Browsing by Subject "Economic development"

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Achieving System-Level, Transit-Oriented Jobs-Housing Balance: Perspectives of Twin Cities Developers and Business Leaders
(Center for Transportation Studies, University of Minnesota, 2013-08) Fan, Yingling; Guthrie, Andrew
Fully realizing the potential of the growing regional transit system will depend in large part on the actions of private-sector real estate developers and employers. With support from the Sustainable Communities Regional Planning grant awarded to the Council by HUD, the EPA and USDOT, researchers from the University of Minnesota's Humphrey School of Public Affairs conducted a series of conversations with Twin Cities developers and business executives aimed at developing strategies for attracting a wide range of affordable housing choices and living-wage jobs to transit station areas. The research approach centered on in-depth, open-ended interviews with developers and business leaders. Questions focused on primary site selection factors, the role of transportation/transit access in site selection and how that role might change as the regional transitway system matures. Interview transcripts were analyzed through both close readings by the research team and content analysis using the NVivo software package. The research found significant, pent-up demand for transit accessible locations along with significant obstacles to actually selecting them, including automobile-centric development regulations, the lack of zoning allowing TOD's to be built by right, and a need for employers to continue meeting current employees' automotive access needs while preparing for future employees' transit access demands. Policy recommendations include encouraging public-private sector communication, especially with types of developers and employers that demonstrate strong interest in transit access, promoting diverse, walkable neighborhoods in and out of transitway corridors, promoting diverse affordable housing options by allowing consideration of transportation savings possible with transit and accelerating the development of high-quality local and regional transit.
Best Types of Commodity Flow Data for Freight, Railroad, and Ports and Waterways Studies
(Minnesota Department of Transportation, 2023-02) Fonseca, Camila; Zeerak, Raihana; Napoline, Kimberly; Zhao, Jerry
The understanding of freight movement is critical to economic development and competitiveness and to make decisions regarding the transportation system. Despite the increased interest in freight planning and modeling, freight data are limited in availability and granularity, and the existing sources are incomplete or outdated. This research analyzes various types of public and proprietary freight databases to determine which are most helpful for planning, programming, and designing future infrastructure on the truck, rail, air, and waterway networks within Minnesota and surrounding states. There are some comprehensive multimodal freight databases that provide different levels of data granularity. These are typically complemented with other data sources that are specific to a transportation mode. We also interview stakeholders involved in freight planning in Minnesota to identify data gaps and capture current and future data needs. Important needs include (i) mode specific freight data, especially for waterways and ports and air freight; (ii) equity considerations in freight transportation; and (iii) understanding the relationship between freight transportation and climate change. Additional freight data are much needed overall to inform economic development and funding prioritization, as well as to evaluate and minimize supply chain disruptions.
Cook County Plan - Guiding Principles
(1997) Cook County
This document contains 87 points that govern planning and economic development for Cook County. A sense of balance is emphasized in implementing the plan, recognizing that some points may be in conflict with each other.
Cook County Plan - Implementation
(1997) Cook County
This pdf contains pages 42-55 of the 1997 county plan. It is a sort of primer, listing and briefly describing a number of tools and instruments that might be used by Cook County to implement its plan. These include ordinances, design reviews, public health codes, zoning and other techniques.
Cook County Plan - The Future Cook County
(1997) Cook County
This document gave a clear vision in 1997 of how citizens want the Highway 61 corridor and the City of Grand Marais to appear in the year 2015. The proximity of Lake Superior, preservation of coastal wetlands, management of septic systems, and an undeveloped feel to Highway 61 reflect deep connectivity to water and forested habitat in the region.
Economic Development Impacts of Bus Rapid Transit
(Center for Transportation Studies, University of Minnesota, 2016-01) Guthrie, Andrew; Fan, Yingling
Bus rapid transit (BRT) will play an increasingly important role in the Twin Cities transit system in the future. A key aim of transit corridor investments is improving access to jobs, particularly jobs for which disadvantaged workers are likely to be qualified. Transit improvements enhance job access by shortening journey times, but the greatest possible accessibility benefits require station-area job growth that is not restricted to central business districts. This research compares job growth within one half mile of new light rail and bus rapid transit stations implemented in the Twin Cities and peer regions between 2003 and 2010, broken down by sector are wage categories. Fixed transit infrastructure (light rail tracks or BRT dedicated guideways), total street mileage in station areas, proximity to central business districts and overall regional economic strength are associated with more station-area jobs. Policy recommendations include building a strong corridor identity for arterial BRT lines, proactive job growth promotion efforts along BRT lines in general and a continued focus on social and racial equity concerns.
