Economic Development - For the Little Guys

When I was a County Administrator, and even when I was a Village Manager, I put a focus on economic / community development. Although funds were limited for so-called non-mandated/discretionary programs, we found a way to support, sustain and in some cases enhance, funding for the vital services. Small places often lack the population density, big employers, staff complement, budget size or tax base of urban areas — yet they are tasked with doing the same type of meaningful economic development work: sustaining local economies, jobs, and increasing community vitality. In both instances, we focused on placemaking: downtown revitalization, historic assets and preservation, outdoor recreation, and cultural heritage. In Brockport, in my first stop, we had the branding of the Victorian Village on the Erie Canal, the canal itself, a robust Historic Preservation group, a beautiful Main Street and - for a village our size - a good share of neat parks and playgrounds. In Livingston County, we have 9 distinct Villages, agritourism, a major State Park in Letchworth, the Finger Lakes, the Genesee River, trails, and the Genesee Valley Greenway, among other major assets of this type. Highlighting the “quality of place” attracts both residents and businesses and encourages community pride. Small counties and cities can also be perhaps more nimble and engaged in their support of local entrepreneurs, as small business is the backbone of rural economies. Programs like incubators, shared workspaces, micro-grant/loan programs, revolving loan funds, PILOT programs, etc. While we still chased the Fortune 500 and big-box projects, we also knew that 50 small business successes would yield 100+ jobs. It’s about balance and leveraging your resources.