This article is a departure from the usual small business issues I write about – come to think about it, so was last week’s article. However the subject of this article is at the root of one of the key challenges we all face – business or otherwise. That is the issue of taxes and why it is so hard to make the decisions necessary to do anything about it.

I’m participating in a strategic planning review with the objective:

“Propose a model for a more coordinated and unified approach to economic development in Cumberland County. This model should improve and strengthen the collaboration among existing economic development organizations” and thereby, improve economic landscape of Cumberland County and its municipalities and communities.

Our committee formed in late February and we are to submit a final report late June. We have met every other week since the initial meeting in February – seven meetings in total, 6 to-date, averaging 1 ½ to 2 ½ hours each.
The committee of 24 (Yes, Twenty-four; can you see the challenge already?) charged with “thinking outside the box” for a new economic development model.

(This isn’t an apples-to-apples comparison, granted; however it will be interesting to note that Wright Express a $1.4 Billion company, has a total of 7 – SEVEN - members on their board of directors and only 7 (one who is also a director) Senior staff at the Executive level.)

Our committee members include:
4 – Private Sector
o Yours truly; solo-preneur and a company of 1.5 (on a good day)
o Small business owner with just over 20 employees
o Manager at a broadcasting firm.
o Hotel general manager

20(+ or -) Public / Government Sector
• Representatives from
o GPCOG (Greater Portland Council of Government),
o Westbook DECD (Dept of Economic and Community Development),
o Maine CED (Center for Enterprise Development),
o Maine SBDC (Small Business Development Center),
o SEDCO (Scarborough Economic Development Corp.),
o CVB (Convention & Visitors Bureau),
o SBA (Small Business Association)
…I could go on – but you get the idea.

Each of these organizations (and there are others not represented here) have important objectives relating in some way to economic development efforts for the state, a specific region or municipality of Maine. From looking at the above list you get the clear indication that duplicated efforts and redundancies probably exist. Doing a bit more research you’ll find this IS the case and a lack of coordination between theses organizations also exists.

These are very intelligent, strong willed and determined people trying to do the best for their municipality or region but they have a difficult time seeing the forest for their own trees.

Back to the committee: Here we all are in a room; 5 to 1 – public (the trees) to private. Continuing with the forest analogy, the objective this group has been given is to “prune the forest to clear away some of the trees to make it a more manageable, productive and attractive forest. A more attractive and healthy forest will support and grow a wider variety of healthy animal, vegetable and mineral.”

In effect, what most of the committee members are being asked to do is to put their own position, division and staff on the line in order to generate the discussions that need to take place in order to address consolidation, alignment of efforts and coordination. This hasn’t happened yet, but we’ve still got one more meeting to go. ...there's still hope.

This article mentions economic development, and no - this isn’t exclusively an ED issue, but a government issue in general. As professionals and small business owners, it is up to each of us to be aware of where our tax dollars go. If we don’t like it we should make our opinions known at the level that can effect change. And I suggest we get away from merely whining, griping and complaining - and educate ourselves about the situation well enough to offer suggested alternatives. Better yet, we should take the next step and make an effort to effect the change ourselves, which is what my thought was when participating on this committee.

Now, back to the committee; I DO have a suggestion – 2, in fact.

1) Put all the ED, ABC, GPCOG, DECD, SMED, CED, XYZ directors in a room and tell them they each have to cut the bottom line of their budget 15% while maintaining the same objective their full budget supported. To do so they will have to align with each other; partner and leverage each other’s resources and efforts. Then close the door and not let anyone out until they play nice and reach an agreement.

Or

2) Scrap this committee and form a smaller committee to address the same question. However this group will be comprised of equally intelligent and passionate individuals – however eliminate the “trees” on this first go-round of talks to get real “outside the box”…or forest ideas.

Regarding the trademark issue from the last article.... I'm going for option 2 - the letter approach. I'll keep you posted.

Until next time, Be BOLD. It's all about RESULTS and it all starts with a vision.

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