Welcome to EfficientGovNow, a new initiative of the Fund for Our Economic Future designed to encourage greater government collaboration among our region’s local governments.
EfficientGovNow is part of a larger regional effort, called Advance Northeast Ohio, to strengthen our region’s economic competitiveness.
The Fund for Our Economic Future unites philanthropy throughout the region to work on Advance Northeast Ohio in partnership with business, civic and government leaders and organizations. Our work is based on a belief that to compete for jobs and investments in the global economy our region must address four key priorities:
1. Business Growth & Attraction
2. Talent Development
3. Racial and Economic Inclusion
4. Government Collaboration & Effiency
Research has shown that local governments in Northeast Ohio spend mor than 10% of our region’s economic output. Also, we know that regions with more fragmented governments experience lower than average economic growth. In addition, the residents of Northeast Ohio (through the Voices & Choices civic engagement hosted by the Fund and public opinion polls) have made it clear they want and expect more efficient government.
These are some of the reasons the Fund has launched EfficientGovNow. We hope the program will promote exactly what it’s name says: More efficient government in Northeast Ohio right now. Please join us in this effort by encouraging your local officials to apply for an EfficientGovNow grant. And let us know what you think of our program.
Great post!
@ccarsonthompson – Twitter works!
One of the keys here is helping public entities create tons of small (scale) experiments that can then be scaled to include more players. These build the kind of trust that accelerates larger more complex challenges. And as always, the magic will be in how well these projects can be managed as agile projects. Let me know how I can help. (response to @ccarsonthompson tweet 3.2.09)
Twitter does work.
Jack,
You are spot on in your idea that change will come through many small experiments that are scaled. I worry when we fixate on the large, megaproject billed as the panacea for all that ails us. In the $170 billion economy that is Northeast Ohio, that would have to be one heck of an enormous project. Rather, I believe that success ultimately hinges upon the decisions of hundreds if not thousands of actors who recognize the challenges/opportunities, see where the community is heading, and then determine that it is in their interest to get on board.
Let’s hope EfficientGovNow helps convey the message that economic leaders (heroes?) can be found everywhere and that this leadership stems from actions not position.
Step one – let’s get the word out to enlightened elected officials that we are ready to stand behind them and to encourage them to apply for a grant.
Jack, Thanks for the thoughtful post. We do indeed hope this effort will spawn many small experiments, and perhaps a few larger ones, in government collaboration. As others have noted, we cannot help everyone with a good idea, but we can highlight some of the best ideas and encourage others to follow their lead. I hope you and your friends will encourage your local government officials to take the time and effort to apply for an EfficientGovNow grant. I do believe that a small experiment will capture the public’s attention and earn some of our grant money. Government officials need to know that there small ideas are worth proposing, as well as the more ambitious plans.
Chris Thompson