NewsRelease

(Posted 3-9-04)
Contact: Steve Gilliam, 336-334-5371

Triad Regional Economic Development is Topic
Of UNCG’s Elliott Lecture Programs March 31

GREENSBORO – Regional economic development, an issue that Triad leaders view as critical to the area’s future, will be the focus of this year’s Harriet Elliott Lecture series Wednesday, March 31, at The University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

Titled “Regional Economic Development in the New Millennium: The Role of Geography, Politics and the Creative Class,” it will address how regions create and maintain sustainable competitive advantages. All programs are free and open to the public, and are being coordinated by the UNCG Department of Geography (336-334-5388). A website with details on the program is available at http://www.uncg.edu/geo/harriet_elliott.htm.

J.W. Harrington, an economic geographer who specializes in regional development, will deliver the keynote address on “Creating Capable Workforces” at 8 p.m. in the Weatherspoon Art Museum Auditorium. Harrington is co-author of the book, “Industrial Location: Theory, Practice and Policy.”

Most recently, his research, writing and teaching have focused on occupational attainment and skills development in regional labor markets. His other areas of focus are regional development in general, the effects of producer-service activities on regional economic development, the impacts of international trade and foreign investment. He teaches at the University of Washington and earlier was a founding faculty member of the School of Public Policy at George Mason University.

“This event addresses some of the most critical issues facing metropolitan and regional economies like the Triad and the Triangle,” said program coordinator Dr. Jay Lennartson, a faculty member in UNCG’s Department of Geography. “It will focus on questions of how regions can maintain a sustainable competitive advantage in an increasingly turbulent global economy, and whether regions like our own Piedmont Triad can successfully compete for the sorts of creative talent in the labor market that are needed to elevate our overall quality of life.

“We hope that area leaders and members of the community will join us for a thought-provoking discussion of the key policies and strategies needed to succeed in today’s economy.”

Afternoon programs will be in the Alumni House, located on College Avenue near Spring Garden Street. The events are:

• 2-3:15 p.m., presentations on “Issues in Regional Economic Development”; 2-2:30 p.m., Dr. Rodney Erickson, professor of geography and provost at Pennsylvania State University, discussing “Competition, Restructuring and Globalization in Higher Education: A Creative Class in Transition”; and 2:30-3 p.m., Dr. Michael Luger, Kenan Professor and director of the Office of Economic Development at UNC Chapel Hill, speaking on “Research Parks and the Knowledge Connection in the New Millennium,” followed by a question-and-answer session.

 
• 3:45-5 p.m., panel discussion, “Geography, Politics and Regional Economic Development”; Don Kirkman, president of the Piedmont Triad Partnership, on “Regional Economic Development in the Piedmont Triad”; Charles Hayes, CEO and president of the Research Triangle Regional Partnership on “Winning the Jobs Wars of the Future”; and Robbie Perkins, president of NAI Maxwell and a member of Greensboro City, on “Regionalism in the Triad – Why Is It So Hard if It Makes So Much Sense?”

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