The Community Economic Development Handbook

by Temali, Mihailo

• ISBN13: 9780940069367
• ISBN10: 0940069369
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2002-09-01
• Publisher: Fieldstone Alliance

Summary

The step-by-step guide to turning any neighborhood around A weak local economy can be strengthened. A run-down neighborhood of boarded-up storefronts, litter-strewn sidewalks, high unemployment, and poorly-maintained housing can be transformed. An entire community can be lifted up. Mihailo (Mike) Temali knows this first-hand. He has spent nearly twenty years working in community-based economic development, helping cities as diverse as St. Paul, Minnesota, and Santiago, Chile. In this concrete, practical, jargon-free handbook, he describes a proven way to make any community a better place to live. Comprehensive, realistic, and easy-to-use If you don't already have a community economic development (CED) organization in place, Temali tells you how to set one up. Then he defines four pivot points that are crucial to neighborhood economies: 1) Revitalizing your commercial district; 2) Developing microbusinesses; 3) Developing your community workforce; and 4) Growing good neighborhood jobs. He explains how to choose your first pivot point, then guides you through the process of tackling each one. True stories of successful CED provide inspiration. Sidebars explore related issues: dealing with gentrification, finding potential partners, supporting microentrepreneurs, and more. Other CED professionals share their insights in "From the Field" notes. Appendices point you toward useful resources, show you how to use the Internet to research your regional economy, and include dozens of worksheets that will help you move from reading about CED to doing it. The Community Economic Development Handbook is precisely what you need to turn your neighborhood around!

Table of Contents

Dedication	iii
Acknowledgments	v
About the Author	vii
Community Economic Development---An Overview	1	(14)
Two Goals of Community Economic Development	3	(1)
Your Vehicle to Meet Those Goals---an Organization	4	(1)
Four Pivot-Point Strategies	5	(3)
A Four-Step Process	8	(2)
Opening Your Toolbox	10	(1)
Getting the Most from This Book	10	(4)
Summary	14	(1)
Develop Your Organization	15	(20)
Review the Types of Community Economic Development Organizations	15	(1)
Handle Basic Start-up Tasks	16	(5)
Establish Basic Operating Principles	21	(4)
Build Your Funding	25	(2)
Build Your Staff	27	(2)
Develop and Maintain Strong Relationships	29	(1)
Create Effective Partnerships	30	(1)
Gain Visibility and Credibility	31	(3)
Summary	34	(1)
Pick a Pivot Point and Get Started	35	(20)
Assess Current Economic Conditions	36	(4)
Assess Your Organization's Resources	40	(3)
Choose a Pivot-Point Strategy	43	(1)
Tips for Creating Your Vision and Strategic Plan	44	(4)
Tips for Implementing Your Plan	48	(4)
Tips for Evaluating and Improving Your Work	52	(2)
Summary	54	(1)
Revitalize Your Commercial District	55	(50)
Overview	55	(1)
Forces That Drive Districts Down	56	(2)
The Case for Revitalizing Your Commercial District	58	(46)
Assess Current Conditions	58	(11)
Create a Vision and Strategic Plan	69	(4)
Implement Your Plan	73	(30)
Monitor, Evaluate, and Improve	103	(1)
Summary	104	(1)
Develop Microbusiness	105	(34)
Overview	105	(1)
Three Reasons to See Microbusiness as an Economic Pivot Point	106	(3)
Understand Microentrepreneurs	109	(28)
Assess Current Conditions	111	(3)
Create a Vision and Strategic Plan	114	(3)
Implement Your Plan	117	(18)
Monitor, Evaluate, and Improve	135	(2)
Summary	137	(2)
Develop Your Community Workforce	139	(30)
Overview	139	(1)
Understand the Workforce Development Industry	140	(2)
Common Elements in Workforce Development Programs	142	(3)
Seven Common Approaches to Workforce Development	145	(22)
Assess Current Conditions	151	(4)
Create a Vision and Strategic Plan	155	(5)
Implement Your Plan	160	(6)
Monitor, Evaluate, and Improve	166	(1)
Summary	167	(2)
Grow Good Neighborhood Jobs	169	(26)
Overview	169	(3)
Examples of Neighborhoods Growing Good Jobs	172	(2)
Pre-assessment: Define the Features of a Job-Producing Business	174	(20)
Assess Current Conditions	179	(7)
Create a Vision and Strategic Plan	186	(3)
Implement Your Plan	189	(5)
Monitor, Evaluate, and Improve	194	(1)
Summary	194	(1)
Conclusion	195	(2)
Appendices	197	(66)
Index	263