My Photo Op Theory of Economic Development News states “Politicians believe economic development has occurred in proportion to the number of photo ops a company’s expansion provides.”
It’s corollary is that “Economic Development occurs in smoke filled rooms at tax payers expense not on street level.”
Take Nissan’s recent announcement about moving to Nashville, TN
When one employer brings 1300 jobs to the state in exchange for a huge corporate tax break… that’s economic development news.
When 1300 small businesses scrape and fight to survive and add one new employee each… that’s not economic development news.
When the the Big Political Boyz wine and dine in smoke filled Washington DC and other big city clubs where most of us would be escorted out for our lack of a $1,000 suit, that’s economic development news.
When a salesman or saleswoman who lives totally on commission slugs it out in the trenches to bring home money to eat that night and keeps another company’s doors open another day so other people can eat that night, that’s not economic development news.
When they spend $100,000 on an “airport study” to show that you have to stand in line for less time at a rinky dink airport like Nashville than in LAX or Dallas Fort Worth that’s economic development news.
When ordinary people know that a smaller town means less hassle at an airport and makes them smarter than $100,000 consultants that’s not economic development news.
See the difference?
No photo op for the Big Boyz… no economic development has transpired.
I write all this to say that even when the big media don’t think your work at home and small business efforts are significant, we’re here to chronicle them.
We know it’s the unheralded efforts of sales people, entrepreneurs, and business people to make the things happen that put food on the table for everyone…whether there’s a photo op involved or not.
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