News & Events
September 2018
The Taubman Center for State & Local Government is thrilled to be launching a new pilot Economic Development Seminar Series for the 2018-2019 academic year.
The objectives are to provide students with:
1. An orientation to the landscape of existing state + local government economic development strategies
2. A deeper understanding of which economic development strategies are (not) working well and why (not)
3. Connections to and advice from economic development experts to pursue career opportunities
4. A community of connected students, and eventually alumni, passionate about economic development
5. A developing body of scholarship for the Taubman Center to expand future economic development offerings
Topics & Sequence (dates subject to change):
1. Oct 19 - The origins & evolution of traditional econ dev – from chasing smokestacks to Economic Gardening
2. Nov 16 - Recruitment & retention – the site selection industry and the fierce competition to lure/steal companies
3. Dec 7 - Entrepreneurship – the sexy start-ups and the rough realities
4. Feb 1 - Clusters & sector-based strategies – leveraging assets, creating connections and linking supply chains
5. March 1 - Small business development – from main street retail and restaurants to “gazelles” poised for growth
6. March 29 - Workforce development & talent pipelines – the traditional systems and the evolving future of work
7. May 3 - Ecosystems & infrastructure – weaving the systems, the strategies, and the stakeholders all together
Format:
The Economic Development Seminar Series will provide participants with a package of 3 unique engagements:
1. Breakfast Seminar Sessions – 7 monthly 90-min sessions held on a Friday from 8:00 - 9:30 am at HKS
2. Speakers & Students Social – informal conversation and connections held the evening prior to each session
3. Speakers Office Hours & Mentoring – post-session 1:1 time with speakers for career advice and connections
Audience & Focus:
This pilot Seminar Series is for Harvard Kennedy School students from across all degree programs (MPP, MPA, MPA/ID, MC/MPA, Joint & Concurrent) who have an interest in better understanding, and potentially having a direct hand in some day shaping and improving, the increasingly competitive, complex and changing field of economic development. Students need not be experts on the topic, but they would ideally have an interest in applying what they learn through this series to positively influence state and local government economic development policy and decision making, either serving as or in collaboration with public sector leaders.
Students will submit a very short application for consideration to participate in the seminar series. Depending on demand, approximately 15 students will be selected to participate for the entire series. There will also be a single-session application each month to allow approximately 5 more students with topical interests to also participate.
To apply, please complete this form by Wednesday, September 26th.
More details here: HKS Taubman Center Economic Development Seminar Series Summary.
If you have any questions, please contact:
Rafael Carbonell
Executive Director
Taubman Center for State & Local Government
Rafael_Carbonell@hks.harvard.edu
Noe Negri
Program Coordinator
Taubman Center for State & Local Government
Noelia_Negri@hks.harvard.edu