The process of improving a community’s quality of life is a mainstay of economic development agencie

Resisting the Unknown

The process of improving a community’s quality of life is a mainstay of economic development agencies. So is open dialogue about projects in consideration.

Communities tend to resist development projects that impose strains on the environment or local economy, sensory impacts to views, smells and noise, or that deliver benefits elsewhere beyond the burden of the community. From prisons and landfills to cell towers, large-scale renewable energy and data centers, industries may face community opposition, especially if all the boxes aren’t checked on communication and transparency.

Familiar with NIMBYism (Not In My Backyard) and BANANAism (Build Absolutely Nothing Anywhere Near Anyone)?

“People resist the unknown,” said Ford Graham, Global Site Consultant with McGuireWoods and economic development attorney based in Charleston. And, he adds, social media is feeding many people their news, and it is not often reliable.

Graham recommends getting as much information out to the public as soon as it is possible. Engage with the news media and community earlier, even as economic developers are collaborating with companies that cannot have information released because of competition among bidding cities or tax incentive packages. In these cases, negotiations are quieter until things can move forward.

“Create your own project page on Facebook and refer to it as the place to find the most updated information on the project, where people can read verbatim what you are trying to accomplish,” Graham said.

Meaningful conversation and active listening are essential. Information must be shared earlier than has traditionally felt comfortable. Coordinate with the business’s public relations team and the local government’s public information officer. Early and consistent communication supports transparency, builds trust and serves the community.

Graham emphasized for economic developers to create and update a public relations plan that keeps them in the community’s awareness. Speak at Rotary clubs and write op-eds in the newspapers. People need reminders about why the town’s economic development negotiations are important for job creation, bolstering existing industry and sourcing onsite training programs.

With consistent public relations actions a community will know who you are and what you do, making challenges to projects more about the details, than resisting the unknown.