The Agurban from Boomtown Institute – "Twenty-First Century Community Development"

Twenty-First Century Community Development

In today’s economy, rural community and economic development increasingly go hand in hand. With increased global competition, there is a need for more local decision-making and more locally based economic ventures for a community to be successful. Succeeding at this approach hinges on community commitment. Communities must focus on development not only in the community, but of the community.

In Challenges for Rural America in the Twenty- First Century, authors Kenneth Pigg and Ted Bradshaw, outline a new model of community development, catalytic development. The catalytic development model focuses on mobilizing local talent and leveraging local resources and networks to find local solutions, and ultimately foster development in and of communities.

A catalytic community developer enhances the community commitment by including many participants in the process. The catalytic community developer helps many individuals work together in a loosely coupled way. This approach has the power to increase community involvement, strengthening the community for the future.

Next week The Agurban will discuss the characteristics of catalytic community development: Capacity-Building, Empowerment, Collaboration, Expanded Locus of Activity, Open Access to Information, and Comprehensive, Not Categorical.

Thanks to the Rural Sociological Society Issue Brief, Catalytic Community Development, for reporting on this approach to community and economic development.

The Blog Log
Visit my weblog to see where I’ve been and what I learned along the way. This week I blogged on Diversification, Friends of Jackpot, Geocaching and Ponca City, OK as well as several other topics. http://www.boomtowninstitute.com

On the Road Again
In addition to my travel blog I’ll list my upcoming engagements in each issue of The Agurban. Come see me when I’m in your neighborhood! After presenting at Mrytle Beach, SC on Monday I will be heading home for the rest of week. Happy Thanksgiving!

Hot Topics
This month’s Hot Topic, Focus on Gen X, looks at reasons and ways your community can reach out to this demographic. Check it out at http://www.boomtowninstitute.com.

Perfect for Christmas Gift Giving! Boomtown Institute’s ABC Volume One, Enriching Your Community One Letter at a Time! Order today at http://www.boomtowninstitute.com. Quantity discounts available!

BoomtownInstitute.com has a new look. Check out our updated and expanded website at http://www.boomtowninstitute.com!

Jack Schultz is the CEO of Boomtown Institute and Agracel Inc., an industrial development firm majoring in rural America, author of Boomtown USA, and speaker. Boomtown Institute serves as an economic development mentor to communities across the United States, leading communities to realize their full potential.

Visit the Boomtown Institute website at http://www.boomtowninstitute.com

Keep up with Jack as he tours the country on his blog!
To learn more about Agracel visit http://www.agracel.com.