"Great Cities" should more properly be thought of as "Great Communities" or "Great Regions," which is why it is important to take note of a report to the Hamilton County Commissioners by a three-expert panel from the International Economic Development Council (IEDC). The report spells out exactly what the county needs to do to bulk up its economic development.

Latest in a series

This is the latest of a series of articles and editorials on Greater Cincinnati's need to develop into a first-class metro area. The Aug. 29 Forum section examined what other cities in the region have done to grow dynamically. August 29 Forum

Hamilton County ranks No. 1 in this 15-county metro area for new investment and job growth. IEDC panelists agree the county remains the cultural, business and geographic center of the region, but they preface some astute recommendations with one overriding warning that the county needs to take more of a leadership role in development.

The top conclusion is that Hamilton County lacks a strategic economic development plan, and ought to develop one pronto. IEDC's report constructs a framework for any strategizing to come. As the Enquirer's Great Cities forum series has shown, we can't build a great, competitive metro area without rebuilding the central city and county.

Hamilton County took the lead in developing new stadiums. After cost overruns, flat sales tax revenues and lawsuits, it may be gun-shy at the moment, but those were mostly public projects. Unless cities and counties attract private investment dollars, they not only will fall short of "great cities" ranks but will be doomed to decline.

IEDC panelists recommended expanding the private nonprofit Hamilton County Development Co. and the city-county port authority. Hamilton County Development Co. now mainly offers small business loans, runs an incubator for start-ups and puts incentive packages together to retain or attract companies.

The port should be expanded beyond its limited powers, scope of projects and geographical reach. Panelists warned that no Hamilton County agency was charged with assembling land for redevelopment, and that the county does not make the most of the port authority's strengths.

"It is the only port authority in Ohio with such a narrow charge - brownfields development in Hamilton County and development of the Banks (central riverfront)," the panelists said.

The other big conclusion was that Hamilton County needs to cultivate stronger internal and external partnerships. Other development experts remark that the Cincinnati metro, which straddles three states, is loaded with groups attempting development, but often without adequate resources or coordination.

Even two different "branding" initiatives to market the region are under study here. The panel urged the county to partner with Cincinnati, particularly on Over-the-Rhine and the Banks projects. Just as the county and metro cannot sustain long-term success if Cincinnati keeps losing residents, a successful downtown is "inextricably linked" to a healthy Over-the-Rhine.

This region not only needs strong delivery systems for great development, but to compete with the best cities, it needs to overcome long-standing mistrust and become world-class at coordinating development projects.