ECONOMIC CONTEXT. Our analysts will prepare a targeted assessment of factors that define the area’s overall competitiveness and are of greatest concern to economic decision makers. Our analysis will be tailored to meet project objectives, including tax base enhancement, business climate improvements, entrepreneurial aspirations, and growth that preserves quality of place advantages. This task will take advantage of available data resources to consider Sauk County’s current economic position within the Madison area and identify broader economic trends that may impact the county’s future economic position (e.g., population growth, housing, climate change, labor shortages, and exchange visitors). Findings will be provided in an interactive format.
ECONOMIC CONTEXT. Since the Council’s Single Outcome Agreement was published in 2008, the economic landscape has been affected by two significant factors, namely, the economic downturn and the restructuring of Scottish Enterprise. During the last 6 months, the impact of the credit crunch, which has led to global economic recession, has begun to be felt across a number of Glasgow’s key sectors including banking and finance and construction/property development. At this stage, the full extent of the recession is unclear as statistical reporting has not been able to keep apace with the downturn, however it is known that the number of Job Seekers’ Allowance claimants in the City has risen by 46.7% between March 2008 and March 2009 (a net increase of 6,690 claimants), and that many of the City’s large developments have been mothballed, or are no longer going ahead, as a direct result of the lack of finance. From April 2008, Scottish Enterprise Glasgow, the local enterprise company was abolished with Scottish Enterprise (SE) now operating as one national organisation. Responsibility for local regeneration in Glasgow has since passed to Glasgow City Council, who will now take a leading role in the delivery of the City’s economic strategy ‘Step Change’. Scottish Enterprise remains an active and committed partner in the continuing economic development of Glasgow, with a 20% increase in the number of companies in Glasgow being directly account managed by SE, full participation in the Xxxxx Gateway Urban Regeneration Company (URC) and Xxxxx Waterfront project, as well as a continuing role in delivery of a number of ‘Step Change’ projects. A mid-point review of the City’s economic strategy will be undertaken during 2010, at which point a full assessment of the economic situation can be made to enable the Council and its partners to make informed decisions about the validity of the strategy’s existing targets. The SOA Development Process 2009/10 In viewing this update as an opportunity to build upon our initial SOA submission, the Partnership agreed to include an Integrated Area Profile. This assessment has been developed under each of the five themes of our Community Plan (namely Healthy, Working, Safe, Learning and Vibrant), and has been subsequently amalgamated into one strategic overview document. It is hoped that this process will present a more unified approach to the work of the Community Planning Partnership and will give some indication of the shared priorities requiring co-ord...
