ST. PAUL, Minn. — Leading economic development expert Dr. Jerry Paytas will discuss Regional Competitiveness: Best Practices and Lessons Learned at the 12th Annual Minnesota Development Conference “Harnessing Minnesota’s Ingenuity” on September 26, 2007.
Paytas, Director of Research at GSP Consulting, is a nationally-recognized economic development expert known best for his research and insight into regional economic opportunities and challenges. His work has been published both nationally and internationally by agencies such as the United States Economic Development Administration, the Brookings Institution and Urban Affairs Review.
“I am looking forward to discussing best practices in economic development with development professionals from across Minnesota at this important conference,” Paytas said. “It is great to see states taking a proactive role in expanding their economic development potential and I am honored to be presenting.”
Held at the Northland Inn in Brooklyn Park, St. Paul, attendees of the Minnesota Development Conference, will hear Paytas present findings from the GSP Consulting Economic Architecture (EA) study titled Falling off the Bandwagon: Best and Worst Practices in State and Regional Economic Development, completed in May 2007. The Economic Architecture practice at GSP is one of three growing focus areas at the Pittsburgh-based consulting firm. Paytas and fellow Economic Architecture consultants use a unique three-phase consulting model to design, build and implement economic development initiatives for communities and organizations. With experts such as Practice Director Rich Overmoyer who served as Deputy Secretary in Pennsylvania’s Department of Community and Economic Development and Paytas who led an economic development think-tank at Carnegie Mellon University, the EA practice is a sought-after authority on cutting-edge economic development trends and strategies.
“We started the Economic Architecture practice in 2006 with the notion that economic development consulting should be more than just giving our client a report. We go beyond the findings and present an action plan that is realistic and executable,” said Overmoyer. “Our approach is distinctively different, but based on the positive market response we’ve received and the success our clients have achieved, we know it works. Dr. Paytas is looking forward to sharing our insights, expertise and success stories at the Minnesota Development Conference.”
The Economic Architecture practice is a stand-alone group within GSP that provides economic development research, strategies and implementation blueprints. They serve a national client base and also support GSP’s other state and federal practice areas. Their clients include bioscience and technology organizations, non-profits, local and state governments and other economic development groups.
About GSP Consulting Corp.
Founded in 2001, GSP Consulting Corp. is a full service consulting firm headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pa. Comprised of three practice areas – Federal and State Government Affairs, Development Services and Economic Architecture, the firm has successfully served hundreds of clients throughout the U.S. Since it’s founding, GSP experts have authored revolutionary public policy, designed and launched ground-breaking economic development initiatives, secured hundreds of millions of dollars in funding, and built longstanding relationships and networks at all levels of government. With offices throughout the Mid-Atlantic, Mid-West and Southern United States, their diverse client portfolio includes technology, manufacturing, life sciences companies, as well as developers, municipalities, economic development agencies and non-profit organizations.
More information about GSP consulting can be found at http://www.gspconsulting.com
[tags]GSP Consulting Corp, Minnesota Development Conference, Dr Jerry Paytas, best practices in economic development, Harnessing Minnesota Ingenuity[/tags]
