Economic Development Propaganda and Sugar Coating - A Case Study
In a local city, which I will not mention, I recently noticed that two companies that had moved into the area in the last 5-years were being touted as successes for the local economic development association.
Yet, in looking through the employment records it appears that "Company A" does not even have 250 employees in the valley (every major resort in our valley has more than that).
Plus, Company A did not move their entire company here, only part of it.
In other words, they only do some things here, as much of their business is still in the city they started in.
Apparently, they only came to our city due to the low paid workforce in a city not too far away, which has an enterprise zone, thus giving them tax credits of up to $31,000 for every employee they hire over a 5-year period.
And, Company B is a global sporting equipment importer, meaning lots of Chinese Goods coming into the country, I am not sure either of these are successes? Especially, when I read in the newspaper the other day that Company A was cutting its employees by half; now that it's been here 5-years, received the tax credits, and because economy is down.
Indeed, stories like this are all too common with economic development associations as they promote their own efforts in the local media in order to justify their existence.
I am seeing a lot of hypocrisy in all the propaganda with regards to our economic development folks.
This is rather alarming considering all the money being spent in the name of economic development.
Kind of scary and yes, I admit that I am quite cynical of such things over all, but it's even worse than I had anticipated.
This is terrible.
Wal-Mart and Costco, have created more jobs (800 and 460), than the economic development association and similar groups, and you know what? No one ever had to call them.
They just saw the data and pulled permits.
I am somewhat alarmed the more I dig for information, the more folks I talk to, not just in our area, but across our nation; something to think about.
Yet, in looking through the employment records it appears that "Company A" does not even have 250 employees in the valley (every major resort in our valley has more than that).
Plus, Company A did not move their entire company here, only part of it.
In other words, they only do some things here, as much of their business is still in the city they started in.
Apparently, they only came to our city due to the low paid workforce in a city not too far away, which has an enterprise zone, thus giving them tax credits of up to $31,000 for every employee they hire over a 5-year period.
And, Company B is a global sporting equipment importer, meaning lots of Chinese Goods coming into the country, I am not sure either of these are successes? Especially, when I read in the newspaper the other day that Company A was cutting its employees by half; now that it's been here 5-years, received the tax credits, and because economy is down.
Indeed, stories like this are all too common with economic development associations as they promote their own efforts in the local media in order to justify their existence.
I am seeing a lot of hypocrisy in all the propaganda with regards to our economic development folks.
This is rather alarming considering all the money being spent in the name of economic development.
Kind of scary and yes, I admit that I am quite cynical of such things over all, but it's even worse than I had anticipated.
This is terrible.
Wal-Mart and Costco, have created more jobs (800 and 460), than the economic development association and similar groups, and you know what? No one ever had to call them.
They just saw the data and pulled permits.
I am somewhat alarmed the more I dig for information, the more folks I talk to, not just in our area, but across our nation; something to think about.