FooteNotes

We have all heard and read a lot about the proposed plan and Obama clearly laid out training/retraining as a platform during his campaign. But what do think is coming in 2009 in the area of training?

Seasons Greetings! This a perfect week to begin preparing to relax for the holidays! And as we relax over the next couple of weeks it will be a perfect time to reflect on the past year and prepare for 2009. Yes, of course the economy is bad, but new promise awaits in the new year, including … the Obama Plan

…with a public works element unseen in our lifetime…

…a new “Greening” like we’ve never seen before …

…workforce training/retraining that will make our heads spin!

Let’s all work together to rebuild this economy!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS & A PROPEROUS NEW YEAR from all of us at FCG, Deane

Friends: I enjoyed attending and presenting at the recent Mid-American Economic Development Council (MAEDC) in Chicago. Topics from a number of national specialists ranged from our future, to ways to be more competitive in economic development, to site selection. The mood was understandably somber due to our challenging economic crisis, however there was an underlining spirit of hope, which came out in a variety of ways, such as:

• Midwestern states are not as bad off of many of our east and west coast neighbors, for example unemployment trends are modest and in some cases (North Dakota) heading down!
• Data centers have been and will again, after a brief lull due to financing, be hot. Expect continued big investment from some of the big boys (Google and Microsoft), but also from single users, especially hospitals due to their huge data storage needs.
• Wind power and many other green projects will remain hot!
• Workforce availability may be better now due to layoffs… but don’t be lulled into a false sense of complacency (as I pointed out in the session regarding available labor). Some skills shortages still exist (probably a dozen community reps raised their hands when Futurist Ed Barlow asked which communities had shortages now) and will be back on a widespread basis again soon.
• Workforce “hope” was reinforced in the available labor session by Drew Conrad with the University of Northern Iowa and I. Communities that do proper workforce planning and, for example, conduct professional underemployment studies, are going to be better prepared for new project locations and expansions. Portions of this presentation will be posted on the website soon.

All in all, a very worthwhile session with great fellowship and networking. Keep up the good work, MAEDC! Check out more at www.maedc.net. Happy Holidays, Deane

To All You Sports Fans: I can’t resist gloating over my Oklahoma Sooners well deserved invitation to the National Championship Game in January versus the Florida Gators annouced tonight. Daughter Emily and I enjoyed watching the Missouri game together in Chicago last night and our hands hurt with so many “high fives”! Think about it, this is all good for the national economy and it gives us all a little time to forget about the worries of the world and just enjoy good, fun football! GO SOONERS! Deane