Toward a General Strategy for Small Town Economic Development       

The above link will take you to the article I have just completed on this subject. It focuses on smaller and rural communities with populations under 35,000. However, much of the analysis is also applicable to many suburban communities and even some urban neighborhoods.

Since 2010, I’ve been trying to figure out a viable approach to stimulating meaningful economic development in our smaller communities that:
— Considers current realities
— Leverages likely local assets and
— Does not threaten the scale and lifestyles that make these communities attractive to close to 70 million Americans.

This is a major research paper — 32 pages long — that brings together my work on Central Social Districts, quality of life residential and business recruitment, contingent workers, and small business e-commerce capabilities.

It is a very curmudgeonly article. While I hope it genuinely and productively explores new ground, some readers might find it somewhat contentious.

The article has lots of illustrations, but I still felt it was too long for either a newsletter or blog format.

I hope you will find it informative, useful and interesting.

N. David Milder

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