... is the title of a blog focused on Regional Communities.

Check it out:  http://regional-communities.blogspot.com

There are many links and stories about what other communities and regions are doing around the country and world to collaborate and work together.

I would be remiss if I didn't insert a selfish plug...

noted in the blog is:
Counties urged to work together on economic development (Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin)
South of the Border... (recent blog entry) 

Pipeline 4 Progress is committed to collaboration and working together to build a sustainable economy. 

P4P is very fortunate to have partnered with Cornell University to work together (and we want your involvement and partnership) on the Regional Action Initiative. 

Earlier this week - Susan Christopherson and Ned Rightor - conducted a webinar titled "Regional Strategic Planning, Version 1.0"   

To view the recorded webinar and/or supporting documents use the links below:
Regional Strategic Planning, Version 1.0 - Webinar
Regional Strategic Planning, Version 1.0 - PowerPoint
Regional Strategic Planning, Version 1.0 - Full Report

To learn more about this initiative and to get involved, please visit:
P4P Regional Action Initiative

The editorial in today's Star Gazette did a very nice job of summing up some concerns with the transition taking place in Albany - and possible new direction.

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New governor must embrace Spitzer's upstate plan
Lt. Gov. Paterson's New York City roots could be a concern for economic development.
March 13, 2008
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One thing we cannot take away from Governor Spitzer was his commitment and focus on upstate NY.  I hope that remains under Lt. Gov. Paterson when he assumes the governorship on Monday. 

When Spitzer was elected to office he gave Empire State Development two leaders or co-chairs.  One dedicated to downstate (NYC and Long Island) and one dedicated to upstate NY.  I believe this was a step in the right direction.

Upstate NY has tremendous potential and opportunities.  These opportunities differ from downstate opportunities.  We needed a mechanism to seize the right opportunities and advance promising ones with energy and focus.

But given that - it is not enough. 

We must continue to spend some time working together collaboratively.  And it is not enough to just talk about working together we need a plan for action. 

ACTION being the key word. 

On March 7th - Pipeline 4 Progress held its first regional input meeting.  Additional input meetings are scheduled.  Click here for more information on future meetings and webinars.

P4P will take the input, information and strategies gathered and discussed and help put them in motion. 

But P4P can't do this alone.  The help and support of the community, the region and upstate NY is critical to success.  From community leaders to business leaders to non-profits to colleges and universities.  We must have a collaborative, public and inclusive approach.

Upstate NY is on the right track... working together towards regional collaboration.  And we can't afford to stop now.

I was recently interviewed by The Cornell Daily Sun.  (read the article by clicking on the "read more" link later in this post).

Expanding on the coverage... it is important to stop and think about what Tompkins County is doing different.  What do they have?

It is true... Cornell University and Ithaca College certainly help - A LOT - but more than that (and in part due to the two colleges) Ithaca is doing a good job of promoting and sustaining...

culture and diversity - - it makes an area or region interesting and fun.

Culture and diversity lead to an array of things to do... from entertainment to recreation to arts to a wide variety of places to eat... important elements that attract (and help retain) people and talent.

Now with that said... culture and diversity is not enough by itself.  But if we think about what Ithaca has.  Why it is different... I would certainly point to the culture and diversity within the community. 

It is clear to see that diversity is pretty important in fostering a community and region.

Tompkins Lures Young Professionals to Settle

FROM STORY: While Ithaca may not at first glance seem like a bustling metropolis compared to the skylines of New York City or Los Angeles, for Upstate New York it is the pinnacle of excellence when it comes to the region’s dreaded “brain drain.”

read more

I've been extremely busy the last few days.

Pipeline 4 Progress is gearing up for the first of four Regional Input Meetings scattered throughout the Upstate P4P Region. 

Our first meeting is Friday - March 7th - in Binghamton, NY.

Please feel free to join us and participate in the collaborative discussions.

Earlier this week - on Tuesday...

I was NOT in Upstate NY talking about regionalism and collaboration.  I was in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.

I was there to talk about P4P and other opportunities involving the Fuller Group.

I met with a local group of young professionals (YP's) and with several people from Larson Design Group (LDG).

