Our robust economy is dependent on partnerships

A thriving business community is the very base of a healthy economy. People need good jobs, which, in turn, help grow the tax base, greatly impacting the quality of life for all. Without a robust economy, all quality of life issues suffer.

The complexity of the issues we currently face demands that the business, government, education and nonprofit sectors work together.

Think about the kinds of things that need attention and solutions for this region to be competitive with regions across the nation - and for that matter, the world:

• Transportation
• Workforce preparation
• Housing

These issues require solutions that don't end at municipal boundaries and that don't fall in the jurisdiction of just one sector. A different approach to problem solving and planning is now required if we are to succeed.

These groups don't come naturally to the table together, and when they do come to the table, they don't stay there naturally.

Each has its own culture and language, with its own set of acronyms and nuances. Often they fail to understand the challenges the others face.

We are structured in a way that doesn't encourage or promote working outside or across these groups, and fails to recognize those areas where we share a common goal.

Two trends

Two trends have the attention of our leaders and demand a new way of solving problems and creating opportunities:

• First, this region is experiencing dramatic population growth. In the last 10 years the Capital Region saw a 9 percent increase in population while the state has experienced only a 5.5 percent growth rate. Dane County alone saw an 11 percent increase, adding 60,000 people to Dane county in a 10-year time period. That is like picking up Oshkosh and adding it to Dane County.
• The second trend is recognition that we are part of a global economy.

The old mindset was that Fitchburg was competing against Sun Prairie or that Middleton was competing with Madison or Verona.

To compete in a global economy we need to prepare the Capital Region to compete with regions across the nation and for that matter across the world.

In a region that prides itself in disagreeing, we find agreement around the vision of growing the economy in ways that preserve and enhance the quality of life.

Successful partnership

The establishment of the Department of Energy's Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center is a recent example of a successful partnership between local entrepreneurial companies including Lucigen Corp and C5-6 Technologies, federal and state governments and the university.

Hundreds of millions of dollars are being invested in this joint enterprise, which will be located on the UW-Madison campus, and whose goal is to develop energy independence.

Such new, enterprising partnerships that harness the strengths of each partner are a template for success.

Wherever we live, whatever our work, however we play, a healthy economy is enormously important to us all in the region.

We must all embrace a new spirit of innovation and cooperation to meet the challenges before us … so that we all may thrive.

Jennifer Alexander is president of the Regional Economic Development Entity (REDE).