For the second year in a row, the Brookings-Rockefeller Project on State and Metropolitan Innovation identified the Top 10 State and Metropolitan Innovations to Watch—actions undertaken by states and metropolitan areas in 2012 that seem ripe for meaningful impact in 2013 and beyond, as well as for replication by other communities. (See our 2012 Innovations to Watch and a recap of their progress in the last year.) Looking across the country, we find a nation teeming with smart, pragmatic solutions to national economic challenges: meeting a national goal of doubling exports, bolstering innovative industries, cracking the code on low carbon, growing a skilled workforce and increasing opportunity, and strengthening collaborative governance.
These innovations in policy and practices show that American problem solving does not rely exclusively on the machinations of the federal government. More than any other nation, we devolve ample powers and responsibilities to states and metropolitan areas that, in turn, smartly share governing with leaders in the corporate, civic, university and environmental sectors. View the related opinion.
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The world is rapidly urbanizing and industrializing, with global demand increasingly coming from abroad: three-quarters of the fastest-growing metropolitan economies in 2012 were located in developing Asia, Latin America, the Middle East and Africa. The top 100 US metropolitan areas produced almost 65 percent of U.S. goods and services exports in 2010.
More information: Export Nation 2012, Global Metro Monitor 2012
Metro Innovation
In 2012, Portland, Oregon joined the ranks of metros stepping up to help realize the Obama administration's goal of doubling exports. (We highlighted Los Angeles last year.) Portland is already one of the nation's leading export economies, with a $21.3 billion export sector that accounts for 18 percent of the metro area's economic output, third among the 100 largest U.S. metros.
Beginning in 2011, Mayor Sam Adams and the Portland Development Commission—in partnership with regional business, economic development and university leaders—conducted a market assessment to better understand the region's economic strengths, global position, and opportunities for growth. The analysis revealed a strong computer and electronics sector (which accounts for more than half of regional exports) and vibrant but under-exporting sectors like clean-tech and software.
In light of these market findings, Greater Portland Inc., a regional economic development organization, took the lead on coordinating the implementation of an export plan aligned with regional economic development strategies. A diverse coalition of government, business, and non-profit leaders worked together to create a full-fledged Greater Portland Export Initiative Business Plan with the goal of doubling regional exports. Under leadership of executives from the Metro Council and Intel, the region is pursuing strategies to deliver this growth, including doubling down on existing advantages in the computer and electronics sector, boosting exports at under-exporting companies, providing expertise for small and medium firms who do not yet export, and through the creation of a "We Build Green Cities," brand to leverage the region's clean economy exports to a rapidly-urbanizing world.
More information: Portland Business Journal: Portland export plan includes marketing, mentoring, Greater Portland Export Plan, Portland Metro Export Profile
Note: Brookings advised on the creation and implementation of the Greater Portland Export Plan.
State Innovation
Due to its location, Florida houses critical freight hubs and is the United States' gateway to Latin America. In the coming years, as Latin American and Caribbean economies grow and the Panama Canal expansion is completed, this gateway position will become even more valuable. Florida's 15 ports have begun preparing for this future. The Port of Miami, for example, which is responsible for 5 percent of all U.S. trade by value with Latin America, has made a range of investments. The port is pursuing more than $1 billion in improvements to increase freight capacity with a new tunnel and intermodal exchange upgrades, funded through public-private partnerships. In addition, the port is planning a deep dredge project (to accommodate the larger ships coming through the Panama canal) at a cost of $180 million, which could be paid for primarily with port, county, and state funds.
Building on the state's smart decision to prioritize investments in the Port of Miami, Governor Rick Scott established the Office of Freight Logistics and Passenger Operations (FLP) in 2012, to direct and manage all of the state’s strategic infrastructure investments in coordination with regional freight representatives. By aligning infrastructure systems across the state through Florida's Strategic Intermodal System and the state's first ever Freight Mobility and Trade Plan, the FLP can consider the entire state's freight interests rather than those of individual ports and intermodal centers. Instead of dividing money based on geographic equity the state can now select projects that will deliver the greatest economic return on investment. And by working with the Florida Chamber of Commerce, the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, Enterprise Florida, and Workforce Florida, FLP can help use Florida's transportation assets to build strong industry clusters and work toward the state's goal of doubling Florida-origin exports by 2015.
More information: Florida Office of Freight Logistics and Passenger Operations, Florida Freight Mobility and Trade Plan, A Statewide Roundtable: Goods Movement & the Global Economy