At the Wise Economy Workshop, we believe that community planning — whether for future land uses, redevelopment, or simply running an organization — needs to be done from a firm foundation in economic realities, trends and potential.  Our approach looks at all aspects of a community through a lens of economics, but we don’t use a strictly bean-counting, what-can-we-get-today definition of  ”economy.”

 

For us, the “Economy” in a Wise Economy is about the classical definition of the term — economy is the aspects of community life that allow people to get what they need.  It’s not only new development, but it’s new development that makes people’s lives better through good paying jobs, a stronger tax base, more support for parks and recreation, more reasons for people to love and support the place where they live.  As plenty of examples in the last few years have indicated, an economic “win” can actually turn into a loss if we don’t pay attention to anything more than the new building or a drool-worthy number of new jobs.

 

Similarly, “land use” or “zoning” cannot be simply about siting future parks or deciding how big the lots should be.  These elements, and so many others that community plans of all types focus on, depend on and help create a healthy long-term economy.  Show me a community with a long-term healthy economy, and I’ll show you one where maintaining streets, managing land uses, providing the assets that citizens want aren’t contentious, difficult issues.

The key is that creating a Wise Economy isn’t a matter of luck.  It’s a matter of

  • Building on the assets you have
  • Taking a clear-eyed look at the future in all of its possibilities
  • Getting people to be part of finding the answers
  • Setting the course, and
  • Making sure you steer the ship.

Hard?  No.  Yes.  Sometimes.  If you don’t take it on the right way, yes.

We can build Wise Economies — we just need to do it.  Wisely.   Through our Consulting practice, as well as our Tools and our Speaking and Training services, we can help you do it.  Just ask us how.

 

While you’re thinking about that, here’s a few examples of how a Wise Economy approach has helped other communities plan for a deeply successful economic future:

 

Snellville  (GA) Assessment and Downtown Strategy

Campbell County (KY) Comprehensive Plan Update

 Wapakoneta (OH) Comprehensive Plan Update

Huntsville (AL) Downtown Master Plan Update

Hillsborough (NH) Downtown Revitalization Strategy

Portsmouth (OH) Downtown Revitalization Strategy

Reading (OH) Community Marketing Plan