September 2020

Small-Scale Manufacturing & Main Street: The Secret Sauce 


Too many places are stuck with a set of economic development strategies left over from the 1980s. People and places are being left behind — but it doesn’t have to be that way. Join this conversation to learn about how we can flip the model on economic development and do it a better way. An approach that invests in people and places. An approach that focuses on actions today and not just long-term plans.

This talk will discuss the secret sauce to build a strong and resilient economy through concrete steps that include entrepreneurship, why (and how) to focus on small-scale manufacturing businesses as a catalyst, and how new real estate models for main street can be essential to success. Participants will learn: - Economic and planning development strategies that are needed today - How small-scale manufacturing make a difference in local economic development and placemaking efforts - Specific actions community leaders can take today to start changing policies and programs to better support this kind of development
Date Time Virtual Participation Information CM
Wednesday, September 23 10:30 a.m. - !2:00 p.m.            GoToMeeting Link: https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/633419509
To join by phone: 408-650-3123, Access Code: 633-419-509
 
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Speaker(s) / Instructor(s) Biography 

Ilana Preuss is the Founder of Recast City LLC, a consulting firm that works with real estate developers, city and other civic leaders to integrate space for small-scale producers into redevelopment projects and place-based economic development. She is passionate about making great places and sees that small-scale manufacturers are a missing piece in today’s real estate and economic development efforts.

With over 20 years of experience in community development, Ms. Preuss projects at Recast City span the country – from Washington, D.C. to Honolulu, HI. Through work with real estate developers, foundations, city planning and economic development offices, and mayors, the projects go from idea to plan to action to build great places with vibrant economies. Her forthcoming book, Recast Your City, will be released by Island Press in 2021. In 2017, Ms. Preuss co-authored, Made in PLACE: Small-scale manufacturing and placemaking, in partnership with Smart Growth.