Transparently Allocating Funding to Initiatives Supporting the Mission – Local Development Finance Authority

Background

In 2001, the Economic Development Corporation created eleven SmartZones throughout the state, including two nearby cities (our client). The purpose of the new SmartZone (referred to as LDFA – Local development Finance Authority) was to provide capital needed to facilitate commercialization of products being developed at two major Universities, and the development of private high-technology enterprises.

The SmartZone was funded to the tune of about $3.6 million in 2018, and $42 million over the following 15 years. The funds are distributed by a nine-member volunteer board of directors; six members are appointed by one city and three by the other. The LDFA operates under a set of bylaws that were initially approved by both City Councils.

1. The intent of LDFA is to invest its available funds according to its vision and mission, in a manner aligned with the following strategic priorities:
   Provide resources to encourage company creation and growth.
2. Foster and market an entrepreneurial and innovative culture that attracts, supports, and retains talent.
3. Promote conversion of research projects from local universities, R&D facilities, and other sources into new businesses generating new jobs.
4. Further collaboration in the state to enable broader and sustainable ecosystem development.
5. Encourage an infrastructure agenda with public/private entities to ensure the livability of the area.
   

The Challenge

The LDFA faced the challenges of reaching a consensus on how to allocate the funds and ensuring that the decisions they make are justified and aligned with their strategic priorities. Additionally, there was a feeling among the minority board members that, since they were a minority, their views were not adequately considered. This created both tension and disengagement.

Since the board was accountable to both City Councils, the lack of consensus, harmony and progress created the impression that the board was not very effective. The board struggled to make recommendations that were objective, transparent, and strategically aligned. It was an embarrassing, frustrating experience for all parties, who were passionate about carrying out an important economic development mission.

The board had done workshops and retreats in the past to create a strategic plan but could never get buy-in from everyone so they could complete the task. At the time Allovance came on board, this had been going on for over 18 months and the board was at an impasse.

The Solution

Allovance helped the LDFA develop a structured process for strategic prioritization that would produce the following:

• A clear Strategic Value Scorecard that quantifies LDFA’s priorities and objectives.
• A scientific comparison method that will help LDFA calculate relative weights for their strategic priorities and objectives.
• A collaborative way of developing measurement scales for all objectives that quantifies subjective criteria.
• Listing all initiatives and projects and scoring them against the Strategic Value Scorecard.
• Selecting projects that are most aligned with strategic priorities.

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