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Healthy Sustainable Communities Blog
Blogs are posted every Friday. Please use the contact form if you'd like to see us cover a topic that we haven't already covered.


Seasonal Business Mentorship Programs Using Local Expertise
Why Seasonal Business Mentorship Matters Seasonal businesses are the lifeblood of many small Oregon towns, especially during peak tourism...

Healthy Sustainable Communities
3 days ago3 min read
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Why Local Support Matters for Sustainable Tourism Growth
Tourism can be a powerful engine for small-town economies—creating jobs, supporting local businesses, and generating much-needed tax...

Healthy Sustainable Communities
Jun 273 min read
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Visitor Information Systems That Actually Help Local Businesses
Why Traditional Visitor Information Approaches Often Fail Most small towns in Oregon have relied on traditional visitor centers, static...

Healthy Sustainable Communities
Jun 204 min read
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First Customer Programs: How Local Government Can Jump-Start New Businesses
Why Becoming the "First Customer" Is a Powerful Economic Development Tool Small towns across Oregon face a common challenge: how to...

Healthy Sustainable Communities
Jun 133 min read
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Measuring What Matters: Simple Metrics for Small Town Economic Development
For small towns, every dollar and hour spent on economic development counts. With limited staff and tight budgets, it’s tempting to focus...

Healthy Sustainable Communities
Jun 63 min read
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Economic Gardening: Policy Approaches to Grow Your Own Businesses
Recruiting outside companies often gets the headlines, but for smaller towns, the real engine of economic growth is your existing...

Healthy Sustainable Communities
May 303 min read
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Microzoning: Creating Business-Specific Opportunity Areas Downtown
A bustling small-town street showcasing In the bustling world of urban development, microzoning stands out as a game-changing approach to...

Healthy Sustainable Communities
May 233 min read
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Rethinking Urban Community Spaces: Strategies for Inclusivity Across Generations
Community gathering area with people participating in various activities, demonstrating inclusivity. Urban planning shapes the day-to-day...
Nick Romo
May 164 min read
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Business-Friendly Doesn’t Mean No Rules: Smart Regulation for Small Towns
Balancing economic growth with the preservation of community character is one of the toughest challenges facing small-town administrators...

Healthy Sustainable Communities
May 93 min read
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Non-Traditional Service Anchors: Rethinking Essential Downtown Businesses
Small towns across Oregon are facing a crossroads when it comes to downtown revitalization. As traditional retail struggles to fill empty...

Healthy Sustainable Communities
May 23 min read
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Unleashing the Power of Community: A New Approach to Urban Renewal Projects
Urban renewal projects are evolving. In the past, these initiatives were often top-down approaches that excluded local voices, leading to...

Healthy Sustainable Communities
Apr 254 min read
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Nighttime Economy: Beyond Bar Hours - Creating Evening Vitality for All Ages
Small towns in Oregon often face the challenge of keeping their downtowns lively after traditional business hours. Developing a diverse...

Healthy Sustainable Communities
Apr 182 min read
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Uncovering Opportunities: Residential Conversion Barriers and Zoning Updates That Encourage Downtown Living
In the rapidly evolving landscape of urban development, the push for downtown living has garnered significant momentum. As cities strive...

Healthy Sustainable Communities
Apr 144 min read
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Uncovering the Hidden Potential: Cost-Effective Solutions to Transform Urban Corridors for Community Development in Small Cities
In small cities, urban corridors are more than just pathways; they are the lifeblood of community engagement. These corridors host...

Healthy Sustainable Communities
Apr 43 min read
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Unveiling the Blueprint: Revitalizing Urban Areas for Climate Resilience
Climate change is a reality that urban areas are confronting every day. With rising temperatures, increasing sea levels, and more...

Healthy Sustainable Communities
Mar 283 min read
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How Community Events Can Showcase Urban Renewal Potential
As a town administrator in a local community, you understand the challenges of revitalizing your downtown area with limited resources....

Healthy Sustainable Communities
Mar 213 min read
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Zoning Updates That Encourage Downtown Living
As a small town administrator, you understand the importance of a thriving downtown area for your community's vitality. Downtown...
Nick Romo
Mar 142 min read
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Uncovering the Power of Branding: Transforming Your Downtown's Identity
In recent years, many downtown areas have experienced a significant revival as communities strive to breathe new life into their urban...

Healthy Sustainable Communities
Mar 74 min read
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Empowering Towns: Nurturing Sustainable Communities through Grassroots Initiatives and Local Wisdom
Volunteers work together in a community garden In today's world, the shift towards sustainable town development is more crucial than...
Nick Romo
Feb 285 min read
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Turning Vacant Buildings into Community Assets
In small towns across Oregon, vacant buildings are more than just empty spaces; they are a symbol of economic stagnation and community...

Healthy Sustainable Communities
Feb 213 min read
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