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
evaluation
Mt. Auburn views evaluations as fundamentally a learning exercise. At Mt. Auburn, we help our clients to identify and assess anticipated program outcomes, to better understand those elements of its programs that are more or less effective, and to refine its activities to better meet its intended outcomes.
To accomplish these goals, Mt. Auburn emphasizes the following in our approach:
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Clear articulation of the development program or “model” being evaluated.
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Design of performance measures that are consistent with the program “model.”
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Use of both quantitative and qualitative methods.
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Measurement of developmental and institutional impacts. While they may defy quantification, documenting these important impacts is critical.
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Close collaboration between the consultants and the client -- involving learning and teaching on both sides.
Mt. Auburn’s evaluation work has included both process and outcome evaluations. The firm has completed several community level evaluations in addition to numerous multi-site state and national evaluations. Our clients include the U.S. Economic Development Administration, several states, and foundations.
representative projects
Evaluation of the Fund for Our Economic Future, Northeast Ohio.
Evaluation of The Heinz Endowments’ Economic Opportunity Program. Mt. Auburn Associates has worked with The Heinz Endowments for the past three years in its effort to evaluate its Economic Opportunity Program. The first phase of the evaluation involved working with the Program Office to articulate a clear “Theory of Change” and to develop a five-year evaluation work plan based upon its model. The focus of the next two years was on evaluating the Program’s Human Capital Investment Strategy. The first phase of the EOP evaluation, completed by Mt. Auburn Associates in 2002, focused on the workforce development system as a whole, with particular emphases on the workforce intermediaries that Heinz has helped to build and the labor market information that was assumed to be critical to a well functioning system. The evaluation including facilitating learning activities with the grantees focused on addressing some of the issues that were identified in the evaluation. The second phase of the evaluation process examined the effort of EOP to build a more effective network of learning providers in the region. The focus of this phase of the evaluation was on the community colleges in the Pittsburgh region. In 2004, the evaluation focused on EOP’s funding of entrepreneurial development and small business assistance programs.
Evaluation of Skillworks (previously the Boston Workforce Development Initiative).
Evaluation of the Career Ladders Initiative: Fleet Charitable Trusts.
Evaluation of the Working Capital Micro-Enterprise Lending Program.
Evaluation of Oregon’s Regional Strategies Program.
Evaluation of Ohio’s Thomas Edison Technology Centers.
Evaluation of Maine New Century Program.
Evaluation of the U.S. Economic Development Administration’s University Center Program.
