Marin Independent Journal
The Marin Economic Forum has done reports on local development projects, including the proposed RH showroom in Corte Madera. (Rendering courtesy of Restoration Hardware/Town of Corte Madera)
Achieving that goal has been hit and miss thanks to turnover of the forum’s top management, the forum’s low profile and, in some cases, local leaders’ lack of interest in seeking out the forum’s advice.
The forum has done some fine work, although it could do a lot more to promote its reports to the general public.
For instance, the forum has done reports on increasing the role — and revenue — of the county-run Marin Center, opportunities for Sausalito’s Marinship area, the economic impact of Marin General Hospital, the local economic benefits of reviving the long-closed Novato Theater, building an RH showroom at the Village at Corte Madera and the potential for Novato to become a Bay Area hub for life sciences businesses.
The facts and findings presented in these reports deserve wider distribution. There also are many other local issues where a look at the potential economic ramifications deserve to be considered.
The number of jobs a business could provide and the amount of public revenue it could generate should be factors in local decisions. Other issues may override them, depending on specific circumstances, but they should be known during the process and the forum should help make sure that happens.
Over the past several years, the forum’s production has lagged, mostly because it has had trouble keeping a CEO. The recent hiring of Robin Sternberg is an opportunity to move the forum forward with a clearer focus on promoting economic issues and awareness — and not just to local businesses or politicians.
Obviously, rebuilding businesses’ financial backing of the forum has to be one of Sternberg’s top priorities, but that should be helped by increasing community awareness about the forum’s work and role.
The county’s recent approval of an advance of $100,000 is a good investment in the economic health of the community. In many jurisdictions, economic development is a governmental department or division.
In Marin, the forum was started as a public/private partnership, recognizing that business participation in the funding and in shaping its role and work is vital to its success and influence.
With new leadership, the forum is in the process of rebuilding its financial foundation. County support for this process and its future work is a wise use of public funds.
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