Community Motive: The Untapped Identity Factor for Regional Development Tom Christoffel, FeRSA, AICP Regional Intelligence – Regional Communities, LLC The Regions Work Initiative © Regional Studies Association Global Conference 2012 Beijing, China June 25, 2012

Local-Regional Scale – RSA Prague Thought: “Local is whole. All politics are local. When a regional geography is whole, it becomes local, the local region” From the citizen taxpayer viewpoint at the local level, the nested cups are inverted. If this is “Local” Then this is “Regional” Region Scale unincorporated area, township & municipal corporations→ e.g. Towns of Middletown and Stephens City, City of Winchester County - e.g. – Frederick County, VirginiaCounty1.0 County →Defined multi-county/independent city regional council (s); e.g. – Planning District 7 – served by Northern Shenandoah Valley Regional Commission; Winchester Airport Authority Regional Council2.0 Regional Council → Region to region cooperation – e.g. I-81 Corridor; Shenandoah Valley water and air; Mid-Atlantic Roundtable; crossing State lines or inclusive of an entire State - e.g. – Virginia Association of PDCs; San Diego-Tijuana Border Region; Regional Council(s) +/- Counties up to State or beyond 3.0 State→Multi-State – e.g. – ICPRB Compact, Quad State Legislators MD-PA-VA-WV; Chesapeake Bay; Appalachian Regional Commission, Delta Regional Authority; Cascadia, Atlantica; Multi-State up to Nation or beyond 4.0 Multi-State →Nation - e.g. – United StatesNation5.0 Nation→Multi-national continental/oceanic – e.g. The Americas, North, Central and South - e.g. – NAFTA – Canada, Mexico, U.S.;... Multi-national6.0 Multi-national →Planet/globe/world – e.g. – United Nations, WTO,...Planet7.0 Planet→Solar system – galaxy – universe – e.g. – a Galactic Federation ? Solar System8.0

“Think Local Planet, Act Regionally." Development Challenges  After-effects of the Financial Crisis of 2008 and the Great Recession which has followed, Peak Oil, climate change, natural disasters, …  When talking to people about bleak future scenarios, I say, “The only thing that will save us is community.”  No one yet has disagreed. Community is what will get us through, but what is it about “community” that saves us in problematic situations? Isn’t it the “profit motive” that delivers all needed solutions?

“ Profit Motive”  In this age, the “profit motive” is both the goal and driver for all economic activity. Huge problems are simply those things that attract economic attention by business and industry. At least, that is what the economists tell us.  When it comes to regional development, primarily efforts to raise incomes and the standard of living for an area’s inhabitants, the first goal is to be “business friendly.”  In a multi-jurisdictional sub-national region, local governments are advised to collaborate and cooperate to build the needed business-oriented environment. This is regardless of the size or type of region. "Think Local Planet, Act Regionally."

Community Political Geography and Community Motive  As localities respond to the “profit motive” of business, what is their motive? Is it just tax-base improvement or better wages for citizens?  I say it is: “Community Motive” of established, historic communities which seek to perpetuate their communities.  The government structures in place - Nations, States, Counties, Municipalities - were all highly intentional creations by citizens of the day in accordance with the laws of the time and are bounded regions.  Today, after hundreds of years, they continue as intentional communities. Their political boundaries are integral to IDENTITY.  Identity is not simply a BRAND, but we know branding is part of the regional development game.  Many efforts ask officials to “put on their regional hat.” Can there really be a regional hat? Let’s look at the existing identities.

Political Identity Regional (hats) for a Front Royal, Virginia, U.S.A. Voter Local Planet-Whole Earth Region --- United States of America President and Vice President Commonwealth of Virginia State-wide – Two U.S. Senators U.S. District 6 House Representative Governor Virginia Senate – District 26 Virginia House of Delegates – District 29 County of Warren Constitutional Officers – Clerk, Sheriff, Commissioner of Revenue, Treasurer North River District - Supervisor (5 total) Town of Front Royal Mayor and Town Council

These Identities Have a direct:  1. Vote  2. Taxes  3. Services And result in community security for me, my family, guests. They are all neatly stored and “at the ready to be displayed.” What about multi- jurisdictional regions?

My region – Northern Shenandoah Valley Regional Commission  Virginia history of planning for regional development  State Planning Board  Regional Planning Commissions legislation  Virginia Area Development Act – 1968  Regional Partnerships – 1995  Today: Some regional marketing regional; industry deals local County/City – with State/Local incentives.

Regional Identity "Act Regionally." Have an indirect:  1. Vote - appointees  2. Taxes – pay assessment  3. Services – indirect or direct. This results in contributions to my community in the regional community. Structure?

Mega-regions Data Shadows – No Umbrella New Regions are Data Shadows – New Geography MSA/CMSA Data Shadows – No umbrella County/Multi Co. Regional Councils/COGs – Umbrella Many 40 – 50 years old

The region is always a “New Geography”  Though covering multiple jurisdictions, the region will be at odds with the existing political boundaries.  Putting on the REGIONAL HAT is loss of identity. The region could mean consolidation.  Yet there has long been a need for communities to become regional/GREATER in order to respond to the challenges of the world.  This need is also a “community motive,” but strategy and time is required. No instant community.  Umbrellas work with hats. “Think Local Planet, Act Regionally."

Greatest Identity? Humanity Hat “Think Local Planet, Act Regionally.”

"Think Local Planet, Act Regionally." “Acknowledge boundaries. Work across them. Think Local Planet, Act Regionally.” Contact: Tom Christoffel, FeRSA, AICP, Editor Regional/Greater Community Development News Regional Intelligence – Regional Communities, LLC Box Front Royal, Virginia (VA), USA Land line: Cell: Blog: Twitter: The “Regions Work” Initiative © 1998