Nonprofit Economic Development Organizations and the Institutional Arrangement of Local Economic Development

Authors

  • William Hatcher Augusta University
  • Augustine Hammond Augusta University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.20899/jpna.4.1.21-40

Keywords:

Local Economic Development, Nonprofit Economic Development Organizations

Abstract

In the United States, local economic development is increasingly being managed by nonprofit organizations. However, the institutional arrangement of local economic development is an understudied topic in the scholarly literature on nonprofit management and leadership. This paper examines why communities select nonprofits to manage economic development and the effect this institutional arrangement has on local development policy. We hypothesize that the form of local government and the population size of a community are variables affecting the likelihood that a community will select a nonprofit organization for economic development. Additionally, we argue that nonprofit organizations manage economic development differently than agencies directly controlled by local governments. Thus, organizational types influence economic development policy outcomes. To examine the paper’s hypotheses, we use data from the International City/County Management Association’s (ICMA) 2014 economic development survey. The paper’s analysis provides evidence that smaller cities, compared with larger communities, are more likely to select nonprofit organizations to manage economic development, and it appears the selection of a nonprofit to manage economic development influences the type of development tools used by communities.

Author Biographies

  • William Hatcher, Augusta University
    William Hatcher is an associate professor in the Department of Social Sciences at Augusta University in Augusta, Georgia. He directs the university’s Master of Public Administration program. His research focus includes public finance, community development, and public health.  
  • Augustine Hammond, Augusta University

    Augustine Hammond is an associate professor in the Department of Social Sciences at Augusta University in Augusta, Georgia. He teaches courses in the university’s Master of Public Administration program. His research focus includes social policy and economic development.

Downloads

Published

2018-04-01

Issue

Section

Research Articles

Similar Articles

1-10 of 209

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.

Most read articles by the same author(s)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 > >>