Current economic realities have provided governors with a unique opportunity to assess their economic landscapes and change their approaches to economic development. This white paper and accompanying issue brief by the National Governors Association (NGA) focus on what states are doing—and what they can do—to make their economic development agencies more effective.

In the past two years, at least 12 states have created new entities or consolidated existing ones to develop a more streamlined approach to economic development. Redesigning State Economic Development Agencies provides a look into new models, such as New York’s regional councils and the Iowa Innovation Corporation, as well as older models that have proven sustainable, such as the Oregon Business Council and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. 

Issue Brief; White Paper

Image: Michigan Economic Development Corporation