When people picture “economic development,” they often imagine towering cranes, ribbon cuttings, and groundbreaking ceremonies. These visible milestones matter but at Midwest Urban Strategies (MUS), we’ve learned that the real engine of regional prosperity is quieter, deeper, and more enduring. It’s built on partnerships: connections that unite workforce boards, educators, employers, community organizations, and civic leaders around a shared vision for growth.
This month, we’re spotlighting how those connections come to life, who’s at the table, and why this work is more urgent than ever.
MUS began with a simple but powerful idea: if workforce boards across the Midwest collaborated, we could respond more quickly to employer needs, create stronger pathways for jobseekers, and attract resources that no single board could secure alone. That idea has grown into a vibrant network stretching from Chicago to St. Louis, Detroit to Milwaukee with affiliate ties reaching beyond the region and beyond workforce boards to include aligned partners in education, philanthropy, government, and industry. The footprint is bigger, and so is the momentum.
If you’ve attended one of our convenings, you’ve seen this in action. Partnerships don’t begin with a formal MOU, they begin with conversation: during a panel discussion, over coffee, even on the bus between site visits. The seeds of innovation are planted when people gather, listen, and share. Each of us brings something valuable to the table, and when those pieces come together, the story becomes richer, stronger and louder.
As a social scientist who studies sustainability, wellbeing, and resilience, I’ve seen this truth play out time and again: success in any initiative depends on how ideas converge and evolve. It’s like building a quilt. each piece adds meaning, and together, they become something far greater than the sum of their parts. The same is true for community and economic development. When diverse voices and perspectives are woven together, we create systems that are more adaptive, father reaching, and more impactful.
This is the heart of MUS membership. It’s not just about being part of a network, it’s about being part of a movement. A movement that values collaboration over competition, shared purpose over silos, and long-term impact over short-term wins.
When people come together, partnerships flourish, systems strengthen, and most importantly, our communities, employers, and jobseekers thrive.
If you’re not yet an MUS member and this resonates with you, let’s talk. The table is expanding, and we’re making room for more. Whether you’re a workforce board, a community-based organization, a funder, or a civic leader, there’s a place for you in this work. Reach out to Kellie Landaker at kellie@midwesturbanstrategies.com to explore how you can plug in and help shape what’s next.
Together, we’re building something powerful and we’re just getting started.
Landaker October 2025
