For the third consecutive year, the issue of economic growth and revitalization of a collection of communities in and around Fort Worth was the topic of discussion at an economic development summit in the lower half of District 26. Business and community leaders, elected officials, municipal stakeholders and interested citizens gather to share and gain knowledge, to establish working relationships and to develop realistic and sustainable goals in a cooperative community effort.

The initiative, now called the Renaissance Communities Economic Development Summit, originated in 2005 when Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. examined local economic development trends and noticed an uneven pattern of growth where a number of communities were not capitalizing on a strong period of urban renewal. While these communities, situated in the lower half of District 26, had started to address the challenge independently, the initiative began to help coordinate and leverage those efforts.

The 2007 Renaissance Communities Economic Development Summit continued the commitment to develop the communities in the area, while recognizing the unique character and needs of each neighborhood in the process. It highlighted education, workforce development, and comprehensive urban planning approaches as the primary means of achieving long-term economic stability.

Synthesizing all of the numerous recommendations at the summit, participants expressed consensus to pursue actions for economic revival that address multiple problems in education, employment, and economic development simultaneously. Presentations and discussions centered around three themes: Transportation and Urban Villages, Workforce Development through Business and Education, and Comprehensive Economic Development. Over the course of the summit, each theme comprised several useful approaches to stimulating economic growth, with some favoring residential and commercial investment over other priorities such the necessity of having a skilled workforce. Yet, overall, residential and commercial investments are correlated with the workforce because it is the workforce that influences certain investments and quality of life. Furthermore, a plentiful workforce depends on accessible, affordable, and quality education.

In assessing the various recommendations, one fundamental recommendation from each theme functions as the first step to spur economic development. In Workforce recommendations, many prioritized investing in the education sector—from the individual to the public level—both financially and personally throughout K-12, establishing a cooperative spirit to improve the infrastructure, access and affordability through economic legislation, specifically, for example, through the current Bond proposal. Because education is fundamental for economic growth, a priority of personal and economic investment must be committed. Of all the Transportation and Urban Villages recommendations, the most fundamental that forms as the basis for all others, demands that an overall regional urban planning policy incorporate initiatives that collectively attract economic investment. Moreover, as was maintained by several speakers, that any economic investment through redevelopment incorporate smart growth strategies to create memorable, mixed-income, safe places that balance the needs of regional transportation and the local character and quality of life of Texas communities. This balance, properly calibrated, optimizes property value, which always encourages future investments. Optimizing property value and quality of life demands a dual approach of pursuing prudent urban planning.

One approach focuses on product, which ensures that the Renaissance communities create places for people to enjoy life in neighborhoods, not “collector roads” that over-accommodate automobiles at the expense of walkable, safe, and pleasant neighborhoods. The second approach focuses on process, which ensures that the Renaissance communities pursue an inclusive participatory process of the community that helps to reduce crime, support zoning codes that support the urban village model, comprehensive planning research methods, as well as catalysts that implement enlightened redevelopment with government sponsored economic incentives.

Similar to previous years, the Summit enjoyed a broad level of consensus among participants and reports of progress are becoming increasingly frequent. However, as was noted by more than one speaker, the real progress comes from the work being done in the community throughout the year – urging all parties to remain committed and active to the goals and spirit of the Summit.

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