will also offer a practical vision for a better Northwest.

The new division would have three departments, including community development, business development services and planning and building services.

The cost of doing business in California is 30 percent
above the Western state average; 6 percentage points of
this gap stems from state regulations alone, with
regulatory costs 105 percent higher than other Western
states.

More compact development patterns and investments in urban centers would save taxpayers’ money and improve regions’ overall economic performance, says a new report from The Brookings Institution.

Prosperity in a small town "doesn’t happen on its own. It happens through solid and visionary leadership, having a ‘can do’ attitude and exhibiting a willingness to take risks. It happens through knowing what your town’s strengths and resources are and how to leverage those strengths and resources. It happens through building a brand for your town – a concept that often prompts quizzical looks, yet one that successful small towns have embraced."