The Most Important Infrastructure We Rarely Talk About
Every region invests in the infrastructure that supports economic growth – roads, transit, water systems, broadband, and energy. Unseen, and often unacknowledged is civic infrastructure – or systems that enable people and institutions to work together across sectors, jurisdictions, and perspectives to solve problems that no single organization can solve alone. The strength of a collaborative initiative depends on the civic infrastructure it builds, yet civic infrastructure itself is rarely treated as a primary investment or measure of success.
As the We Prosper Together initiative enters its next chapter, our upcoming Summit on September 9th is focused on this important issue and asks the question: What will it take to preserve and strengthen this civic infrastructure so our region can continue advancing inclusive economic growth long after this initiative concludes? We believe the answer will determine not only the success of We Prosper Together, but our region’s ability to respond to whatever opportunities and challenges come next.
Over the past several years, We Prosper Together has done far more than produce a regional economic plan or invest in innovative projects. It has strengthened the region’s civic infrastructure by building trusted relationships across eight counties, creating governance structures for regional decision-making, aligning employers, educators, workforce organizations, community leaders, philanthropy, and local governments around shared priorities, and establishing new ways to coordinate action. While projects may conclude and funding may change, the relationships, trust, and shared capacity developed through this work can continue creating value for years to come.
That is why this year’s We Prosper Together Summit is focused not simply on celebrating what has been accomplished, but on exploring what comes next. Together with national experts and regional leaders, we will examine the ingredients of durable collaboration, explore how regions can build and sustain civic infrastructure, and consider how today’s partnerships can become tomorrow’s lasting institutions. The Summit is an invitation to everyone who cares about the future of our region – not simply to reflect on the work we have done, but to help shape the civic infrastructure that will enable our region to tackle its next generation of challenges. Because ultimately, the greatest legacy of any regional initiative is not the projects it funds – it is the region’s enduring capacity to work together.
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Evan Schmidt is Valley Vision’s Chief Executive Officer.
