Category Archives: Economic Development Policy

My Podcast with SSTI – Ben Franklin wins National Entrepreneurial Capacity Builder of the Year 2012

Posted on April 4, 2013 by

  We were delighted to win this award last year and had a chance to talk about it with Phillip Battle of SSTI.  SSTI is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to improving government-industry programs that encourage economic growth through the … Continue reading →

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Ladies and Gentlemen…the Next President of the United States…Alexander Hamilton!

Posted on August 29, 2012 by

I woke up this morning from a dream which was set in the late 1700’s.  I believe it was 1796, because I was presenting to an enormous room full of people and the banners hanging declared “Welcome to the Federalist … Continue reading →

Posted in Commentary/Editorial, Economic Development Policy, Economic History Perspsective, Innovation and the World, Tech Based Economic Development | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Even In the Beginning, Entrepreneurs Created Jobs

Posted on August 8, 2012 by

I’m going to get right to the point of this blog post.  Sometimes, shocking information is best delivered in a no-nonsense, unapologetic manner.  So, I’m just going to hit you with this right now and I just don’t want you … Continue reading →

Posted in Commentary/Editorial, Economic Development Policy, Economic History Perspsective | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Entrepreneurship…Highway of the Future!

Posted on June 25, 2012 by

I’d like to suggest a new way for governments to look at seed stage technology company funding.   I’d like to suggest that state governments in particular think about funding seed stage tech companies in the same way that they … Continue reading →

Posted in Commentary/Editorial, Economic Development Policy, Economic History Perspsective, Tech Based Economic Development | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

What Erich Brenn Can Teach Us About Funding of Start-Ups

Posted on September 28, 2011 by

Who remembers Erich Brenn?  In these blog posts, I’ve occasionally tried to understand, and explain, the business world I see by comparing it to famous people you’ve probably never heard of.  We’ve previously talked about Don Ho and Jim Riggleman.  And … Continue reading →

Posted in Economic Development Policy, Just Kidding, Seed/Venture Capital, Tech Based Economic Development | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Don’t Bring Me Angel Investors…Bring Me Hero Investors

Posted on July 25, 2011 by

There is trouble in the town! In case you haven’t seen the headlines, let me deliver some bad news to you. You’re not going to like it, but it’s time you hear it too. The United States is no longer great … Continue reading →

Posted in Economic Development Policy, Innovation and the World, Seed/Venture Capital, Tech Based Economic Development | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Can Detroit Save America?

Posted on June 16, 2011 by

Everyone will have a different opinion, but in my opinion, the Chrysler Super Bowl advertisement highlighting Detroit and Eminem is the greatest commercial of all time.  I have spent many years working to make a small, urban industrial area more economically … Continue reading →

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Small Time Politics, Big Time Stakes

Posted on May 23, 2011 by

Twenty-some years ago, I was a young economic developer working in the City of Allentown, PA.  My job frequently took me to city council meetings where I was able to witness fishbowl politics at its worst.  There were plenty of … Continue reading →

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Patent Reform 2011 – A Sword with Two Very Sharp Edges (part 2)

Posted on April 27, 2011 by

In part 1 of my post last week on patent reform, I identified several ways in which the new Patent Reform bill (S.B. 23 and H.R. 1249) is better for big business than small business.  And I’m disappointed in that.  One big … Continue reading →

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Maryland stepping up…Follows Pennsylvania’s Time-Proven Strategy

Posted on April 25, 2011 by

I was somewhat disheartened to read in the Maryland Daily Record, that Maryland was moving ahead with a plan to invest $70 million in high tech start up firms.  Pennsylvania has long been a leader among states in that business.  … Continue reading →

Posted in Economic Development Policy, Tech Based Economic Development | Tagged , , , ,