THE RURBAN FRINGE

Study Reveals Big Box Store Subsidies Don’t Work

When public money is used to woo private chains, economic growth and job creation aren’t worth the cost, says Stacy Mitchell of the Institute for Local Self-Reliance.  Independent retailers also suffer.
Handling out enormous subsidies to large chains has become common in both the US and Canada, with such deals premised on the idea that new [...]

Is Your Community Business-Friendly?

Over the past eighteen months, I’ve been assisting two communities within our region implement a Business Vitality Initiative (BVI).  In a nutshell, the BVI measures how attractive your community is to small businesses. 
Developed by the Centre for Innovative and Entrepreneurial Leadership (CIEL), the BVI engages key stakeholders in identifying new business and economic opportunities and encourages communities [...]

Government at the Speed of Business?

Thanks to technology, the speed of business is accelerating at an ever-increasing rate.  But is government keeping up?
In many municipalities, resources and capacity are perpetual issues.  Yet in today’s digital age, how governments gather, manage and use information is vital in whether they win – and remain relevant and responsive to community needs - or lose.
Think [...]

Weathering the Storm

With a winter storm wreaking havoc in my region – closing highways, stranding travellers, disrupting employment - I couldn’t help but reflect on how dealing with weather is a perennial headache for businesses.  Not only do some businesses lose sales resulting from reduced foot traffic, others may be inundated with individuals (i.e. restaurants, hotels) while simultaneously [...]

The 10 Steps of Entrepreneurial Development

Successful entrepreneurial initiatives need strong local champions.
Entrepreneurship initiatives require long-term investment.
Successful projects must be flexible and entrepreneurial in terms of their goals.
Partnerships and collaborations are a must.
Include youth … they can often be a catalyst for change and will create a future pipeline of entrepreneurs.
Leverage resources … financial, human, etc.
Maintain momentum by celebrating successes.
Implement a [...]

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