Strategic planning is all about determining long-term goals and developing the most effective and efficient means for achieving them. At Mt. Auburn Associates, we believe successful
strategic planning must incorporate a process that builds consensus, engages key stakeholders, and leads to strong ownership of the strategy.
While every strategic planning assignment is customized to the client's needs, our general approach involves:
- Clarifying and reaching consensus on goals, values, and anticipated outcomes
- Using quantitative and qualitative methods to assess the external context
and the major challenges and opportunities
- Identifying strategic priorities that address challenges and build upon
opportunities
- Developing a detailed action plan for successful implementation
- Designing indicators that can be utilized to measure success
Mt. Auburn provides strategic planning support to communities, individual organizations, and the philanthropy community.
For Communities
Over the past 25 years, Mt. Auburn has mastered the research and analytical methods required to understand the economic dynamics in a community. Our research methodology
is customized to every client, but involves in-depth analysis of secondary economic data and primary research including surveys, focus groups, and individual interviews. Our team
has developed a breadth of knowledge on economic development models and best practices that produce highly effective regional and local economic development strategies. We
have worked in a range of economic settings from rural regions to small cities to large metropolitan areas.
Strategic Plan for Fall River, Massachusetts
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For the Fall River Partnership, we developed a strategic plan for attracting companies, encouraging new startups, and retaining existing firms in this older industrial
city. Mt. Auburn developed strategies around two key existing sectors — textile and apparel — as well as targeted plans to attract emerging industries well suited to the
strengths of the city and region.
Beyond the Crossroads: Positioning Nashua to Compete in a Global Economy
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In 2005, the City of Nashua, New Hampshire, asked Mt. Auburn to update our 1991 economic development strategy, which had helped the struggling community respond to the
impact of a New England recession and defense cutbacks. The diversification strategy focused particular attention on stimulating high-tech entrepreneurship and was highlighted
as a model in the National League of Cities’ Handbook on Defense Adjustment. Our new strategy defined and capitalized on Nashua's niche within the Boston metropolitan
area as a home for young professionals with families, an enterprise hatchery, a center of advanced engineering, and a retail hub.
Strategic Plan for the Northern Tier Region of Massachusetts Economy
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In 2004, Mt. Auburn was asked to update an economic development strategy we had prepared in the mid-1980s for the Northern Tier of Massachusetts, an economically depressed
area in the north central part of the state. Our updated plan proposed new strategies for entrepreneurial development, sector-based workforce training, and strengthening
and expanding established and emerging economic base industries.
For Organizations
Much of our consulting practice is focused on collaborating with “learning organizations,” organizations that put a premium on self-examination and learning. In our experience
with community, workforce, and economic development organizations, we have found that strategic planning is most effective when organizations take the time to look internally and
externally, examine their accomplishments and failures, and identify the factors that lead to good policy and practice. Our work with clients in this area often entails market
and economic research, a review of finances (budgets, sources, and investments), interviews with staff and stakeholders, and extensive discussions and engagement with a steering
committee or strategic planning task force.
Strategic Plan for Coastal Enterprises, Inc.
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Mt. Auburn managed the formulation of a five-year strategic plan for this statewide economic development organization, which serves rural communities. Our work included
board and staff interviews, facilitating staff and board retreats, conducting detailed business analysis of program areas, reviewing lending programs, analyzing opportunities
in ecotourism and heritage tourism, and developing overall strategic principles, goals, and priorities.
Strategic Planning for the Workforce Development Institute
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Mt. Auburn provided strategic planning and program development assistance to the Workforce Development Institute (WDI), the training and economic development arm of the
New York State AFL-CIO. We initially worked with board members, staff, and other partners and stakeholders to develop an organizational strategic plan. More recently,
Mt. Auburn assisted in the creation of a Retail Industry Education and Training Center on Long Island by researching national models and best practices, testing the feasibility
of the center concept on Long Island, and working with a diverse group of stakeholders to begin planning and initial programming.
For Foundations
Mt. Auburn has worked effectively with a wide range of foundations at the national and community levels. The values underlying the firm’s approach to economic development are closely
aligned with the foundation community’s commitment to equity and social justice. At the same time, our in-depth knowledge of the market and institutional environment driving regional
and local economic development enables foundations to effectively leverage key opportunities and resources. Mt. Auburn’s expertise also spans two important dimensions of foundation
economic development efforts -- people-based initiatives to expand economic opportunities for low-income/low-wealth individuals, and place-based initiatives to increase the flow
of resources and economic activity into distressed downtowns and neighborhoods.
The Surdna Foundation
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In the fall of 2007, Mt. Auburn was retained by the Surdna Foundation to extend and strengthen the program approach of its Community Revitalization Program. Our work with
Surdna staff included assessing the efficacy of the foundation’s strategy in relation to success measures in its nine targeted cities; refining the overall program model;
shaping and facilitating grantee learning convenings; preparing an overall assessment report; and follow-up work on a new communication and learning strategy and the development
of new program areas.
Regional and Community Foundations
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Over the past two decades Mt. Auburn has worked with a number of community foundations and regional funders on the development of strategic funding plans. One example
is a report we completed for the Community Foundation for Greater New Haven that helped identify and address the social, human service, workforce, and economic development
needs of residents in Connecticut’s Lower Naugatuck Valley. Mt. Auburn's report has had a significant impact on the foundation's funding in the Valley, brought the foundation
and community leaders closer together, and re-energized civic leaders as they built new capacity and programs.
