ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT QUARTERLY
Further information regarding this EDA exclusive
grant program can be found here. The current round
closes on September 5, but the program will be
offered regularly for EDA members.
FROM THE CEO
It is my pleasure to introduce the 2018 winter edition
of Economic Development Australia’s (EDA) Journal.
I thank the practitioners and organisations who
have contributed to this edition and encourage other
economic development practitioners to share their
projects and insights for future editions. Information
regarding submitting an article for the Journal can be
found here.
This edition’s articles share some similar themes,
notably a number of authors make reference to
the race by many US cities to secure the second
headquarters of Amazon. Without a doubt, the stakes
are high, with Amazon indicating it will create 50,000
high-tech jobs and spend $5 billion on construction.
Amazon used the word ‘incentive’ 21 times in its call
for bids.
In this EDA Journal article, Alex Lever-Shaw
discusses the importance of being able to use
financial incentives in order to attract investment.
“Do you need to have the ability to offer financial
incentives to be successful in this space? Simply put,
yes. However, the more accurate question is, do I
need to use financial incentives? The answer, maybe
not.” Alex presents a compelling argument for having
incentives ‘up your sleeve’ in orde r to get a seat at
the table but suggests that in the long-term, other
non-financial attributes may in fact be the deciding
factor in positioning your region competitively.
The article by Roger Gibbins and Sasha Lennon
highlights the importance of a holistic view when
assessing the value of infrastructure development,
such as a rural road project. The article presents
the example of the Strzelecki Track and presents
the true value of the productivity dividend delivered
to the regional economy. This article references
REMPLAN data which was used to evaluate and
articulate the wider economic benefit of that regional
road development. EDA and REMPLAN recently
partnered to provide a full suite of economic data for
EDA members. Access and analyses of quality data
helps EDA members identity risk and opportunity
and equips them to better understand the levers for
competitiveness. The REMPLAN profiles available
on the EDA website exclusively for members are
designed to help EDA members lift the performance
of economic development throughout Australia.
Thomas Devitt from Geografia provides a robust
thought piece presenting ways for regions to avoid
economic ‘leakage’.
Thanks to Peter Jeffrey and the team at Grant Guru
for summarising the funding opportunities presented
in the latest Federal Budget.
Once again, we hope you enjoy this EDA Journal
winter edition and if you would like further information
about any of EDA’s activities or initiatives, please
don’t hesitate to get in touch.
Kind regards,
Jacqueline Brinkman
CEO
Economic Development Australia
Ian Martinus and Bill Mallard both saw the scramble
to secure Amazon HQ2 first hand during their
respective visits to the US last year. Ian gives a
fascinating insight into his experience travelling to the
States as a recipient of the EDA Study Tour Program.
VOL.11 NO.1 2018 | 6