Deb Brown, co-founder of SaveYour.Town and BuildingPossibility.com, is a passionate advocate for revitalizing small towns. In a lively discussion, she emphasizes the power of community engagement and technology in local development. Deb shares success stories of towns transforming through collaboration and creativity, including initiatives like community beautification projects and incubator spaces that support small businesses. Listeners are inspired to embrace positivity and local resources to foster economic growth and social connections.
Revitalizing small towns requires recognizing empty buildings as valuable assets for new business opportunities and community engagement.
Engaging community members through creative tours and events fosters excitement and leads to actionable outcomes for revitalization efforts.
Implementing the 'Idea-Friendly Method' allows communities to gather input and generate ideas that reflect local needs and desires.
Empowering local entrepreneurs through shared spaces promotes economic growth and supports innovation while nurturing grassroots initiatives within the community.
Deep dives
Revitalizing Small Towns
The discussion emphasizes the importance of revitalizing small towns across America, highlighting that many communities face decline due to abandoned buildings and lack of new ideas. Examples are shared, such as a town in Arkansas where empty buildings give a sense of lost potential. The speaker stresses that these buildings are assets that can provide opportunities for new businesses and community engagement, fostering a positive outlook on town restoration. Creative thinking and community involvement are presented as essential components for reimagining these spaces and attracting new residents and businesses.
Community Engagement Techniques
Deb discusses successful techniques for engaging community members, emphasizing the idea of showcasing empty buildings through tours to generate interest. For instance, a building tour where locals could see potential properties sparked excitement and led to the filling of nearly all showcased buildings within a year and a half. By promoting dialogue and collaboration among community members, the project demonstrates that shared enthusiasm can lead to collective action and decision-making. The power of storytelling and building relationships within the community is identified as crucial for effective revitalization efforts.
The Idea-Friendly Method
The concept of the 'Idea-Friendly Method' is introduced as a strategy to encourage open discussion and creativity amongst community members. The method involves gathering input from residents about what they want and need, which helps generate actionable ideas for improvement. This approach has proven effective in various case studies, leading to meaningful projects that reflect the community's desires. Participants are encouraged to think outside the traditional framework and embrace innovative solutions that resonate with local values and needs.
Empowering Local Entrepreneurs
The podcast explores the importance of empowering local entrepreneurs as a means of fostering economic growth and revitalization. Through various examples, it illustrates how grassroots initiatives can lead to the establishment of small businesses like cafes, retail stores, and service-based industries. Encouraging individuals to chase their ideas provides significant potential for local economic impact and community development. The idea that entrepreneurs can emerge from unexpected places highlights the need to support and nurture local talent rather than solely relying on external forces for change.
Utilizing Shared Spaces
The effectiveness of shared spaces in fostering entrepreneurship is discussed, showcasing how they provide affordable access to retail opportunities for emerging businesses. These spaces allow small business owners to test their ideas without significant financial risk, promoting collaboration among diverse vendors. Success stories detail how entrepreneurs used shared spaces to grow and eventually secure their own retail locations after proving their business concepts. This model reduces barriers to entry for potential business owners, fostering a supportive environment for innovation and success.
Innovative Community Projects
Innovative community projects are highlighted, like art initiatives that utilize local talent to beautify public spaces and inspire community pride. The conversation describes successful examples, such as murals and collaborative art events that engaged residents while creating a visually appealing atmosphere. These initiatives serve to not only enhance the community’s appearance but also create a sense of belonging and togetherness among residents. The underlying message stresses that investing in aesthetics and culture can lead to increased tourism and economic activity, benefiting the entire community.
Changing Negative Narratives
The conversation addresses the need to change negative narratives surrounding struggling towns, focusing instead on opportunities and potential for growth. Strategies for shifting mindsets within the community are outlined, such as highlighting successful local stories and emphasizing the possibility of revitalization. The speaker encourages community members to avoid defeatist attitudes and replace them with proactive measures that spark positive change. Developing a culture of celebration around small victories fosters resilience and encourages ongoing participation in community improvement efforts.
Deb Brown joins us at TSPC to talk about how you really can breathe life back into your own small town. Small town America has taken a beating over the last 5 decades but it doesn’t have to be that way. There are ways to turn it all around, join Deb and I to learn how today. Deb Brown is a dynamic small-town advocate and community development expert with a wealth of experience empowering rural communities. As the co-founder of SaveYour.Town, she has been working alongside Becky McCray for a decade, providing practical advice and innovative solutions to shape brighter …Continue reading →
Get the Snipd podcast app
Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode
Save any moment
Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways
Share & Export
Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode
