布鲁金斯学会-美国国家恢复力和复苏：通过创造更好的地方来减少不平等和促进繁荣的战略（英）-2021.9-45页_19mb

Summary: State Resilience and Recovery - Strategies to Reduce Inequality and Promote Prosperity by Creating Better Places

Core Content

This document explores how state-level policies and actions can significantly influence the resilience and recovery of American communities, particularly in the context of the 2020 crisis, which exposed deep-seated spatial inequalities. It emphasizes the importance of place-based strategies in addressing these disparities and outlines the key roles that states play in shaping the conditions of their regions.

Main Viewpoints

1. States as Key Actors in Place-Based Policy

• Setting the Rules: States have the constitutional authority to define the legal framework within which local governments operate. This includes determining the extent of local autonomy, such as through the Dillon Rule or home rule.
• Providing Funding and Resources: States allocate significant resources to local governments, either through their own funds or by managing federal resources. These investments can shape the development and revitalization of communities.
• Enabling Cooperation: States are uniquely positioned to facilitate collaboration across jurisdictions and sectors, which is essential for addressing complex local issues.
• Modeling Behavior: States can act as models for good policy, influencing other actors to adopt similar practices that promote equity and prosperity.

2. The Importance of Place-Led Policies

• The 2020 crisis highlighted the need for place-specific interventions, as broad aggregate data were insufficient to address hyperlocal issues.
• Place-led policies aim to create more equitable and prosperous communities by focusing on four primary outcomes:
  • Economic Ecosystems: Regionally connected, innovative, and rooted in local assets.
  • Built Environment: Accessible, flexible, and supportive of community health and resiliency.
  • Social Environment: Vibrant, cohesive, and reflective of community identity.
  • Civic Structures: Locally organized, inclusive, and supportive of network building.

3. State-Level Innovations and Reforms

• Land Banking Enabling Act—Ohio: This law allows counties to create land banks to acquire and redevelop distressed properties, which helps reduce blight and increase property values.
• Affordable Housing Reforms—Oregon: Oregon introduced reforms to increase the supply of affordable housing by capping rent increases, eliminating single-family zoning, and expanding state authority over local land use.
• SmartZones—Michigan: Michigan's SmartZone program supports innovation districts by granting TIF authority to local governments with strong plans and partnerships, enabling the development of business incubators and innovation infrastructure.
• Redevelopment Ready Communities—Michigan: This initiative provides technical assistance and training to communities to improve their competitiveness for redevelopment and investment.
• Regional Economic Development Council—New York: New York's REDC initiative rewards regions with forward-looking economic development plans and strong local partnerships, encouraging strategic investment and growth.

Key Information

• Home Rule vs. Dillon Rule: Home rule allows local governments more autonomy, while Dillon Rule restricts local authority to only those powers explicitly granted by the state. Most states use a combination of both.
• Special Districts: These are distinct from general-purpose local governments and are often created for specific purposes. They are growing in number and play a role in providing services like infrastructure, housing, and utilities.
• Funding Distribution: States distribute funds through various mechanisms, including formula-based grants and competitive processes. However, these methods can lead to underinvestment in less-capable communities.
• Incentives for Economic Development: While states often use tax incentives to attract businesses, evidence suggests that targeted investments in local infrastructure, public services, and human capital are more effective in promoting long-term growth and opportunity.

Conclusion

The document concludes that states have a critical role in shaping the recovery and resilience of their communities. By setting rules, providing funding, enabling cooperation, and modeling behavior, states can promote more equitable and prosperous outcomes. However, this requires careful attention to the balance between local autonomy and state oversight, as well as the use of objective measures to guide investment and policy decisions. The examples provided illustrate how innovative state policies can create better places and foster long-term community development.