ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the public administrators and nonprofit managers—should they find themselves fortunate enough to have a college or university in or near their community—to seek ways to form partnerships that result in benefits for both parties. It demonstrates that colleges and universities, given the range of disciplines represented, are uniquely situated to help communities find the common ground between economic development and sustainability. The chapter provides an overview of university–community partnerships, with special attention to the practical issues associated with forming these partnerships. It offers a model that can be easily adapted in most communities. The chapter describes a federal initiative designed to encourage these partnerships. The chapter deals with examples of university–community partnerships aimed at creating environmentally sustainable economic development. University–community partnerships include some programs that pursue sustainability and economic development at the same time. University–community collaborations often fail because of an imbalance in the power dynamic of the partnership.
