[Update Oct. 1] Editor’s note: On Sept. 23, the Biden campaign announced a “Small Business and Entrepreneurship Advisory Council.” A description has been added to the “Small Business” section of this article.
A growing number of states and localities, stymied by conventional budgetary processes, are seeking financial support for economic development initiatives through alternative means, according to a new report from the Brookings Institution. Many regions are instead turning to legislative referendums and citizen-driven ballot initiatives to support large-scale economic initiatives. Authors Jessica A. Lee, Mark Muro and Bruce Katz offer several recent examples of state innovation, education and infrastructure projects funded through ballot measures.