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Economic Development

Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research

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Full-Text Articles in Business

Strengthening The Southern Nevada Workforce Pipeline, Katie M. Gilbertson May 2022

Strengthening The Southern Nevada Workforce Pipeline, Katie M. Gilbertson

Student Research

Workforce development has been a keystone in the discussion of economic diversification of Las Vegas for decades. The leisure and hospitality industry is the lifeline for the Southern Nevada economy due to the reliance on tourism as the city’s main economic driver. The leisure and hospitality industry requires physical labor and more face-to-face customer interaction than other employment sectors. Thus, these jobs often do not require high educational attainment, but rather sharp soft skills like effective listening, nonverbal communication, and negotiation strategies. While these are valuable traits, the lack of educational attainment within the leisure and hospitality workforce suppresses employees’ …


Examining The Use Of Focus Groups In Economic Development Initiatives, Oscar T. Mcknight, Ronald Paugh, Brian Nestor, Shawn Yambor Mar 2012

Examining The Use Of Focus Groups In Economic Development Initiatives, Oscar T. Mcknight, Ronald Paugh, Brian Nestor, Shawn Yambor

Oscar T McKnight Ph.D.

City officials often use focus groups in economic development. However, findings indicate that group dynamics can threaten validity when seeking consensus. Data suggest a strong rebound effect for participants to return to their earlier pre-focus group assessment beliefs. Introduced is the ‘BUCKS’ Planning Model for facilitating city economic development initiatives.


A Primer For Economic Development Directors And Other Social Entrepreneurs: Using 'Cash' As A Management Practice, Oscar T. Mcknight, Ronald Paugh, Aaron Mcknight, Melinda Belden Mar 2011

A Primer For Economic Development Directors And Other Social Entrepreneurs: Using 'Cash' As A Management Practice, Oscar T. Mcknight, Ronald Paugh, Aaron Mcknight, Melinda Belden

Oscar T McKnight Ph.D.

City and community oficials are responsible for developing and sustaining economic growth. This research focuses on Best Practices Cities - those with current and predicted economic growth above the national average - and the specific management practices that are responsible for such growth. The CASH model is presented to assist city planners and other social entrepreneurs in their economic development initiatives.


Strategic Marketing For Economic Development: A Comparative Study, Megan Polak, Oscar T. Mcknight, Ronald Paugh Feb 2011

Strategic Marketing For Economic Development: A Comparative Study, Megan Polak, Oscar T. Mcknight, Ronald Paugh

Oscar T McKnight Ph.D.

This study surveyed economic development directors from 118 cities from within the continental United States. The research concern was their strategic economic development plan. Electronic surveys asked participants to identify strategic components of their economic development plan; first, by intent of focus and second by rank-order. Designated areas of economic development included: Retail, Commercial, Residential or Industrial. In addition, the survey inquired as to their planned marketing communication channel and expected reach (i.e. footprint). Findings suggested that most cities were seeking to promote "all areas equally" - industrial development surfaced as the area of economic development listed with the highest …


Marketing To Entrepreneurs, Site Selectors And Relocation Professionals: An Action Plan For Community Economic Development, Oscar T. Mcknight, Ronald Paugh, Aaron Mcknight, Megan Polak Mar 2010

Marketing To Entrepreneurs, Site Selectors And Relocation Professionals: An Action Plan For Community Economic Development, Oscar T. Mcknight, Ronald Paugh, Aaron Mcknight, Megan Polak

Oscar T McKnight Ph.D.

Community officials offer an array of incentives to stimulate local business growth, unaware of the salient criteria that determine location decisions. An analysis of proprietary research reports and site selector feasibility studies indicates specific criteria that are universally evaluated, nine of which undermine economic development initiatives. An ‘ACTION’ plan is provided to assist city planners’ efforts in appealing to site selection professionals.


Marketing Entrepreneurship From Within: A "City-Type" Strategy For Economic Development, Oscar T. Mcknight, Ronald Paugh, Jeremiah Trein Dec 2008

Marketing Entrepreneurship From Within: A "City-Type" Strategy For Economic Development, Oscar T. Mcknight, Ronald Paugh, Jeremiah Trein

Oscar T McKnight Ph.D.

Too often city officials seek external expertise in advancing economic development initiatives when significant economic opportunities may exist internally. This research examines the relationship between “city-type” and entrepreneurial aspirations of its residents. A “START-UP” strategy that combines internal and external initiatives for the marketing of economic development is provided.