A Governor's Guide to Cluster-Based Economic Development
Stuart Rosenfeld

Published: 2002, National Governors Association
ISBN:

OUR REVIEW (Reviewed October 04, 2002, by Bill Pinkovitz)
According to The Governor¿s Guide to Cluster-Based Economic Development, industry clusters have become the sine qua non economic policy across the United States. More importantly, cluster-based economic development has succeeded in many states. Whether you are an economic development professional or a business CEO, its time to learn about industry clusters. A Governors Guide to Cluster-Based Economic Development is a good place to start.

The National Governor¿s Association (NGA) website explains that, "A Governors Guide to Cluster-Based Economic Development provides governors with the tools for structuring economic development policies to help make business clusters more innovative and competitive. The guide provides a description of the distinctive assets and needs of state and regional economies; an understanding of the advantages of clusters and forces that make them develop, grow, mature, and reinvent themselves as they decline; and guidance on policies that support clusters in urban and rural, rich and poor regions." The Governor¿s Guide could be renamed Industry Clusters 101. It provides an excellent overview of industry clusters, why they are important, how they grow and develop, how to identify industry clusters, and how to encourage and foster them in your state. It¿s straightforward and easy to read. Its full of good examples and resources.

Many Wisconsin businesspeople and economic development professionals first learned about industry clusters at the inaugural Wisconsin Economic Summit. Professor Don Nichols introduced the concept of industry clusters and described how and why focusing economic development on industry clusters makes sense for Wisconsin. Periodically during the discussion, Professor Nichols will be adding his comments in the READING ROOM.

The recent Wisconsin Economic Summit III (ESIII) again focused on industry clusters. We are hoping that Stuart Rosenfeld, the author, will add to the discussion in the READING ROOM.

Reading The Governor¿s Guide to Cluster-Based Economic Development and joining the READING ROOM discussion is an excellent way to learn about industry clusters and the statewide initiatives that are underway.

A Governor's Guide to Cluster-Based Economic Development is available free online via the National Governors Association wesite at: http://www.nga.org/center/divisions/1,1188,T_CEN_ECON_TECH^C_ISSUE_BRIEF^D_4063,00.html

or click the link below to go directly to the site.

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