A group of camping tents beneath trees in a city park.

Unhoused: What is the Best Approach? 

Posted on August 11, 2023

This article was written by Rachel Witt, Executive Director of the South Grand Community Improvement District. Read all the articles in the Lessons & Partnerships in Community & Economic Development series. Becoming unhoused stems from diverse reasons, but one thing is certain: it's a public health crisis for individuals and communities alike. The problems are complex, but...
A series of 2 images displayed side-by-side. In the left image, a man in a collared shirt holds a glass of white wine toward the camera. To his right is a bar cart stocked with bottles. In the second image, a woman in a black T-shirt holds a metal planter inside a gardening store. She is surrounded by other planters and gardening supplies.

Zoning Reform Impacts Main Street America

Posted on March 2, 2023

This article was written by Rachel Witt, Executive Director of the South Grand Community Improvement District. Read all the articles in the Lessons & Partnerships in Community & Economic Development series. The American dream of entrepreneurship is in danger. Increasing housing costs are taking a toll on Main Street America. Customers are dining and shopping less, which...
people walking on a sidewalk along a city street

Legislation and Programs Key to Success For Reckless Driving

Posted on October 19, 2022

This article was written by Rachel Witt, Executive Director of the South Grand Community Improvement District. Read all the articles in the Lessons & Partnerships in Community & Economic Development series. In our cities today, we see too many reckless drivers that lack car insurance, do not possess a valid driver’s license, and/or drive with expired registration....
Old Movie Theater

Averting a Lost Decade: 7 City Interventions for Rethinking Inclusive Pandemic Recovery

Posted on June 22, 2022

  This article is brough to you by Bruce Katz, Founding Director of the Nowak Metro Finance Lab at Drexel University (Twitter, LinkedIn) and Mary Ellen Wiederwohl, CEO of Accelerator for America (LinkedIn). Content has been adapted for ELGL by Chelsea Gaylord, Graduate Research Analyst at the Nowak Metro Finance Lab (Twitter, LinkedIn). As we...
Corner of Crosswalk

The South Grand Community Creates a Special Use District

Posted on June 9, 2022

This article -- originally published on NextSTL -- was written by Rachel Witt, Executive Director of the South Grand Community Improvement District. Read all the articles in the Lessons & Partnerships in Community & Economic Development series. The South Grand Community Improvement District’s mission is to cultivate a robust and supportive business climate on South...
STL Skyline

Policy for Climate Change Unites the Three Sectors

Posted on April 21, 2022

Image from StudioX This article was written by Rachel Witt, Executive Director of the South Grand Community Improvement District. Read all the articles in the Lessons & Partnerships in Community & Economic Development series. Local government leaders have the tools to create a structure to institute climate change policies by uniting with the private and...
People biking and smiling

We Need to Live Smarter

Posted on April 7, 2022

This article was written by Rachel Witt, Executive Director of the South Grand Community Improvement District. Read all the articles in the Lessons & Partnerships in Community & Economic Development series. The rising cost of gas and services is making life difficult for many people. Americans can take advantage of the situation to reorient their...
People doing Yoga on a sunny day in Ritz Park

Tackling Traffic Improves Mental Health and Spurs Job Growth

Posted on February 18, 2022

This article was written by Rachel Witt, Executive Director of the South Grand Community Improvement District. Read all the articles in the Lessons & Partnerships in Community & Economic Development series. It was proven early on during the pandemic that we could physically see the difference in our air quality when cars were off the...

New Cohort! Federal Funding Opportunities to Create More Livable Communities – Apply by March 21

Posted on February 14, 2022

As local governments compete for grants and seek to implement investments strategically, they must navigate complex funding rules and reporting requirements, and design programs and partnerships that can deliver measurable, equitable outcomes for all residents. This cohort sprint is designed to supercharge efforts by local government practitioners to do just that. It will provide an...
South Grand streetscape Cafe Natasha

The New Year Brings Hope and Stability

Posted on January 7, 2022

This article was written by Rachel Witt, Executive Director of the South Grand Community Improvement District. Read all the articles in the Lessons & Partnerships in Community & Economic Development series. The mental health of our community has been fractured due to COVID. Many people feel isolated from their community for the past two years...
AR GL

Podcast: Investing in Women and Minority Owned Businesses with Angela Rollins, Rochester, NY

Posted on December 21, 2021

Angela Rollins Coordinator of Financial Empowerment Initiatives City of Rochester, New York LinkedIn Entrepreneurship opportunities for all. Angela Rollins, Coordinator of Financial Empowerment Initiatives for the City of Rochester, New York joined the podcast to talk about their women and minority owned business program. She discussed why Rochester is focusing on women and minority owned...
Photo of people walking at fall fest

