The power of setting common goals
July 16, 2010
Philadelphia Business Journal
A broad swath of professionals in the region have identified best-in-class education, strong small business creation and an ease of doing business as the most important changes that could happen to Greater Philadelphia by the year 2026.
The findings came out of 17 roundtable discussions held in Pennsylvania, Delaware and New Jersey by the Economy League of Greater Philadelphia, as part of the think tank's World Class Philadelphia initiative.
The initiative is about engaging minds in the process of improving the region in a more focused way.
"We believe there's a great need for something like this within our region and we believe it can be transformative," Economy League Executive Director Steven Wray told about 175 people at Philadelphia's Doubletree Hotel.
Specifically, participants chose three potential future headlines they thought would bring about the most important changes. They are:
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The region has highest share of high school students going on to higher education.
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Region is tops on U.S. small business creation list.
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Report ranks Greater Philadelphia third nationally for ease of doing business.
It's important to note that these three priorities were chosen from a long list of potentially positive outcomes, including reducing poverty, becoming more tech-savvy and leading the nation in reducing energy usage.
The three priorities aren't isolated. They address poverty, joblessness and development issues. Being tops in high school graduates going on to college, for example, requires early-childhood education. Core urban school districts in our region that often serve minorities in Philadelphia, Camden and Chester will have to start performing in a different league. It requires that the region's more than 80 colleges and universities continue to expand interaction with high schools, while finding ways to admit more locals. It requires investing in human capital - that most essential part of a strong economy - in new and more effective ways.
Nor do these goals solve everything. They don't deal with transportation funding issues that, if solved, ensure ease of movement that so affects economic progress and quality of life. They don't ensure that the region's arts community stays strong and vital.
They haven't even been adopted as key goals in any formal way, but rather they are part of a process. Jane Pepper, former president of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society and a co-chair of the World Class project, makes the case that focus matters. "We have to get on the same page," Pepper said.
This still-fledgling initiative has its skeptics and, despite having agreed to participate, I can relate to them. Improving education, cutting business taxes and promoting entrepreneurship are hardly new issues. Plenty have worked on them only to give up in the face of challenges.
Thinking big often doesn't translate into action, but it's still important. Getting some of the region's hardest working, most dedicated individuals focused on a few key goals would be an important step toward positive changes. The Economy League will need donations and even greater participation - all the help it can get.
Bernard Dagenais, editor of Philadelphia Business Journal, can be reached at bdagenais@bizjournals.com.