In reviewing some of this weekend's newspapers and events, needless to say, more troubling news complicates efforts to identify "the best way forward" for urban revitalization in Hartford and elsewhere. The latest trends that 4,000 more jobs were lost In recent weeks in Connecticut, and several thousand state employees being at risk of layoffs, strikes Hartford particularly hard.
As part of a national trend, urban communities, such as Hartford, which rely heavily on public sector jobs continue to be hard hit by the economy. Part of the trend has been the huge shift in the past 50 years from manufacturing jobs to public sector jobs.
Already adversely impacted by the loss of much of its old industrial economic engine, and now faced with a steady erosion of public sector investments -- what is the best way forward for Hartford?
Given the impending national debt ceiling resolution, it is likely that this trend of significant cuts to the public sector will continue. These trends coupled with a real estate quagmire, low consumer confidence, continued high energy costs -- what becomes "the best way forward?"
At least a portion of "the best way forward," most likely lies in renewed and increased attention to basic community economic development that is more highly focused on investing in basic human capital: education, innovation, job training, mass transit, local housing development, and buying/purchasing locally." While clearly top attention must continue to be given to public safety and reducing the homicide rate and addressing basic human needs (the safety net), the long term community economic development agenda and strategies for Hartford must be given further prioritization and sustained with increased attention to Hartford's human development.
Indeed, the Capital City 's local community economic development projects are showing signs of progress. As just an example or two of such efforts are Hartford Area Habitat for Humanity and Rebuilding Together, and combined with the progress made by the groups affiliated with Hartford's Neighborhood Development Support Collaborative and Hartford Housing Authority (to name a few) continue to seed homeownership and affordable housing opportunities. Other examples of local community economic development efforts include the investment in local artisans through the Arts Stimulus Projects, and growing numbers of civic activists developing open farm markets; while at the same time seeing the growth of community asset projects such as Billings Forge Community Works, Veeder Place, Swift Factory and other urban revitalization efforts -- all showing strong evidence that there is a resurgence in Hartford where many area residents are working hard transforming Hartford's neighborhoods. (These are just a few of many other examples that can be shown).
The best way forward for Hartford will be an increasing reliance on building its own capacity through the City's One City One Plan strategies. Recent efforts to target more resources at community development strategies will increase this momentum (see previous posting). Efforts to enhance the mass transit strategies for a busway to New Britian and a communter line to New Haven, New York and Springfield -- and continuing to build out housing markets in the core city must be sustained and grown. Progress with Hartford's schools, coupled with enhanced educational and job training opportunities demonstrate the "best way forward," out of the debilitating economic distress that has impacted so many.
While this is just a segment of a more comprehensive approach, it is becoming increasingly evident that reliance on broad investments from the federal and state government for Hartford's revitalization will be more limited in the immediate future, and the need to give high priority attention to supporting local community self-determination and community economic development must be a priority.
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