Across the United States, many small and mid-size communities are struggling to find an economic development strategy that really works. Thankfully, you don’t have to muddle through this without guidance.

Is your city ready for economic development and retail growth? Most cities want to grow and develop their economies. But you’re not going to achieve that goal without taking steps toward building a smart economic development strategy.

If you want to make the most of future retail development, then it’s time to for a more strategic approach to site selection.

For decades, scholarly journals have published hundreds of studies on urban economics. People studying cities ask questions like, “Why do some cities grow and others decline?” and “What makes certain cities generate more wealth than others?”

If you’re looking to bring new retailers into your city, it’s important to know what type of demand there is among your population. One way to find out where the retail in your community isn’t meeting the demand is by using a retail opportunity gap analysis.

As we move into an increasingly digital future, we’re connecting more and more things to the internet. Want street lights to switch on-and-off at a certain time relative to sunset? Connect it to the internet. People having trouble knowing where to park? Connect parking meters to the internet and drivers…

Municipal infrastructure is the sort of thing most people take for granted until it stops working. Unless someone’s job involves working on this infrastructure, they only think about their town’s sewage system when the toilet won’t flush, or wonder about stormwater management when their basement floods.

2019 is shaping up to be a challenging year for the restaurant industry. For many restaurants, last year was marked by weak customer traffic and stagnant sales. Rising food and labor costs, as well as changing customer demands, indicated this year isn’t going to be much easier.

Selecting the right location to build is crucial when planning for retail expansion. The site selection process will be among the most important decisions you make, which means taking time to do things the right way is going to pay off big in the long run. Here are five key…

There are several important factors to consider when you’re making decisions about retail site selection. Choosing the right location for new retail expansion is key to success. Location, location, location…As such, it’s vital that you understand all the factors involved.

Economic development efforts tend to focus more on places than on people. Investing in projects such as a new stadium, casino, or convention center seems like the better long-term bet for a city. The ROI for encouraging residents to pursue higher education, for example, isn’t readily apparent.

When you’re making decisions about retail site selection, there are several important factors to consider. Selecting the right location for new retail expansion is key to success. As such, it’s vital that you understand all the factors involved.

Retailers do extensive research and analysis to make sure they’ve found a good location before deciding to build in a town or city. You can help your community stand-out in these searches by meeting their requirements for retail development sites. One of the best ways to do this is by…

Investing in retail development can be a risky proposition for a developer. If the deal succeeds, they’ve improved their bottom line and increased their customer base and market appeal. But if the deal falls through, they’ve lost a significant amount of money and time. When you’re marketing your community for…

Marketing plays a crucial role if you’re planning for economic growth in your city. And I’m not just talking about attracting new businesses though that is an essential step. If your community is going to remain successful, you also have to continue marketing yourself to and maintaining relationships with existing…