Research includes market analysis, customer profiles, retail leakage analysis, community economic analysis and other methods for learning about a downtown’s opportunities.
The First Impressions program helps communities learn about existing strengths and weaknesses through the eyes of the first-time visitor and provides a structured opportunity to learn about strengths and weaknesses of similar communities. The results from a First Impressions visit can serve as the basis for community action and as a way to document changes in the community over time.
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The purpose of this literature review is to provide a better understanding of indicators defining downtown success. This review will summarize characteristics of successful downtowns as described in contemporary literature pertaining to urban planning, downtown revitalization and business development. This analysis will support communities in using data for business development and developing fruitful partnerships with the private sector.
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It is the small community that brings its residents, often defined by school district boundaries, together through commerce, education, and a sense of personal identity. It is this dichotomy that prompted further examination of the topic and the research question: “Can Small Towns Be Cool?”
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This toolbox contains tools that Main Street executive directors and volunteers can use to assist downtown businesses, carry out downtown improvement projects, provide information for residents and visitors and run their own organizations effectively.
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This is a webpage with research to help communities make informed decisions regarding the changing dynamics of the economy, assess the impact of those changes, and identify local economic strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats.
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The Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service – Community Economic Development offers workshops to help communities attract new industry, expand existing industry, attract new businesses, retirees, or increase recreational opportunities. Retail is one area of specialty.
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The educational program is tailor-made for staff and management of local attractions, convenience stores, lodging, restaurants, retail shops and more.
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PowerPoint presentation to help develop survey questions.
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Our Mission: To provide high-quality, rigorous, and reasonably priced survey services to academics, non-profit organizations, local units of government, and others.
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The Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs is a clearinghouse for information on rural issues, coordinates rural research, and works with state agencies on issues of importance to rural communities.
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