Regional Principles of Collaboration

We, as leaders in the 8-county region of Columbia, Dane, Dodge, Green, Iowa, Jefferson, Rock, and Sauk counties, acknowledge that the success of our region is based on a commitment to regional collaboration.

Therefore, with this signing, we adopt the following principles to support our regional culture, sustainable growth and prosperity, and the highest quality of life for all residents.

• Competitiveness - Position this region, based on its assets, to uccessfully compete nationally and globally. We embrace competition, but we will refrain from disparaging or selling against our communities in the region.
• Equity - Act without bias or favoritism, focusing on what is best for the region. As part of this, we support economic opportunity and high quality of life for people of all backgrounds and skill levels.
• Regional Collaboration - Work across jurisdictions and sectors in ecognition that our economy and our assets transcend those boundaries. We agree that our ability to compete globally is dependent on our ability to collaborate locally and as a region. We recognize that quality of life issues and economic development do not stop at community or county lines.
• Stewardship - Preserve our assets, unique places, infrastructure and natural resources because economic development and quality of life are inextricably linked. We know that our regional assets create economic opportunities for the region, and we will be stewards of those assets. We agree that economic prosperity means a high quality of life, and that quality of life fosters economic prosperity.
• Celebrate Unique Regional Assets - Identify, celebrate and market the unique assets of all counties and communities within the region. We recognize that the whole of our regional assets is greater than the sum of its parts, and that this is a competitive advantage for our region. We agree that eight counties means eight times the resources --and conversely, that one county alone can offer only a fraction of the possible assets.
• Focused Approach - Identify and strengthen specific, targeted economic development and quality of life efforts to greatly impact broader regional prosperity. We will focus our efforts on what is most effective, setting targets and priorities in our work for better results.
• Servant Leadership - Support, assist and leverage leadership and related work across the region for the betterment of the region. We will demonstrate our leadership by seeking out partnership and support roles that will allow us to move the region forward by enhancing and assisting existing efforts and leaders.
• Innovation - Seek innovative and creative ways to grow the region's economy in ways that preserve and enhance the quality of life. We acknowledge the competitive edge that innovation brings to this region, and will actively seek out creative solutions in our work.
• Transparency - Conduct work in a way that is open and accessible. We acknowledge the collaborative benefit and trust that comes from open communication.
• Measurement - Develop metrics to ensure progress. We will track our performance as a region, and we will use a common set of measurements to determine our progress.

Even broader regional adoption of the Principles of Collaboration continues.

Latest adopters include:

• Sauk Prairie Area Chamber of Commerce

"It is my pleasure to be able to support the Regional Principles of Collaboration. Thrive has always been professional and sensitive to the complexities that are part of building a regional culture. I am proud to be a part of a group that will help Columbia County and the Madison Region thrive through the ability to share a common language and vision. A rising tide lifts all ships."

Andy Ross, Columbia County Board Supervisor, District 21

"The MATC Board was excited to adopt the Regional Principles of Collaboration. The Principles so closely reflect what MATC already does, and are in such complete alignment with MATC's own principles, that there was little question in committing to their practice. As a regional body with a multi-county Board, the work of thinking regionally comes naturally to the school and its leadership."

Bettsey Barhorst, President, Madison Area Technical College

"...Something extraordinary is happening in the eight-county region covered by the Thrive Economic Development Enterprise...[that] should be considered best practice of the state's regional economic development entities."

Read more! Corporate Report Wisconsin, November 2008