Economic Development Strategy, Planning, and Evaluation
Mt. Auburn provides a full range of consulting services in the field of economic development analysis and strategy. Working with a variety of public and private organizations, the firm creates effective economic development policies and programs that promote economic growth and stability, job generation, and the improved functioning of capital markets.
about us
cluster analysis, strategy, and organizing
Mt. Auburn Associates is one of the leading experts in economic cluster analysis in the country. The firm has been researching and analyzing economic clusters for almost 20 years. As a result of that experience, Mt. Auburn has developed a strong vision of what is needed to make a cluster strategy successful:
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Expert use of not only quantitative analysis, but also critically important qualitative analysis. Mt. Auburn uses federal and state data as a starting point to understand clusters, not an end point. We rely on interviews with key business and industry leaders, as well as focus groups, discussions with trade associations, and literature reviews to give us the most accurate information about the strengths, weaknesses, and challenges of any given economic cluster.
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Identification of local assets and areas of real competitive advantage. Mt. Auburn helps clients tap the clusters that provide unique advantage to the region. Identifying and nurturing clusters requires a deep understanding of the local economic base and what drives it since clusters can defy conventional industry definitions
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Workforce development issues are tightly integrated in the cluster approach. While developing strategies that are highly responsive to the needs of the regional cluster, Mt. Auburn maintains a focus on the ultimate goal: creating economic opportunities for individuals and communities at the lower end of the economic scale. One critical way that we accomplish this goal is by integrating workforce development strategies, addressing training, access, and career ladder programs within the cluster plan.
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Customized strategies built on local conditions, aspirations, and capacity. Mt. Auburn helps clients identify the unique needs and opportunities of the local cluster and develop original strategies to meet that specific situation.
Cluster experience:
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representative projects
Study of the Role of Sector Strategies in Providing Jobs for the Urban Poor.
Competitive Analysis of Three Agribusiness Segments in California’s San Joaquin Valley.
Cluster Analysis in Northern New Mexico.
Strategy for Telecommunications-Based Industries in Rural Iowa.
Arts and Cultural Development in Providence, Rhode Island.
Identification and Analyses of Emerging Industries and Technologies in Massachusetts. For the Massachusetts Government Land Bank, Mt. Auburn Associates identified and analyzed emerging industries and technologies in Massachusetts and assessed their facilities financing needs. The following industries were examined: advanced materials, advanced food technologies, software, robotics, and industrial automation. As a second phase of the project, Mt. Auburn Associates designed a university/industry grant program for the state. This project involved extensive focus groups and meetings with University faculty at both private and public institutions in Massachusetts to gain a better understanding of the nature of university/industry relationships. The project also involved the development of an inventory of federal research funds as it applies to state technology policy.
