In the past few weeks, representatives from the Fund for Our Economic Future have been to about every corner of Northeast Ohio to introduce EfficientGovNow. So far, we’ve met with more than 25 groups. And, before the month is over, we will have met with more than 30 groups, including chambers of commerce, local government officials and citizen groups.

Having spoken to a number of these groups, I find there are a number of local officials who are enthused by the prospect of working together to find alternative means to achieving better ends. In some instances, officials have been holding conversations for months or even years about collaboration/consolidation projects, and have been met with resistance. But, these heroes press on, and acknowledge that there has to be a better way. Some have mentioned that EfficientGovNow will give them the necessary oomph to take their conversations to the next level.

The oomph is not only the $300,000 in available grants. It is the validation by the Fund and the public that government collaboration and efficiency is important. It is the opportunity to see what ideas other areas of the region are thinking about, and potentially replicating those ideas elsewhere. As one gentleman said, “There will probably be a lot of competition for the awards – but even if we don’t win, we’ll get to see what others are doing and try to do some of that here.” In a different meeting, a township trustee commented, “We might/might not win the money. But, at least it will have encouraged us enough to work together.”

Comments like these make me want to spend every waking hour sharing the story of EfficientGovNow, encouraging local officials to “take the plunge” and find ways to work together. Given a number of stories from throughout the region (some examples below), it appears many are already on their way. For those who might be “on the fence,” we hope EfficientGovNow gives them the oomph they need to make the region competitive in the 21^st century.

Examples from throughout the region are noted in the following news stories:

New spur for government efficiency

The Repository

Ashland Commissioners Look at New Economic Initiative

WMFD-TV

Cooperation and Local Governments

WFMJ-TV

This entry was posted on Wednesday, March 18th, 2009 at 1:26 pm and is filed under Michael Shafarenko. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.