ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the role of nonprofit organizations in local economic development, including workforce development, vocation and job skills training programs, neighborhood revitalization programs, housing, and multi-service organizations. It describes the nonprofit sector's contributions to the US economy relative to other major industries. The chapter identifies the major employers within the nonprofit sector. In contrast to community development and job training nonprofits which aim to spread the benefits of economic development to low-income individuals and communities, business attraction, development, and promotion organizations primarily exist to help corporations, entrepreneurs, developers, and local government officials to attract businesses to a city or region. Good jobs are a fundamental pillar of any economic development or economic growth plan. The chapter looks at nonprofit economic development organizations that work hand-in-hand with local government officials to pursue city or county economic development goals, typically by serving clients that include for-profit firms and business owners.