The effects of transport infrastructure on regional economic development: A simulated spatial overlapping generations model with heterogenous skill
(Journal of Transport and Land Use, 2012) Tikoudis, Ioannis; Sundberg, Marcus; Karlström, Anders
As a result of public investment, lower freight transport costs tend to translate into lower local price indices and are associated with equilibria characterized by higher output and consumption. In this paper we investigate an additional effect to these trade gains, namely the gains from better spatial matching in the labor market. We simulate a two-region Spatial OLG model in which agents are heterogeneous in terms of skill. Under repeated simulation experiments, we show that, for high household relocation frictions, the possibility of interregional commuting can be seen as an alternative way to realize the potential matching effects. For high levels of skill heterogeneity and a plausible parametric input, a steady state in which labor matching is realized through commuting can be associated with up to 10% higher per capita output, compared to the one with homogenous labor, in which only gains from trade are feasible.
Essays on the Microeconomics of Development in Tanzania
(2016-05) McCarthy, Aine
This dissertation contributes to a growing body of research on the microeconomics of development in Sub-Saharan Africa. Fertility, labor market participation and agriculture are key components of the microeconomic development process in Tanzania. I explore household and individual decisions in all three of these domains in Tanzania through economic analysis and impact evaluation. Both experimental and non-experimental impact evaluations improve the public understanding of what works in economic development. For the first essay in Chapter 2, I explore household fertility decisions by estimating the effect of a community family planning education program on fertility behavior in the Meatu District. In Chapter 3, I investigate the effects of an entrepreneurship training program on financial literacy and employment attitudes in the Kagera region. In Chapter 4, I analyze the impact of polygyny on agricultural productivity in farming households across the country.
Executive Summary - Cook County Economic Analysis
(2007) Cook County Planning Commission
This document analyzes various human and economic development indicators and in general is a well-documented and well-written report. However, there is little mention of public or private use of water resources or other natural resources except for tourism. Key points are reproduced below: "Decades' long declines in logging, fishing and mining have made Cook County a one-factory community, and that factory is tourism. Tourism accounts for over 80% of the economy, making Cook County more dependent on tourism, by far, than any other Minnesota county. Until the late 1990s, tourism continued to grow, propelling growth in employment and sales. Due to a lack of resources to invest in relevant public infrastructure or broaden tourism beyond snow-based recreation activities during the seven month low season (mid-October through mid-June), the economy of Cook County has stagnated and become highly seasonal. Lodging visitation, the engine of tourism in Cook County, has not grown since 1999, resulting in parallel stagnation at restaurants, bars, retail shops, recreation facilities and other businesses. The total dollars flowing through the economy fall to 35% to 55% of peak summer sales levels from mid-October through mid-June. This economic weakness affects the entire County. Businesses are forced to take out credit lines to survive. Too few year-round positions with benefits are available, and seasonal unemployment is high. The County has been unable to attract or retain younger workers or families, or provide adequate housing, public transportation or other community infrastructure." This report gives a concise history of settlement in the area. Little or no mention is made of pre-settlement or current Native American use of the county. Focus is on the seasonality of tourism, with policy recommendations for economic development and investment.
Impacts of the Hiawatha Light Rail Line on Commercial and Industrial Property Values in Minneapolis
(Center for Transportation Studies, University of Minnesota, 2010-06) Ko, Kate; Cao, Xinyu (Jason)
Metropolitan Council has proposed a network of dedicated transitways in its 2030 Transportation Policy Plan to coordinate transportation and land use development and ultimately manage congestion. Since transitways require substantial funding from federal, state, and local governments, the public is interested in knowing if transitway investments bring about meaningful economic benefits to local communities. In this report, we analyzed the impact of proximity to Hiawatha light rail line stations on sales prices for commercial and industrial properties. We applied a linear hedonic pricing model on the 2000-2008 sales data spanning before and after completion of the line (2004). We expect the findings will illuminate questions about light rail transit’s economic benefits. They can provide evidence for transit agencies to justify transitway investments and address concerns of local developers and lenders regarding economic benefits of transitways.
