As economic development practitioners for the past 15 years, we have watched incentives become more important to the day-to-day work of economic developers. This is true for communities small and large, rural and urban, with large economic development staffs and with volunteer leadership. We have developed Smart incentives because we believe that it is vital for economic development groups to have access to high-quality business intelligence, data and analytical tools in order to make the best decisions for their community.
Good Jobs First is the nation's leading resource center for grassroots groups and public officials seeking to make economic development incentives (we prefer to call them subsidies) more accountable and effective. We also promote smart growth and green jobs policies that benefit working families. We are based in Washington, DC and have an affiliate in New York.
The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program is a highly competitive program that encourages domestic small businesses to engage in Federal Research/Research and Development (R/R&D) that has the potential for commercialization. Through a competitive awards-based program, SBIR enables small businesses to explore their technological potential and provides the incentive to profit from its commercialization. By including qualified small businesses in the nation's R&D arena, high-tech innovation is stimulated and the United States gains entrepreneurial spirit as it meets its specific research and development needs.
"About
Donella Meadows founded our Institute in 1996 to apply systems thinking and organizational learning to economic, environmental and social challenges.
Mission
Shift mindsets - values, attitudes, and beliefs - when they are out of step with the realities of a finite planet and a globally powerful human race.
Restructure systems when the rewards and incentives of the system are inconsistent with long term social, environmental, and economic goals.
Build the capability to manage and learn in complex environmental, social, and economic systems."