29 Oct 2024
The Rise of Restaurant Bankruptcies… What’s Next for Sit-Down Dining?
Why are so many long-standing national sit-down restaurants going into bankruptcy or closing?
As 2024 unfolds, the retail and dining landscape continues to evolve at a rapid pace. Casual dining chains like Red Lobster and TGI Fridays are facing significant financial challenges and have recently announced bankruptcies and a series of mass closures. Other restaurants, such as Outback, Cracker Barrel, and Burger Fi, are closing underperforming stores.
24 Jun 2024
Community Visioning: A Case Study
Welcome to the final segment of our Community Visioning series! So far, we’ve discussed the importance of Community Visioning and Implementing Your Community Vision. In this final part, we will explore how grants can be utilized to help implement specific projects and goals, as was the case with the City of Whigham, and how that aligns with the community’s collective vision.
09 May 2024
Celebrating Economic Development Week
Spotlighting individuals in Economic Development who have greatly influenced us!
#EconDevWeek was created by International Economic Development Council (IEDC), with the aim of highlighting programs, best practices and exceptional individuals that positively impact life in their communities. Though it may occasionally slip our minds where we got our start, it’s valuable to occasionally reflect on where it all started and celebrate those who motivate us to keep moving forward. This year, the theme honors Economic Development Heroes.
20 Mar 2024
The Essential Role of Shovel-Ready Sites in Economic Development
In the realm of economic development, the term “shovel-ready” signifies more than just prepared land. It represents a beacon of growth, efficiency, and opportunity. Shovel-ready sites, with their pre-developed infrastructure, offer a unique blend of advantages that make them invaluable for rapid economic expansion and competitiveness.
23 Feb 2024
Implementing Your Community Vision
You did it! You herded the cats, successfully crafted a vision for your community, and developed an implementation plan. Now what?
For most, developing a community vision and implementation plan is the easy part, but implementing projects and making meaningful changes to achieve a community vision can be extremely daunting.