A Guide to Realizing the Potential of America’s Small Towns

Charles Marohn discusses the CNU NextGen initiative "Investment Ready Places" by Street Sense. The new booklet provides strategies for identifying and investing in America’s “new frontier for development.”

1 minute read

October 19, 2012, 1:00 PM PDT

By Jessica Hsu


In America, small towns and cities have suffered from the Ponzi scheme of suburban growth. "And certainly," writes Marohn, "almost all small towns are bankrupt, if not literally insolvent than functionally."

Yet those at Street Sense regard this situation as an opportunity for small and mid-sized towns to leverage their assets to meet "the unique set of challenges we face" -- a mission that the suburbs are ill-equipped to take on. The guide outlines strategies for recognizing these "investment ready places" and maximizing their development potential. "At its core," says Marohn, "Investment Ready Places is a call to tap the enormous potential and high-returns that still remain from the traditional development pattern."

Monday, October 15, 2012 in Better! Cities & Towns

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