Nearly 90% of respondents to ICMA's Economic Development Survey reported local revenues and the general fund as the top funding source for economic development. Less than 20% required that a percentage of new employees be hired from within the community as a condition for providing business incentives. 

The survey results revealed that among responding jurisdictions:

• 61% report that the dollar value for business incentives offered to attract new business has remained the same over the last five years 
• 73% conduct a cost-benefit analysis prior to offering business incentives 
• 56% require a performance agreement for business incentives 
• 75% measure the effectiveness of business incentives and 
• 90% of those who measure the effectiveness of business incentives use job creation as a metric.

Additional business incentives used by a majority include:

• Infrastructure improvements 
• Grants 
• One-stop permit issuance 
• Zoning/permit assistance. 

The city of College Park, Georgia, was recently highlighted by ICMA as exemplifying the successful use of business incentives. The city employs a broad array of benchmarks to determine if the numbers provided in business applications are accurate and then puts rigorous measures of effectiveness, penalties, and detailed agreements in place to ensure the success of the business incentive arrangements. To read how College Park handles business incentives, go here: http://bit.ly/1wigm8p.

ICMA's Economic Development Survey examined planning, goals, barriers, economic development tools, funding, and use of incentives. The survey was mailed in June 2014 to 5,237 city-type and county governments. An online version of the survey was available as well. The response rate was 23% with 1,201 local governments responding. To download a copy of the survey results, go here: http://bit.ly/1AIpItk.