The Impacts of Transportation Investment on Economic Growth in the Twin Cities
(Center for Transportation Studies, University of Minnesota, 2016-06) Cao, Jason; Iacono, Michael; Levinson, David; Cui, Mengying
The transportation system plays a critical role in fostering economic growth. Although previous studies have shed light on the impacts of transportation investments, their results are not readily adapted to predicting economic impacts of individual transportation projects. This study aimed to (1) investigate the impacts of transportation investments on economic growth (wages and employment) in the Twin Cities and (2) develop a method that practitioners can apply to predict economic growth resulting from investments in individual projects (as well as disinvestments). The capacity of such predictions is critical for the economy of the Twin Cities because transportation infrastructure lasts for decades once built. The method is expected to be used by practitioners of planning, programming, and finance at MnDOT and DEED, as well as at the Metropolitan Council. This study contributes to the base of knowledge by offering new empirical evidence on intra-urban patterns of agglomeration based on small-scale geographic data on job density from the Twin Cities. Our findings indicate that in general urbanization effects tend to dominate localization effects across a range of industries.
Insight in a Quagmire: Leveraging Societal Factors in Transportation Research
(Minnesota Department of Transportation, 1995-12) DeCramer, Gary
This paper is a story of a search for research that pays off. There is a common assumption that investment in transportation infrastructure brings economic returns. Sometimes those returns are exaggerated; sometimes those returns are double counted; sometimes those returns do not happen; sometimes society is worse off. There is great interest in justifying public infrastructure expenditures in the name of economic development. This paper explores how can we prevent transportation/economic development research from becoming a mound of exaggerated benefit claims by demonstrating how and why we can keep from relegating societal impacts to a sinking bog. The paper recommends research which tells a more accurate story of the linkage between economic development and transportation investment.
Iron Range Fiscal Disparities Study
(2014) Minnesota Department of Revenue
This document examines disparities in the property tax base in counties and townships across Minnesota’s Iron Range communities, including coastal regions in the Sea Grant study area. There is no mention of water resources in this document, with the exception of cabins. Key points are reproduced below. “The concept of sharing commercial, industrial, and utility property tax base among the jurisdictions of a region is called “fiscal disparities.” This study examines the fiscal disparities in the Iron Range in northern Minnesota. The Iron Range Fiscal Disparities (IFRD) program, established in 1996, was set up to share commercial-industrial tax-base in the region known as the ‘taconite assistance area.’ Taconite assistance area tax base and Fiscal Disparities program have grown since 2001. Since 2001 the taconite assistance area has experienced tax base growth at twice the rate of the state as a whole (80% and 42% respectively). At the same time the area’s population has been unchanged while the state’s population has grown by 8%. Strong growth in commercial, industrial and utility values have caused the Iron Range Fiscal Disparities tax base sharing pool to grow by almost 600% since 2001. The amount of the area’s total tax base in the fiscal disparities pool is 3.7%, up from 1% in 2001.”
Northeast Minnesota Economic Development District Midpoint Progress Report
(2014) Arrowhead Regional Development Commission
This is essentially a brief summary and status report of Northeast Minnesota Economic Development District projects. The projects include the Minnesota Woody Biomass Thermal Energy Team; Hazard Mitigation Planning; Go Cook County; Koochiching County- International Falls Economic Adjustment Assistance; Northern Aero Alliance; Two Harbors Planning; Hermantown Planning; Tourism Cluster and Scenic Byways; and Minnesota Association of Development Organizations and Greater Minnesota Development Strategy. While these individual projects undoubtedly have impacts on coastal waters and people, there is not enough detail in this report to draw any conclusions about their nature.
