Building A Vibrant Community: How Citizen-Powered Change Is Reshaping America

Every community wants to become a great place to live and work. The why is no mystery: We want to create a place our children and grandchildren will want to be. We also know the what: We need to attract investments, provide good jobs, and create lively downtowns where citizens will want to work, live, shop and play. What s usually missing is the how.

In Building a Vibrant Community, Quint Studer addresses all three aspects, but mainly focuses on the last one. How can your community get from where it is now to where it wants to be?

When Pensacola, FL, started its revitalization process, it was struggling economically. Today there is more downtown construction taking place than at any time in modern history. And downtown is well on its way to vibrancy. Property values are soaring. Small businesses are strong and growing. There s a deeper focus on education.

In fact, in 2013, Palafox Street was named one of the Ten Great Streets in America by the American Planning Association. Also, downtown Pensacola was named the 2017 Great Places of Florida People's Choice Winner, following a poll administered by the American Planning Association of Florida.

This book shares the lessons learned on this journey and lays out tactics communities can use as they move toward vibrancy. Readers will discover:

-Strategies for managing the psychological aspects of change how to alleviate fear, create confidence, and win buy-in

-How to create a dashboard that keeps your goals on track and in front of the community

-Why a vibrant downtown is a crucial part of the mix and the formula for building one

-Costly mistakes to avoid

-How the role of government is changing inside communities

-Why small business owners are the catalysts for change and sustainers and strategies for engaging and empowering them

-Creative ways to promote civic engagement

Filled with best practices readers can easily modify for their own needs, this book is a valuable resource for civic leaders, business owners, and all citizens who have a stake in building a community they can be proud to call home.