Regional Principals of Collaboration
We, as leaders in the eight-county region of Columbia, Dane, Dodge, Green, Iowa, Jefferson, Rock, and Sauk counties, acknowledge that the success of our region is based on a commitment to regional collaboration. Therefore, with this signing, we adopt the following principles to support our regional culture, sustainable growth and prosperity, and the highest quality of life for all residents.
Principles
• Competitiveness - Position this region, based on its assets, to successfully compete nationally and globally. We embrace competition, but we will refrain from disparaging or selling against our communities in the region.
• Equity - Act without bias or favoritism, focusing on what is best for the region. As part of this, we support economic opportunity and high quality of life for people of all backgrounds and skill levels.
• Regional Collaboration - Work across jurisdictions and sectors in recognition that our economy and our assets transcend those boundaries. We agree that our ability to compete globally is dependent on our ability to collaborate locally and as a region. We recognize that quality of life issues and economic development do not stop at community or county lines.
• Stewardship - Preserve our assets, unique places, infrastructure and natural resources because economic development and quality of life are inextricably linked. We know that our regional assets create economic opportunities for the region, and we will be stewards of those assets. We agree that economic prosperity means a high quality of life, and that quality of life fosters economic prosperity.
• Celebrate Unique Regional Assets - Identify, celebrate and market the unique assets of all counties and communities within the region. We recognize that the whole of our regional assets is greater than the sum of its parts, and that this is a competitive advantage for our region. We agree that eight counties means eight times the resources - and conversely, that one county alone can offer only a fraction of the possible assets.
• Focused Approach - Identify and strengthen specific, targeted economic development and quality of life efforts to greatly impact broader regional prosperity. We will focus our efforts on what is most effective, setting targets and priorities in our work for better results.
• Servant Leadership - Support, assist and leverage leadership and related work across the region for the betterment of the region. We will demonstrate our leadership by seeking out partnership and support roles that will allow us to move the region forward by enhancing and assisting existing efforts and leaders.
• Innovation - Seek innovative and creative ways to grow the region's economy in ways that preserve and enhance the quality of life. We acknowledge the competitive edge that innovation brings to this region, and will actively seek out creative solutions in our work.
• Transparency - Conduct work in a way that is open and accessible. We acknowledge the collaborative benefit and trust that comes from open communication.
• Measurement - Develop metrics to ensure progress. We will track our performance as a region, and we will use a common set of measurements to determine our progress.
Green County officials were part of an eight-county agreement to practice Regional Principals of Collaboration. Representatives from Green, Columbia, Dane, Dodge, Iowa, Jefferson, Rock and Sauk counties met Dec. 16 at Monona Terrace in Madison.
By signing, the county representatives agreed to work within a set of 10 principles for greater collaboration and a regional approach to economic development.
Green County signatories included Anna Schramke, executive director of the Green County Development Corporation (GCDC) and a member of the Collaboration Council; GCDC President Joe Hunter; Mike Sanders, GCDC board member; Nicolas Owens, New Glarus Village administrator; Paul Ziehli; Village of Belleville; and Village of New Glarus.
The Green County Development Corporation was the first county organization to adopt the principles.
Schramke said the GDCD has a board that thinks regionally.
"Green County's rich history, its natural resources and its people make it an ideal place to live, to work and to visit," Schramke said. "Our job in this difficult economy is to build upon those assets, so that we identify smart, sustainable ways to grow our economy. The Regional Principles make a lot of sense for us, and we look forward to working cooperatively on projects that will benefit us all."
By working within the principles, Schramke will direct new or prospective businesses that find Green County does not fit their needs to a neighboring county.
"My first responsibility is to Green County," Schramke said. "But my second is to have them not leave the region."
Theoretically, Green County's neighbors will do the same for it.
"We speak highly of our partners and we know who to talk to," Schramke said. "We do need to have the ability to talk as a region."
The Collaboration Council is a group of leaders from regional business, education, government and non-profits who meet twice annually to work on issues related to economic development and quality-of-life initiatives.
The Principles were developed by the Regional Economic Development Professionals Network, a group convened by Thrive, the region's economic development enterprise. Thrive is a public-private partnership that works in a model of economic development that grows the region's economy in ways that preserve and enhance quality of life by leveraging opportunities based on the region's unique assets.
"We will succeed by building upon our strengths as a region, leveraging our regional assets for focused, target sector development and a grow-your-own, entrepreneurial approach," said Thrive President Jennifer Alexander. "These Principles of Collaboration are a landmark step in building a regional culture and we are thrilled to be a part of this agreement along with all our regional partners."