Northeast Minnesota Industry Cluster Study
(2001) Munnich, Lee W; Chatfield, Nathan; Schrock, Greg; Lichty, Richard W; McIntosh, Chris; Wittrock, Tiana
This major study explored factors contributing to the economic competitiveness of northeastern Minnesota communities and counties. It has a strong focus on economic and industrial development. The study focuses on four “clusters”: forest products, tourism, health services and information technology. The first two clusters are assumed to require an adequate supply of water, and are assumed to greatly influence the quality and quantity of water available for multiple uses. Summary: "This regional study sought to understand the issues shaping the competitiveness of Northeast Minnesota’s industry clusters. The study follows the Michael Porter 'industry cluster' approach to understanding competitiveness. The project identified four clusters for the region: 1) forest products, 2) tourism, 3) health services, and 4) information technology. Focus groups and individual interviews with local business leaders and economic development professionals offered insight into the industries. The study region encompassed a twelve-county area of northeastern Minnesota that centered on the city of Duluth (St. Louis County). Also included are Aitkin, Carlton, Chisago, Cook, Isanti, Itasca, Kanabec, Koochiching, Lake, Mille Lacs, and Pine Counties.”
Population, Economy, Land Use: Lake Superior Basin Water Quality Management Plan Non-Metro Minnesota Portion
(1974-06) Arrowhead Regional Development Commission
This report examines the population, economy, and land use in the Minnesota non-metropolitan part of the Lake Superior Basin. Its objective is to evaluate existing land use problems and proposed development plans and socio-economic forecasts in terms of their relationships to water quality and water resources so that these plans and forecasts can be modified, if necessary, to correlate with water quality related considerations. The report also incorporates information on the area's hydrology and water quality and the status of wastewater treatment facilities. This is intended to provide a frame of reference for estimating future wastewater treatment needs, their costs, staging and priorities. Other objectives of the report are to identify the trends and parameters of growth; to identify the water quality implications of existing development patterns and trends; to identify development issues and conflicts; all to provide a basis for the continuing water quality plan and strategy for the Region.
Real Estate Development in Anticipation of the Green Line Light Rail Transit in St. Paul
(Center for Transportation Studies, University of Minnesota, 2015-11) Cao, Jason; Porter, Dean
Although previous studies have extensively explored the impacts of rail transit on economic development after its opening, few have examined its impact on real estate development before its opening. Using building permit data from the city of St. Paul, this study investigates the effects of key announcements of the Green Line light rail transit (LRT) by employing location quotient analysis and difference-in-difference models to compare building activity in the LRT corridor and control corridors. We found that the announcement of preliminary engineering had no impacts on the count and value of building permits, whereas the announcement of Full Funding Grant Agreement tended to increase the number of building permits by about 30% and the value by 80%. We concluded that in addition to LRT investment, proactive land use planning policies, public subsidies, and public funded projects are important contributors to building activity.
Source, Fall 2010
(University of Minnesota Extension, 2010) University of Minnesota Extension
Source, Fall 2013
(University of Minnesota Extension, 2013) University of Minnesota Extension
Spatiotemporal effects of proximity to metro extension on housing price dynamics in Manhattan, New York City
(Journal of Transport and Land Use, 2021) Guan, ChengHe; Tan, Mark Junjie; Peiser, Richard
Investment in public transportation such as a metro line extension is often capitalized partially into housing values due to the spatiotemporal effects. Using housing transaction data from 2014 to 2019, this paper studies the Second Avenue Subway or Q-line extension in New York City’s Manhattan borough. Multiple metro station catchment areas were investigated using spatial autocorrelation-corrected hedonic pricing models to capture the variation of housing price dynamics. The results indicate that properties in closer proximity to the Q-line extension received higher price discounts. The effect varied by occupancy type and building form: condominiums experienced the highest price discount, while walk-up and elevator co-ops experienced a price premium. After controlling for location variations, we observed price discounts on the westside and price premiums on the eastside of the Q-line. Residential properties within 150 m west to the Q-line extension received the highest price discount post operation, while on the eastside, properties in the same proximity received the highest price premium. The anticipation effect varies by distance to metro extension stations, both before and after the operation of metro line extension. We discuss the disruption of metro construction on the housing market depending on housing type, location variation, and changes over time.

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