This past month I had the opportunity to participate in the 2012 National Economic Gardening (EG) Conference, held in Grand Rapids, MI, & hosted by the Pure Michigan organization. Meeting with other EG practitioners and sharing ideas is stimulating and thought-provoking. I always return with new ideas and charged-up to get back at helping stage 2 businesses grow and create jobs.
When I attend these sessions, I am always in search of pearls of wisdom, or new and innovative ideas. This year during the state pilot program leader panel, the leader of the Kansas program, Corey Mohn, and the leader of the Missouri program, David Schmidt, were discussing their programs and Corey made an eye-opening (for me) observation. Corey said that with “classical” economic development he always saw the state of Missouri as a competitor. They were each trying to attract the “Big” companies into their respective states. But, with Economic Gardening Kansas and Missouri are now allies in developing and implementing strategies to help their home-grown businesses grow and thrive more.
In sports and business, competition are fundamental elements. However, with a spirit of cooperation and sharing we all are much more powerful in helping our economy recover and grow. GO EG!!!
