One of the eight assets identified by the League's Center for 21st Communities to help create a more vibrant commuity is "entrepreneurship". And what we mean is that local leaders should be looking for ways to garden their own small businesses rather than hunting down the next big box.
Toward that effort we've formed partnerships with folks such as the Sirolli Institute and MSU's Creating Entrepreneurial Communities programs to work with our members. And it looks like others around the country are catching on.
This article discusses the efforts of a small village in upstate New York...how they've worked to revitalize their downtown by restoring buildings, creating second-flor apartments and encouraging those who made things in their homes to occupy storefronts. Its exactly the recipe the League is encouraging and shows what can be done when the right ingredients are put in the mix.
Arnold Weinfeld is Director of Strategic Initiatives for the Michigan Municipal League. He can be reached at 517-908-0304 or by e-mail.
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