By Alan G. Merten
We need a new -- and much more aggressive -- approach to economic development in Tompkins County, one that will require a significant change in both action and attitude from the Cornell community, from our elected officials and from our business and community leaders.
As I prepare to leave Ithaca, I know that I did not do what I should have done to enhance economic development in Tompkins County during my seven years at Cornell. I had many excuses, but basically I told myself that it was someone else's responsibility; other aspects of my job demanded more attention.
It seems to be part of human nature: we have great intentions, but we fail to act. No matter how important the issue, we make excuses. And then we justify our behavior by telling ourselves someone else was responsible for the task at hand or at least, would be better at accomplishing it.
As I look at Tompkins County, I wonder if this attitude isn't responsible for our failure to foster the kind of economic development that would truly improve the quality of life in the county and surrounding areas. Do we, as individuals, and Cornell, as an institution, often say the right things, but fail to act? Do we assume that economic development is someone else's responsibility? Do we hope that someone else will do it?
For economic development to occur, such attitudes must change. Cornell, both as an institution and as a collection of individuals, is an essential participant in the process. We are not solely responsible for economic development, but if we are not major players, it will not happen.
Such development is clearly in our best interests. For just one reason, consider how many times we have failed to attract faculty, staff or outstanding graduate students because Ithaca lacks adequate employment opportunities for their spouses or partners.
But if our efforts are to succeed, other attitudes will have to change as well. Earlier this year, the Ithaca Journal ran a series on economic development. One quote struck my attention. It said: "Balancing high-tech commerce with quality of life is our challenge." I believe that not only is high-tech commerce consistent with quality of life, but that a high degree of high-tech commerce in Tompkins County will significantly improve the quality of life.
We seem to hold similar biases against manufacturing. Don Peterson, former CEO of Ford Motor, once said that he could not understand why Americans thought that manufacturing was a "dirty" word. More and more in this country, people are realizing that manufacturing is not a dirty word, but I'm not sure we believe that in Tompkins County.
We must raise our expectations about what is "good enough." Soon after I arrived at Cornell in 1989, I was shown a list of the Cornell spin-off companies, developed through the work of faculty and students over the previous 10 to 15 years. There was great pride in what I thought an incredibly small list. Not long after that, I saw a report from Tompkins County Area Development listing their accomplishments over the past 10 years. Again, I thought it an incredibly small list. The major impact of such attitudes was to make me -- and probably others -- question whether I wanted to spend my time working with people who thought those lists adequate.
As we look ahead, it will be increasingly essential for the leaders of Cornell to
encourage, support, and reward the faculty's entrepreneurial activities to start and grow companies,
thereby creating jobs. Cornell needs to be less worried about the size of its piece of the
entrepreneurial
financial pie and more worried about how to make the pie significantly larger.
I'd also like to pass on some advice to the community beyond Cornell. Learn how the university works and how to use the resources of Cornell to make things happen. Stop saying, "If only Cornell would..." Too many people are sitting around waiting for Cornell rather than asking for specific help from Cornell. Take advantage of Cornell's faculty, particularly the younger faculty who are still developing their professional agenda and less likely to be already committed to activities outside the local area. Structure projects to involve students -- both graduate and undergraduate. Be aware of the strange nature of the university calendar.
Finally, insist that Tompkins County, the city of Ithaca, the town of Ithaca, Ithaca College, Cornell and Tompkins Cortland Community College work together. Until now, there's been much individual activity but no blueprint for significant economic development.
In closing, the key question facing any leader is not what his or her organization must do tomorrow, but what they must do today to be ready for an uncertain tomorrow. What are the leaders of government, education and business going to do today to ensure that the economy of Tompkins County is ready for an uncertain tomorrow? It is not adequate to point fingers, to say it is someone else's responsibility or that someone else could do it better. It is important to reach out to others and commit personally to make a difference. If we are not going to make it better, it will get worse. For true economic development to happen in Tompkins County, there must be a commitment to act -- today.
Alan G. Merten is dean of the Johnson Graduate School of Management; he will become president of George Mason University on July 1. This article was adapted from a talk given to Tompkins County Area Development on May 13, 1996.
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