An in-depth report on research into sustainable economic development just got posted at nuPOLIS.  The rigor and cutting edge research that is the hallmark of this network is evident on this seminal work.

Here’s the summary:

In a new report, Sustainable Economic Development, nuPOLIS partner James Nixon details the comprehensive approaches that that cities and regions are using to build sustainable green economies. The paper, developed for the newly launched nonprofit Urban Sustainability Associates consulting service, addresses what sustainable economic development is, why it matters, and how it is similar to and different from traditional economic development. It presents a set of sustainable economic development initiatives and programs for cities/regions, with descriptions of each initiative and program, along with possible delivery partners.

The heart of Nixon’s paper presents eight distinct Sustainable Economy Initiatives:

1. Cleantech Business Cluster: Encouragement of a cluster of businesses offering green products and services, such as energy, water, and/or resource efficiency; renewable energy; alternative transportation; and pollution/waste prevention and recycling.

2. Green Business: Improvement of the environmental and financial performance of existing firms.

3. Sustainable Real Estate Development: Promotion of walkable, mixed-use, mixed-income, transit-oriented real estate development – both infill and new communities.

4. Green Investment: Initiation of green investment vehicles to invest in green and clean tech businesses and sustainable real estate developments.

5. Green Jobs: Launch or strengthening of a system for green job development with green skills training training, career pathways, and green entrepreneurship to provide the workforce needed by green and clean tech businesses.

6. Green and Cleantech Business Attraction and Retention: Promotion of the city/region as an optimal place for green and clean tech businesses to start-up, locate, expand, and grow over the long term.

7. Green Underserved Communities: Connection of green and clean tech businesses and sustainable real estate developments led by people of color, women, and underserved communities with the appropriate business acceleration services and engagement of low- and moderate-income employees and residents in saving money through ecological efficiency.

8. Sustainability Community Engagement: Engagement of city/regional residents in understanding sustainability, participating in the process of building a sustainable economy, and making green purchasing decisions.

A total of 26 programs are described for implementing these initiatives.

The paper concludes with a discussion of how cities/regions can choose from the Sustainable Economy Initiatives and the Green Programs to create their own Sustainable Economic Development Strategies.