ABSTRACT
Regional collaboration is a working practice whereby institutions such as states, counties, cities, towns, special districts, public authorities, nonprofits, and other interest groups work together across jurisdictional lines and boundaries to achieve regional benefits. This practice involves multiple parties with diverse interests coming together to solve common problems. Issues that transcend political and jurisdictional boundaries such as land use, environmental, natural resources, health, crime, and education often require the coordinated efforts of fragmented institutions. While the roles and nature of regional collaboration can be quite diverse, the essential elements of this practice are the same. These elements include the existence of a regional problem that affects multiple jurisdictions, established efforts of coordinated governance, collective action benefits that outweigh costs, and at least one actor having an incentive to become a public entrepreneur to provide leadership in the process.
