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Places we invest, work and grow in – a resource for place-based economic development.

MyPlaceMatters provides quick explainers, practical tools, strategic intelligence and fun ideas about how things are done in other parts of the world to help create more vibrant economies, better local jobs and a higher quality of life.

Plug into global experience and expertise on regional and local economic development. Access practical tools you can use to assess and develop your economy.

Cities

With over 70% of Australians living in cities, we’re a highly urbanised people. Cities connect us to one another and the world. Whether you live in the CBD or the suburbs, if you live and work in the city you need to know how to become more globally relevant and competitive. If you're a local or city government, you need to devise inclusive development strategies that draw in investors and develop specialist skills, while nurturing innovation and new start-ups.

Read more about developing urban economies

Towns

One in ten of us live in small towns with populations of less than 10,000 people. These towns are part of a diverse range of places that form the regional heart of our nation. If you leave in any of Australia's small towns, you need to understand the markets that will drive your economic growth, draw on your local assets and mobilise your community towards its preferred future.

Read more about small town economic development

Regions

Regional Australia contributes one third of our national output and is home to 8.8 million Australians. Regions provide employment for one in three working Australians. If you live in regional Australia, you need to understand the links between the regional centres and their hinterlands, identify the factors that promote or inhibit growth, and improve the connections between competitive firms, workers, industries, and clusters.

Read more about regional economic development

Coasts

As an island, Australia is blessed with many coastal communities. Many coastal areas are struggling with economic, environmental and social change, often brought about by ‘sea changers’ and tourism. If you live in a coastal community, you need to know how to pursue a comprehensive, balanced, approach to managing growth and conservation.

Read more about sustainable economic development in coastal areas

Economic Development Strategies

Search the only national database of Australian local government economic development strategies.

By connecting policy makers, practitioners, leaders and anyone else with a stake in the future, MyPlaceMatters helps you to think about how best to invest in where you are, in order to get to where you want to go.