Upload
tracy-collins
View
219
Download
0
Tags:
Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
An economic perspective on life in Ames: a tragicomic discourse
Peter F. OrazemApril 20, 2009
Hobby: Research on the Ames Economy
Hobby: ComedyHobby: Research on the Ames
Economy
Iowa Story
Total Nonfarm 2.3% < 3.3%
Total Private 2.0% < 6.9%
Goods Producing -8.6% < 22.2%
Service-Providing 5.3% > 0.7%
Private Service Providing 5.6% > 2.9%
Government 4.2% > -1.5%
Federal Government -9.8% < 10.0%
State Government 2.4% > -4.9%
Local Government 6.7% = 6.7%
A comparison of Story County and Iowa Employment Growth by Broad Industry Category,
January 2000 – January 2009
Source: Iowa Workforce Development
Notes: 9 of the 13 largest employers in Ames are in govt./nonprofit. U.S. added 4.1% employment over the period
Ames Should Grow Faster than Iowa Average
Urban CountyAdjacent to Metro
Contains Interstate Contains a Research I University
Suitable comparisons
• Counties in the Des Moines Metro area
• Midwestern counties with Research 1 Universities
Source: Liesl Eathington, SETA
Boone71%
Jasper49%
Story156%
Polk159%
Dallas266%
Madison87% Marion
111%
Warren186%
AGGREGATE INCOME GROWTH, 1969-2006
Source: Liesl Eathington, SETA
Boone28%
Jasper12%
Story38%
Polk42%
Dallas88%
Madison45% Marion
24%
Warren48%
AGGREGATE INCOME GROWTH, 1990-2006
Source: Liesl Eathington, SETA
Boone42%
Jasper14%
Story105%
Polk114%
Dallas252%
Madison55% Marion
108%
Warren124%
AGGREGATE EMPLOYMENT GROWTH, 1969-2006
Source: Liesl Eathington, SETA
Boone26%
Jasper4%
Story18%
Polk27%
Dallas100%
Madison28% Marion
29%
Warren22%
AGGREGATE EMPLOYMENT GROWTH, 1990-2006
1990
Economic Expansion in the Des Moines Metro is moving farther
away from Ames
Ames growing appreciably slower after 1990
Suitable comparisons
• Counties in the Des Moines Metro area
• Midwestern counties with Research 1 Universities
1990
Iowa vs Iowa State
We should use the same ‘slow growth’ strategy they use in Iowa
City
SUMMARY INFORMATION ON GROWTH
Conclusions•Ames is growing more slowly than almost any comparable community•Prospects are worse in the future•Slow growth has a cost
•Loss of 500 students from Ames schools•Loss of entertainment options in Ames•Loss of retail options in Ames•Ames may be less appealing to nonresident students•Ames cannot help employ spouses
Conclusions•Ames is growing more slowly than almost any comparable community•Prospects are worse in the future•Slow growth has a cost
•Loss of 500 students from Ames schools•Loss of entertainment options in Ames•Loss of retail options in Ames•Ames may be less appealing to nonresident students•Ames cannot help employ spouses
•To attract new investment, Ames has to be more welcoming than other communities in the Des Moines Metro•Ames cannot afford to retard the growth of its existing employers
Does slow growth save the environment?
Where do we work?Where do we shop?
Eathington, Liesl. “Characteristics of Growth and Change in Iowa’s Workforce: Issues for Families and Communities” http://www.seta.iastate.edu/library.aspx?lmode=2<opic=3
% working outside the county2000 2007
Story county 16.4% 20.3%Ames 13.9% 18.5%
2000: the year real aggregate 2000: the year real aggregate sales peaked in Amessales peaked in Ames
Shopping in Ames is an inferior good
Local option sales tax as a source of local public amenities?
Source: Liesl Eathington, 2005 Retail Trade Analysis Reports for Ames,Iowa http://www.seta.iastate.edu/retail/publications/2005rta/
AMES SALES ARE LOW RELATIVE TO POTENTIAL SALES BASED ON AMES SALES ARE LOW RELATIVE TO POTENTIAL SALES BASED ON POPULATION AND INCOMEPOPULATION AND INCOME
STATE NORM
Ames business climate is not Ames business climate is not attracting or retaining investorsattracting or retaining investors
Do regulations discourage Do regulations discourage investors?investors?
Iowa State vs Kansas
Why does Lawrence Kansas have such a great downtown compared to
Ames?
Do Ames Regulations on Land Use Do Ames Regulations on Land Use Make Things Better or Worse?Make Things Better or Worse?
Land Use Policy
• Ames has stressed “village development” using high density housing and mixing businesses and homes to make walkable neighborhoods to prevent sprawl.
• Note that in many cities, the “village” would be the size of Ames.
Original Plan for Original Plan for Somerset Somerset DevelopmentDevelopment
NorthridgeNorthridge
414 homes414 homes
Bloomington Bloomington HeightsHeights
Lots of housesLots of houses
In places with cheap land….
Families don’t want to raise their children next door to a bar
They want a house with a yard
Bloomington Heights and Northridge represent the fastest
growing area in the Gilbert school district
If we select priority growth areas If we select priority growth areas correctly, shouldn’t they grow correctly, shouldn’t they grow
more rapidly?more rapidly?
Southwest Growth Priority Area
Ames Land Use Plan Priority Growth AreasAmes Land Use Plan Priority Growth Areas
U.S. 30
South Dakota
Ontario
If Ames wants to maintain student numbers, Ames needs to…
• Add jobs for young families• Have housing that young families want
….not Potemkin apartment complexes