What should the Fox Cities do to attract more business?

(published 6-Sep-2010, Appleton Post-Crescent)

TIF (Tax Increment Financing) is still the way to go.  Businesses may amortize infrastructure investment (love them big financial words) by piggy-backing on a city's ability to get better borrowing rates with revenue bonds.  But there's still that emotional component of the sale; that is, what can Neenah or Appleton offer that sways a business to move here instead of Arizona?  It's tough to sell intangibles like quality of life, sturdiness of the work force, bountifulness of the harvest, or the willingness of crappies and bluegills to jump out of the water into the fishing boat.  Cities brag about cost of living, school choices, and cultural diversions.  The PAC wasn't built specifically to attract businesses, but it sure doesn't hurt Appleton's prospects.  The existence of several modern office buildings in downtown Neenah sure looks good on the old marketing brochure, too.  Sometimes it just boils down to success breeds success.

[This long series of "Recent Commentary" posts is from the Appleton Post-Crescent weekly Reader Reaction Forum feature.  Each submission can be no longer than 150 words.  Any comments to RRF postings on-line can be no longer than 1000 characters.  That explains some of the terseness of expression and cramming to fit. - Ed.]

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