Cornelia and Jan Flora have developed an interesting framework for examining seven forms of inter-related capital.  A synopsis is attached as a PDF.  For a longer exposition, consider their "Rural Communities: Leacy and Change" (3rd edition, 2007).  A 4th edition will be published in July.

Written in terms of the rural realm, this framework has broader application, particulary in regard to the development of Learning Cities.  

The term “smart growth” can sound like code for “the rest of you are dumb.”  Full article at:

http://www.theatlanticcities.com/politics/2012/03/how-talk-about-cities-...

Virginia Tech and TRE Networks preseng an executive leadership program for individuals, or teams of university and community leaders, responsible for regional economic development.  This program is scheduled for May 21-23, 2012 in Roanoke, Virginia (USA).  The curriculum will foster competency in leading regional transformation -- to achieve  long-term impacts targeted at the needs of both institutions and regions. 

Do Cities Needs Universities to Survive? (Nate Berg).  

The North American PASCAL Center – located at Northern Illinois University – co-sponsored the 4th TRE Networks Roundtable meeting held in Washington, DC, December 5 – 7, 2011.  The theme of this year’s TRE Roundtable was “Accelerating Regional Solutions: Finding Unique Pathways to American Prosperity.”  PASCAL Associate, Josef Konvitz -- recently retired Head of Division, Regulatory Policy, at the Paris-based Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) -- delivered a well-received keynote on “The European Experience: Governance, Place and Higher Education.”