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completing high school or college, remain in the area as growing employment • <br /> opportunities in their "hometown" capture their interest. <br /> In areas with weak or declining economies, the opposite occurs. Local <br /> governments struggle to fund essential programs, with budgets under <br /> growing pressure to assist the impoverished. Residents have uncertain <br /> futures, filled with personal anxieties, with limited employment opportunities, <br /> stuck in subsistence level jobs. Businesses employ part-time workers and are <br /> unwilling to risk significant capital because of an uncertain future. The best <br /> and brightest young men and women must move from the area to seek <br /> quality employment, which is not available in their hometown. <br /> Nationally, there are more than 6,000 economic development organizations, <br /> Chambers of Commerce, and local, regional, and state government offices <br /> working in some fashion to improve the economy of their respective areas. <br /> Never in history has there been such an effort. Some organizations have • <br /> large budgets, better community cooperation, and a stronger commitment <br /> from local government than others. These areas have the best chance to <br /> either maintain or improve the economic quality of life and standard of living <br /> of their citizens. Some areas, however, provide little or no attention to <br /> economic development programs. They do not fully understand the need to <br /> have a constant, aggressive economic development program just to maintain <br /> the existing condition. In these areas, typically, the local economy is in <br /> decline. <br /> Even though local community leaders cannot control the actions or policies of <br /> the federal or state government, they indeed can establish policies and <br /> create local programs, which assist and foster economic growth. The <br /> premise, therefore, of this economic development strategy for Arden Hills is <br /> that an active participation in fostering the economic strength of the local <br /> economy is an essential action by the local unit of government and a <br /> responsible action thereof. <br /> Strategic Plan for Economic Development Page 4 of 25 <br /> Final Draft— Ready for Release Subject to Council Approval and Adoption <br />