This case study chronicles Toledo’s efforts to bring Chinese foreign direct investment into its region. It is part one of a three-part series exploring how cities are developing innovative models for tackling complex urban issues and strengthening their local economies in partnership with Next American City. 

Strategies for Globally Competitive Cities: Local Roles in Foreign Direct Investment and International Trade (September 2011)
The guide provides practical strategies, resources and promising practices to help local leaders and practitioners enhance the global competitiveness of their communities. In particular, the guide focuses on foreign direct investment (FDI) and international trade - two areas in which local leaders can have a true impact in their roles as catalysts, conveners and connectors.

Strategies For Globally Competitive Cities Webinar
This webinar featured an overview of the newly released NLC guide, "Strategies for Globally Competitive Cities: Local Roles in Foreign Investment and International Trade," and offered reflections from local leaders in the field.

NLC Leadership Academy on Local Economic Competitiveness in A Global Era (April 2011)
Experts from all levels of government, business, and academia came together to discuss the opportunities and challenges of foreign direct investment and trade promotion at this leadership academy.  Webcasts from this event highlight strategies, case studies and the local realities of global economic development.

Federal Resources for Global-Local Economic Development (March 2011)
This webcast features presenters from the U.S. Departments of Commerce and State at NLC's Congressional Cities Conference, and focuses on federal resources available to assist communities in foreign direct investment and international trade.

A Changing Paradigm: Cities and Regions Embracing Global Interdependence (May 2011)
Distrustful, inward-looking and even smug...U.S. local officials have been called it all when it comes to describing their attitudes toward establishing global economic  linkages. But is this perception correct?   NLC  Finance and Economic Development Director Christiana McFarland's Citiesspeak.org blog post suggests that it's time to take a second look at what's really happening in cities. 

At NLC Leadership Academy, City Leaders Focus on Competing in the Global Market (April 2011)
Experts from all levels of government, business, and academia came together to discuss the opportunities and challenges of foreign direct investment and trade promotion at this leadership academy. This Nation's Cities Weekly article summarizes the events that took place at the academy.

From Chattanooga to Chongqing, Via Seattle (April 2011)
The U.S. Department of Treasury Senior Coordinator & Executive Secretary for China and the U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue, David Loevinger, explains why fostering globally focused relationships is important. 

The Global Economy is Not Really So "Foreign" (May 2010)
U.S. Trade Ambassador Ron Kirk spends much of his time as Trade Ambassador doing what he did as the former Mayor of Dallas Texas - thinking about how to help small business succeed in a global economy.  This Citiespeak.org blog post explains why his time as mayor is helping him as a trade ambassador.

The Global Economy Requires a New Local Response (April 2010)
In today's economy, cities compete against metropolitan regions across the globe, and a city's success is inherently tied to how well it can foster relationships regionally.  Cities are responding, making their regions more competitive by collaborating regionally and supporting their local business communities as shown in this Nations Cities Weekly article.

Emerging Issues: The Economic Development Game has Changed (January 2010)
The Economist magazine reported "a deep-seated movement of economic power away from rich nations towards emerging markets" is occurring "faster than was thought".  Many say these changes have direct implications for American cities and city leaders; this Nation's Cities Weekly urges leaders to think and act both globally and locally.

Cities Facilitate Small Business Exports to Build Local Economy (October 2009)
Export growth has long been touted as a key to overall economic growth.  Cities can provide export assistance to small businesses by serving as information conduits, nurturing infrastructure for entrepreneurship, and establishing trade relationships.  This Nation's Cities Weekly article explains how.