Rural America is at a crossroads in its economic development. Like regions of other First World nations, the traditional economic base of rural communities in the United States is rapidly deteriorating. Natural resources, including agriculture, show little prospect for generating future job growth, and manufacturing has become a new source of instability. Faced with these changes and an increasing vulnerability to international economic events, rural communities have begun to seek high-technology industries and advanced services as candidates for job growth and economic stability. What is the potential for high-tech growth outside the largest cities? What is the role of high-tech industry in the economic development of non-metropolitan America? This book provides a hard-nosed look at the high-tech potential in rural economic development. Some of the questions Glasmeier addresses include: Are rural areas attractive to high tech? Will high tech follow earlier patterns and filter down the lowest-paid jobs to rural areas? Will rural communities be bypassed completely for even lower-wage Third World locations? Glasmeier answers in a sober analysis that separates fact from myth. Empirical data reveals the kinds of high-tech jobs that locate in rural areas, and the kinds of rural areas that attract high-tech jobs. This analysis leads to a highly critical evaluation of state and local economic development policy and recommendations for its improvement. This book is a must for policymakers, practitioners, scholars, and an informed public interested in the promise of high tech and the future of US economic development.

This book is designed to provide an introductory understanding of challenges, goals, processes, and procedures for economic developers, particularly economic development volunteers, in rural areas and small towns. Chapter 1 defines economic development and basic terms. Chapter 2 describes major economic, social, and demographic trends that influence the development prospects of small communities and rural areas. Chapter 3 discusses 10 common denominators of success for development organizations and steps in getting started. Common problems are addressed in Chapter 4. Chapter 5 reviews the basics of site selection and describes a 12-step process. Chapter 6 discusses in detail a strategic planning process that is composed of a cycle of eight steps. Focus of Chapter 7 is on the rationale behind targeting and on data sources and techniques to select target industries. Chapter 8 provides information on business retention, expansion, and creation programs. Chapter 9 describes a comprehensive approach to marketing as applied to economic development based on the strategic planning and targeting frameworks and an understanding of the site selection process presented in earlier chapters. Each chapter concludes with references to books, articles, and organizations that are particularly relevant to the topics covered. Twenty exhibits supplement the text, and a 107-item annotated bibliography lists relevant books, articles, government publications, and development organizations. The book is intended to be a useful reference book for local government officials, community leaders, educators, and others involved in the community economic development field. (YLB)

"This book outlines the competitive challenge facing rural America and reports on signs of hope for the rural economy. It reports the "secrets of success" in sixteen rural counties in the Farm Belt which have gained employment at the same time that most rural areasl are losing jobs. It also describes new state initiatives to help rural communities and lists six "operating principles" to guide state efforts." From foreward.