Planning Local Economic Development

"Leigh and Blakely’s Planning Local Economic Development is the gold standard for texts in local economic development.  The book provides excellent breadth and depth of conceptual and analytical frameworks in the field of economic development while also integrating applied case materials.  My students appreciate the accessible writing style and the applied nature of the book, which generates class discussion of key concepts." -- Russell Mills
"Planning Local Economic Development: Theory and Practice is the authoritative and comprehensive text for students of economic development planning and policy. The authors, leading scholars of the urban planning field, present an engaging and lively introduction to the field. The book strikes a perfect balance between theory and practice. Highly recommended." -- Thomas Vicino
"Planning Local Economic Development: Theory and Practice is one of the most functional textbooks on the market. The key issues are covered in easy to read chapters. There is enough information to inform the students without overwhelming them. Students and faculty will both want to make this part of their permanent library." -- Michael Collins
"Nancey Green Leigh and Edward Blakely’s Planning Local Economic Development: Theory and Practice is an engaging text.  I’ve used this book over the years both as a student and as a professor.  Each edition gets stronger and adds additional value to understanding a topic as complex as local economic development." -- Marcus Mauldin
"Planning Local Economic Development: Theory and Practice provides readers with a hands-on approach to learning economic development.  In as much as it provides the theoretical basis for working in the field, it also presents the challenges associated with the everyday economic, social, and political realities of planning local economic development."  -- Brent Hales