Developing Effective Business Recruitment Materials

Once a market analysis has been completed, a community can use the information to develop business recruitment materials that showcase market potential. Recruitment materials can be a useful tool to attract usiness investment to their business district. Business investment could include new or expanded retail, services, restaurants, housing, offices and other uses. These materials can also serve business retention and expansion efforts. This article explores some of the most common elements of successful business recruitment materials.

Downtown Revitalization and Enhancing Sense of Place- Remembering the Work of Kent Robertson

Kent Robertson, a leader in the field of downtown revitalization, has passed away at the age of 53. Kent has worked in the field since 1980 as a researcher, teacher, speaker, writer, and consultant. He was widely published and a frequent conference presenter and keynote speaker. He believed the heart of a community was its original downtown. His nationally respected work reached communities across the country.A summary of one of his presentations on downtowns’ sense of place is provided here. This summary, a reprint of the October 2000 issue, provides valuable ideas on how we can make downtown more attractive to both consumers and businesses.

Rural Downtown Development: Guiding Principles for Small Cities

Small city downtowns are often in need of the same revitalization efforts larger urban centers benefit from. The issues surrounding small city development are complicated because of rural downtown’s great diversity in population size, location and economic base. This diversity, and the obvious disparity in scale, means that one cannot simply apply urban development techniques to small city projects. To address the lack of small city development guidelines Kent Robertson, professor of Community Development at St. Cloud State University, developed five principles to inform revitalization in rural and small city downtowns. This article is a summary of these principles.

Downtown Redevelopment Efforts in Selected Midwest Cities

While recent downtown revitalization efforts in larger cities may not be transferable, they do demonstrate the variety of ideas being used to serve three important market downtown segments: residents, office workers, and tourists. These examples illustrate how downtowns can serve multiple segments in dynamic, mixed-use environments.

Characteristics of Successful Downtowns

What characteristics or attributes are shared by outstanding small and mid-sized downtowns? Research by Gary Ferguson of the Ithaca (NY) Downtown Partnership addressed this question in a recent study of successful downtowns. The cities selected for study all have reputations for outstanding downtowns. They include: State College, PA, Burlington, VT, Providence, RI, Northampton, MA, Portland, ME, Madison, WI, Ann Arbor, MI, Boulder, CO, Charlottesville, VA, Chapel Hill, NC, and Wooster, OH. Ferguson’s findings are summarized in this article following 12 downtown characteristics.

Reclaiming the Waterfront

People have been drawn to water since the dawn of civilization, but American cities and towns have had a complicated relationship with water. “Water is a powerful draw and can help instill a strong sense of place,” observed Kent Robertson, Director of Community Development at Saint Cloud State University in Minnesota. “The fact that many downtowns are built near a body of water is a tremendous asset that should not be wasted” . This artcle discusses how communities can develop the waterfront into an energizing environment that benefits all.

Developing a Downtown Stategic Plan

Downtown is one of the largest mixed use developments in a metropolitan area (and perhaps the largest in many small cities). However, there is rarely a strategic plan for downtown, nor any formal management of it. By contrast,
the typical regional mall, a much smaller and far simpler development, has a comprehensive strategy for the positioning of the mall and 24/7 oversight. Leinberger offers a comprehensive approach to strategic planning that creates “walkable urbanity,” the appeal of traditional downtowns that sets them apart from their suburban competitors. These strategies fall into ten categories.

Smart Downtown Parking: Core Principles to Support Downtown Development

The majority of downtown visitors arrive by automobile making it essential to balance a pedestrian-friendly setting
with the continuously increasing public demand for convenient parking. SDP fully comprehends the valuable role parking plays in a strong downtown economy, but advocates that parking be planned, designed, and located intelligently, keeping the pedestrian in mind. After all, every driver becomes a pedestrian once the car is parked. Seven core principles contribute to the essence of Smart Downtown Parking.

So You’ve Survived Road Construction – Now What?

Dealing with the after-effects of road construction frequently requires careful planning and implementation to help restore a community’s vitality and perhaps help it expand beyond previous levels. A good dose of creativity and perseverance are also useful elements. Several strategies that can be considered, based on the experiences of several Wisconsin communities that have successfully dealt with the after-effects of road construction, are summarized in this issue.

Economic Restructuring Activities in Downtown Revitalization

The Main Street Four-Point Approach includes organization, design, promotion and economic restructuring (ER). Economic Restructuring involves strengthening and diversifying the economic vitality of the business district. It is the ultimate goal of all Main Street revitalization programs. This article summarizes some of the ER activities and their use and effectiveness. It is based on literature from the National Main Street Center
as well as recent research by Kent Robertson at St. Cloud State University.

Downtown Economics

Division of Extension

Ideas and Perspectives

Developing Effective Business Recruitment Materials

Downtown Revitalization and Enhancing Sense of Place- Remembering the Work of Kent Robertson

Rural Downtown Development: Guiding Principles for Small Cities

Downtown Redevelopment Efforts in Selected Midwest Cities

Characteristics of Successful Downtowns

Reclaiming the Waterfront

Developing a Downtown Stategic Plan

Smart Downtown Parking: Core Principles to Support Downtown Development

So You’ve Survived Road Construction – Now What?

Economic Restructuring Activities in Downtown Revitalization