Current Search: Economic development--Planning (x)
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Title
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Urban economic development planning for the disadvantaged: A case study of the cities of Fort Lauderdale and Pompano Beach, Florida.
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Creator
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Robertson, Naomi., Florida Atlantic University, Prosperi, David
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Abstract/Description
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Although federal, state, and local governments have invested millions of dollars in social and economic programs, many citizens do not possess the basic necessities of life. The gap between the "haves" and "havenots" continues to grow. According to a 1990 Bureau of the Census report, the poverty rate among blacks in America is 31.9 percent; hispanics, 28.1 percent; and whites, 10.7 percent. Further, young black males have one of the highest unemployment rates in the nation. For example, the...
Show moreAlthough federal, state, and local governments have invested millions of dollars in social and economic programs, many citizens do not possess the basic necessities of life. The gap between the "haves" and "havenots" continues to grow. According to a 1990 Bureau of the Census report, the poverty rate among blacks in America is 31.9 percent; hispanics, 28.1 percent; and whites, 10.7 percent. Further, young black males have one of the highest unemployment rates in the nation. For example, the Department of Labor reported that during the fourth quarter of 1991, the unemployment rate of black males between the ages of twenty and twenty-four was 21.5 percent; hispanic males, 12.3 percent; and white males, 9.8 percent. Consequently, cities are faced with high unemployment rates, declining tax base, large welfare rolls, and increased crime. To combat these and other problems, an economic development planning approach which closes this gap must be developed. The economic development planning and implementation activities of the Cities of Fort Lauderdale and Pompano Beach, Florida, are explored to determine the extent to which they are addressing the needs of disadvantaged residents, particularly African-Americans. Questionnaires (surveys) and personal/telephone interviews are the basic techniques used to collect data. Based on the corporate-center, the distributive-corporate, and the corporate-distributive approaches to economic development planning and implementation, responses are analyzed to classify each City's approach. Responses concerning selected development projects are also analyzed to determine the extent to which these projects are addressing identified needs of the economically disadvantaged. The results indicate that both Cities have on-going economic development programs, which are attempting to close the gap between the "haves" and the "havenots," however, certain segments of the population are still excluded. A conceptual framework, "team enrichment" or the people-centered approach, is developed to bridge the gap between economic development planning and the needs of the disadvantaged. Team enrichment yields team empowerment. Team empowerment is the catalyst for community empowerment, which in turn achieves social, political, and economic power. Power is achieved through the actions of a community economic development (CED) triangle, which is held together by a strong community-public-private alliance.
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Date Issued
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1992
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PURL
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http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/12311
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Subject Headings
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Cities and towns--Growth, Economic development--Planning, Fort Lauderdale (Fla )--Economic conditions, Pompano Beach (Fla )--Economic conditions
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Format
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Document (PDF)
