A dying main street or downtown
How to hold on to the businesses you have, organize the district, and refill empty storefronts.
Before you rely on thisThese are older articles and answers, and laws and programs change and vary by place. For current rules, check with your state economic development agency and local chamber of commerce.
Start with these
Guide
Business Retention Is Best Community Option
Here learn the art of business retention, a much better use of community resources than trying to land one the rare business relocations.Guide
Commercial District Revitalization Requires Skill, Determination, Experimentation
Commercial district revitalization is challenging due to multiple property and business owners. Coordination and diversification are essential.Guide
Downtown Redevelopment Needs Government, Business
To jump-start an aging town center, a plan, organizational structure, realistic expectations, and plenty of patience are required. Here are the major tenets of downtown redevelopment.Visitor question
What can a suburb do about business closings?
Our suburb was always a beautiful place, mostly built in the 1970s and early 80s, until just recently. We never had any trouble, we had all the conveniencesGuide
How to Approach Commercial Corridor Redevelopment
Commercial corridor redevelopment along major roads and highways improves a community's image and increases the likelihood of business success.Guide
Will the Benefits of a Business Improvement District Make the Assessment Worth It?
One of the chief benefits of a business improvement district is building and maintaining a better commercial area than the city's standard level of service.Guide
Retail Attraction Strategies for Bringing in Stores You Want
Successful retail attraction strategies now need to rely on uniqueness and experiences; mom and pop stores will survive only if they adapt to these new realities.
Ready to do something about it?
Turn this into a clear plan.
Mission Maps helps you get clear on the need, mission, outcomes, program, and funding direction.
Original guidance from A Good Community: How to Make and Keep It, owned and edited by Nancy Thompson (formerly Useful Community Development), shared with permission. Community Compass notes and updates are our own and have not been reviewed by Nancy Thompson.