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CONCLUSIONS <br />Based on its work with ETAC and staff research, the Council reached the <br />following conclusions: <br />o The Council currently has economic goals but no policies to implement <br />them. <br />a Businesses have fundamental needs in which governments can play or <br />currently are playing a role. Businesses need land, urban services, <br />financing and a reduction in the time government reviews take. <br />o Historically, the Twin Cities economy has been healthy and diversified. <br />However, the recent recession and the much talked about structural change <br />in the United States economy makes encouraging continued growth and <br />adaptation an important issue for regional planning. <br />o Most economic growth in urban areas comes from the expansion of existing <br />firms (large or small) or new starts. Small businesses are an important <br />source of new jobs. Attracting outside industries is not a major source <br />of new jobs. <br />o Financing can be a problem for all businesses when interest rates are <br />high, but it is almost always a problem for small, new businesses. The <br />problem, however, is national --not specific to Minnesota or the Twin <br />Cities. <br />ECONOMIC GOALS <br />Based on the work described above, the Council has re-examined the economic <br />goals contained in the Metropolitan Development Framework. The Council has <br />refined existing goals and added a new one on the economic climate. The <br />economic policies summarized in this document are intended to help achieve the <br />following goals. <br />To have a region by the year 2000 that has: <br />o Economic development that keeps pace with growth in the labor force and <br />enhances the Region"s standard of living --measured by growth in jobs, <br />income per household and tax base. <br />o High rankings nationally in education and income, and low rankings in <br />unemployment rates and in number of persons below poverty level. <br />o Opportunities for economic advancement for persons of all ages, races, <br />income, sex, training and educational background in the Region. <br />o A diverse regional economy strong enough to support high quality public <br />services and other Development Framework goals for the Region. <br />o A regional economic climate that encourages business development and <br />entrepreneurial activities. <br />o A strong agricultural economy in the Region"s rural area. <br />2 <br />