When Neighbors Connect to their Main Streets

Posted on December 2, 2021

This article was written by Rachel Witt, Executive Director of the South Grand Community Improvement District. Read all the articles in the Lessons & Partnerships in Community & Economic Development series. When neighbors connect with their main street their synergy fosters economic development and stability. Including residents and businesses on a main street’s ordinances, events,...
Christopher Leonard, City of Fort Lauderdale

The Concept of Live, Work, Play, & Invest

Posted on September 22, 2021

Today’s Morning Buzz is brought to you by Christopher Leonard, Administrative Supervisor for the City of Fort Lauderdale. You can connect with him via LinkedIn What I’m Listening To: “Meditation” on Apple Music. What I’m Watching: Normally not much into shows, but I just finished America's Got Talent What I’m Reading: Crisis Intervention Research Live, work,...
Eco volunteers in green shirts

Eco-Volunteerism Connects Communities to Nature

Posted on September 8, 2021

This article was written by Angie Weber, Volunteer Coordinator & Rachel Witt, Executive Director of the South Grand Community Improvement District. Read all the articles in the Lessons & Partnerships in Community & Economic Development series. Today, more than ever in our changing climate, eco-volunteerism is needed to inspire, motivate, and teach people in our...
My Community's Garden

The Many Benefits of Community Gardens

Posted on July 8, 2021

Today’s Morning Buzz is by Rebecca Cormier, ELGL member, govtech enthusiast, and environmental advocate. Connect on Twitter and LinkedIn What I’m Reading: In This Together, How Republicans, Democrats, Capitalists, and Activists Are Uniting to Tackle Climate Change and More, by Trammell S. Crow and Bill Shireman What I’m Watching: The Americans-I have just started so...
Two people selling honey at Farmers' Market

What Spurs Economic Development?

Posted on June 10, 2021

This article was written by Rachel Witt, Executive Director of the South Grand Community Improvement District. Read all the articles in Rachel's Lessons & Partnerships in Community & Economic Development series. Economic development does not begin with what new business hub you can bring to your community, but how the town enables its residents to...
two people landscaping

Green Collar Jobs a Catalyst for Strong Communities

Posted on May 11, 2021

This article was written by Rachel Witt, Executive Director of the South Grand Community Improvement District. Read all the articles in Rachel's Lessons & Partnerships in Community & Economic Development series. Many ways exist to address poverty, unemployment, and social equity. The green collar industry made up of recycling, landscaping, food production, and energy production...
U.S.'s first City-Park, Built in 1634

Improving American Cities through Urban Parks

Posted on April 21, 2021

U.S.'s first city park, built in 1634 Today’s Morning Buzz is brought to you by Rebecca Cormier, Government Technology Consultant – connect with her on LinkedIn and Twitter! What I am reading: How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie What I am listening to: Armchair Expert podcast What I am watching: The Other Two With...
Reclaiming Shared Spaces Report Cover

New Report on How Love Your Block Leads to Healthier Cities

Posted on April 12, 2021

This report was shared by our friends at Urban Institute. Urban Institute has released a new report examining the impact of the Cities of Service Love Your Block program. We’re excited about the findings and interested in sharing how Love Your Block can lead to improved collaboration, better policy, and healthier cities. The study demonstrates...
Open sign on a brown door

Local Government Continues to Help Businesses: a Pandemic Year in Review

Posted on March 30, 2021

This article was written by Michael Huling, Master’s of Public Policy Student at the Pepperdine University School of Public Policy and a Graduate Assistant for the Davenport Institute. Businesses have been suffering for a year now due to the COVID-19 pandemic and are continuing to struggle as the nation approaches reopening. However, despite the widespread...
People gathered outdoors

The Future of Main Streets

Posted on February 24, 2021

This article was written by Rachel Witt, Executive Director of the South Grand Community Improvement District. Read all the articles in Rachel's Lessons & Partnerships in Community & Economic Development series. As COVID-19 continues, the makeup of our main streets will forever be changed. The slow build of closures this winter will change the footprint...

Rebuilding a City Requires Partners

Posted on February 3, 2021

This article was written by Rachel Witt, Executive Director of the South Grand Community Improvement District. Read all the articles in Rachel's Lessons & Partnerships in Community & Economic Development series. To rebuild a city requires many partners within a community. How do we connect our community? A community is connected through the partnership of...
Two people walking down a busy main street

How To Be A Successful Special Taxing District

Posted on January 22, 2021

This article was written by Rachel Witt, Executive Director of the South Grand Community Improvement District. Read all the articles in Rachel's Lessons & Partnerships in Community & Economic Development series. Special taxing districts designated for a main street all serve the same purpose, to provide communities resources that their city, town, village, or county...
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