On the YP side... we discussed some of the things P4P has worked on and is currently undertaking.  Including past under 40 Summits, the Regional Action Initiative and future programs... including the "P4P beHere Project".

The Williamsport YP's are just getting started.  And I was happy to talk with them and share some lessons learned from my experiences with P4P.

After-all we followed in the footsteps of 40 Below from Syracuse and Central NY.  40 Below have been a tremendous resource, partner and friend to P4P.

On the LDG side... I heard about the exciting plans the company has to grow over the next year.  They have several branches throughout PA and an office located in Corning, NY. 

I became extremely interested in hearing about their internship and co-op programs. 

LDG has gained national recognition as one of the top 200 internship programs in the country!   

They are taking some innovative approaches to attracting and retaining talent... it is a great story and we should take some notes. 

It was quite evident that LDG was a group of individuals - a company of folks - who "got it".  But how? 

They realize that the most important factor for the future of the company is its people.  From day one.. a new employee (I should also point out that LDG is employee owned) is set-up on a career path with future development opportunities. 

With competition for talent becoming more fierce....  LDG is taking the lead to help ensure they have a secure future.  They have decided to lead - not wait and catch up.  Be proactive and not reactive. 

The company, it's leadership and people "get it".   

With my trip to PA this week and the upcoming regional input meeting on Friday... this initiative (P4P Regional Action Initiative) might benefit from stretching across state boundaries. 

It is not enough to go from town to town, city to city and county to county.  Our marketplace doesn't pay attention to any of those boundaries or lines.   

So as we think about and develop a regional strategy... the P4P Region ought to pay attention and collaborate with our neighbors just "south of the border".

It is a little ironic that my first thought it writing this entry was the title "tough choices"... 

It's also the title of a book - Tough Choices: a Memoir by Carly Fiorina - former CEO of Hewlett-Packard.  I'll mention why later in this post (so keep reading).

The "tough choice" is whether or not I should write on political issues.  But this is very important - and after all - this is mikefullerblog.com - so why wouldn't I talk about it?

So here is the thing...  This is a reaction to a post written by Richard Florida. 

P4P along with Southern Tier Central Regional Planning and Development Board and Three Rivers Development Corporation sponsored a presentation by Richard Florida in Corning after the first Pipeline 4 Progress Summit in 2006.

It was great having Florida (Richard, that is) in Corning and being able to exchange ideas.  His recent blog post made me revisit one of the ideas he had mentioned.  Check out his entry - Global Pop.

The interesting point from his blog was the role non-Americans play in pop culture.  That got the wheels turning to creativity, culture and diversity...

...and the extreme importance it plays in fostering a community. 

I remember Florida mentioning that our community and region could benefit from a program that attracts and retains non-Americans.  He is right.

It is not just pop culture... look at any creative hot-spot around the country - and world - you see diversity, culture and openness to foreign born citizens.  I think it is worth while for our region to take a closer look at the statistics and see what we can do.

Let's examine some local innovative companies...  I sat on a panel at the Chemung County Economic Forum a few years ago with Guy Aminsano of Salient Corporation.  The question of talent came up - Guy remarked that he looks for talent all over world. 

A good friend of mine who works for Guy is from Ecuador - he came to the US to go to Cornell, married someone from the area and is now working internationally for Salient. 

The same can be true and said of Corning, Inc. - while the company is all over the world a small portion of the workforce is in the Corning area - not every employee being American or from the region.  At the 2006 and 2007 Summits we heard from Corning employees from India and other parts of the world. 

It is important that we are able to attract and retain a diverse and global talent pool.  This is not only important for our local businesses and economy...  But we need the diversity and culture to spill over into our communities to make this a fun and interesting place to live, work, play and learn.

OK... So going back to my Carly Fiorina thought I started with...  In Florida's book "The Rise of the Creative Class" - you should read this book - he quotes then Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina speaking to the nation's governors: "keep your tax incentives and highway interchanges; we will go where the skilled people are"....

Economic development - today - isn't about bricks and motor.  It's not about sites.  Taxes.  Infrastructure.  It's about workforce.  About skilled workers and talent. 

And that talent needs to come from all over the world.