Cobb economic development for a growing economy (edge)

Cobb County Economic Development Strategy

To forge ahead with strength and momentum as the nation moves forward after the Great Recession, the Cobb Chamber of Commerce has initiated a new five-year holistic economic and community development strategic planning effort – Cobb’s Competitive EDGE – in partnership with Market Street Services, a national community, economic, and workforce development consulting firm based in Atlanta, Georgia. Through this two-phase effort, the Cobb Chamber of Commerce seeks to garner implementation buy-in, unify local leaders, and motivate constituents with a blueprint that takes into account new economic realities.  

Phase 1, Part 1 - Competitive Assessment and Stakeholder Input: The Competitive Assessment phase will provide the Market Street team with the opportunity to take a detailed look at the county’s competitive position. The Assessment will also highlight future challenges and opportunities for the county to provide increased access to prosperity for all residents. Leveraging past research, Market Street will conduct original quantitative and qualitative research. Quantitative research will entail benchmarking Cobb County against three similar communities as well as a brief section comparing the county to major communities in the Metro Atlanta area: Gwinnett, Fulton, and DeKalb. Qualitative research will be largely attained through stakeholder input, comprised of an online survey, interview, and a series of focus groups.  

Phase 1, Part 2 - Target Cluster Analysis and Marketing Review: Using a “bottom-up” approach, the Target Cluster Analysis will identify a well-refined list of clusters that will highlight the most important existing and the most promising emerging targets for Cobb County leaders to pursue. During this phase Market Street will also conduct a Marketing Review which will help determine if the marketing efforts of the Cobb Chamber of Commerce and Cobb County Office of Economic Development reflect best practice methods for increasing awareness and investment in the area.  

Phase 2, Part 1 - Economic and Community Development Strategy: The Economic and Community Development Strategy represents the culmination of all the quantitative and qualitative research to date through the development of action items geared towards addressing challenges and capitalizing on opportunities for visionary growth. The Strategy will serve as a tool unifying the Chamber and its local partners and constituencies behind a consensus blueprint for economic development. It will provide goals and action steps needed to optimize local competitiveness and conditions to achieve success.  

Phase 2, Part 2: Implementation Plan:  One of Market Street’s core beliefs is that when the strategic planning process is complete, the real work begins. Timely and effective implementation is critical to the ultimate success of the Economic and Community Development Strategy. If the Strategy represents the “what” that Cobb needs to do, the Implementation Plan determines “how” that will be done. The Plan will enable the Chamber and its partners to secure early victories and continue to build momentum for overall activation of the strategy.  

Please see the project website for more information.