Asked to Write a Board or Committee Paper About Your Local Economy at Short Notice? Essential Guidance

𝘒𝘦𝘺 𝘓𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘌𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘉𝘰𝘢𝘳𝘥/𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘦 𝘗𝘢𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴 for Local Economic Developers:

𝗞𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗔𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲: Assume intelligence, not expertise. Frame your proposal within their broader priorities. They’re busy; make it scannable. Remember, they might need a reminder of past context.

𝗖𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗣𝘂𝗿𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗲 & 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: State the specific decision you seek immediately. What problem are you solving? What’s the desired outcome?

𝗔𝗱𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗼𝗰𝗼𝗹: Always use the correct, most recent template. Follow all rules for length, deadlines, and submission processes.

Pre-Engage: Consult early with internal departments (Legal, Finance) and key members/officers. Address concerns before the meeting. Summarize external consultations.

𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗻𝘁-𝗟𝗼𝗮𝗱 𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗼: The Executive Summary/Recommendation is critical. It must be first, action-oriented, and summarize the entire paper’s essence in 1-2 paragraphs. Assume some will read only this.

Options, Not Just One: Present alternatives, including a “do nothing” option. Objectively analyze benefits, disadvantages, costs, and feasibility for each. Clearly justify your recommendation.

𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗵𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀: Include mandatory sections like Financial, Legal, Risk, EDI, Environmental, and Community impacts. Be precise and detail mitigation.

𝗖𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 & 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀: Use plain English, short sentences, and active voice. Avoid jargon. Get to the point.

𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Use headings, bullet points, and bold text for readability. Stick to the template.

𝗔𝗰𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘆 & 𝗤𝗔: Fact-check meticulously. Proofread. Get a peer review. Obtain all necessary internal sign-offs.