1. M ake Attracting, Developing, and
Re taining Talented Pe ople in Your
Communities Your Top Economic
Development Priority
Investing in education is one of the single most
effective ways to lower long-term unemployment, retain
companies, and attract new ones. Surveys of corporate
executives consistently find that a strong workforce and
talent are major factors in site selection. From 2007-2010
(see Chart 1), the gap between education levels and unemployment
rates has widened even further.