4 Questions
Meet Louis Jambois, executive director, Metro Cities
In 2004, Louis Jambois was named executive director of Metro Cities, a membership association of 86 area cities encompassing the Twin Cities, the inner ring suburbs, the developing suburbs and cities that lie on the edges of the metropolitan area. His mission is to advocate and represent their interests at the Metropolitan Council and with regard to metro-related issues at the Minnesota legislature. Jambois brought to the organization almost 30 years of economic and community development– related contacts and experience gained through various positions at the state of Minnesota, primarily through the agency that ultimately became the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development.
1. Do your members "get" manufacturing?
Absolutely. The public sector has a basic understanding of the fundamental infrastructure we need to help manufacturers grow. Many economists like to differentiate businesses through a hierarchy of how they add value and bring prosperity. Manufacturers are always at the top of that list. People understand that manufacturing generally provides higher paying jobs, they build buildings that they tend to stay in for a longer period of time, they bring in revenue from outside their host communities. Retail plays an important role, but retail follows population. It is often other sectors that drive economic growth and attract people in the first place. There is a good understanding of the importance of manufacturing and the challenges manufacturers face in a global economy.
2. Do manufacturers understand the role and value of their host cities?
Cities build the foundation for economic prosperity. We don’t make the prosperity, but provide the things that manufacturers need to do their job. Cities provide clean drinking water, the appropriate wastewater treatment, the network of streets and roads, plus police and fire protection. All in all, the interrelationship between our cities and our manufacturers is strong.
3. What one piece of advice would you offer the CEO of a manufacturing company to help further his economic wellbeing in his home community?
Get to know the people at city hall personally. Find out who the economic development director is, if there is a person in that role. Let him or her know what your needs are and about opportunities for economic growth. Let that person know what impediments might get in the way. Engage him or her to help solve issues cooperatively. There is a lot of creativity and mutual benefit that will evolve from establishing solid working relationships.
4. How strong is the coalition between business and cities?
Pretty good. A great case in point? We, the Minnesota chamber and the regional chambers, were on the same side of the transportation finance bill. It provided basic, fundamental infrastructure that we think makes our metro area viable. We should identify more ways that we can work together and continue.