Archive

Key Challenge Playing it safe doesn’t always pay off.  Located in the midst of Los Angeles, Pasadena and Burbank, Glendale, California has a reputation as a quiet, productive, safe community.  But that can translate into boring surrounded by all that glitz and glam. While being safe...

Key Challenge Some opportunities require immediate action. Consider the case of Lima-Allen County, Ohio. The state DOT gave leaders a chance to submit input regarding the design of four concrete interstate overpasses within the county. Traveled by about 30,000 vehicles a day, this project represented a...

Key Challenge The streets of upscale Dublin, Ohio come to life during the week with business travelers and twice a year during its major festival and golf tournament. But on weekends the town shuts down as weary business folk head home after meetings. And despite great...

Key Challenge Tennessee’s Great Smoky Mountains have no shortage of tourism destinations, many of them focused on retail and theme parks. So how can Dandridge, TN, a tiny tourism town in the foothills with a more historic, nature-based experience (and a much smaller marketing budget) establish...

Key Challenge North County was an economic development region looking to transform from five independent small cities located in a naturally beautiful, less-developed corridor of Southern California to a powerhouse economic development region capable of attracting creative entrepreneurs, red-hot start-ups and big-name businesses.  Cumulatively, the five...

Key Challenge Is it possible for a community brand with a strong economic development focus to also resonate with residents and visitors? Marathon County, Wisconsin – located between Green Bay and Minneapolis wanted a community brand with a focus on recruitment and retention of business and...

Key Challenge As Lancaster, California approached its 30th anniversary city leaders were looking for a positive platform from which to promote all the good things happening in the city.  Despite all the progress, some people were focusing more on the challenges that come with being the...

Key Challenge Large scale natural disasters are so all encompassing, they can come to define a place. How can a city move beyond the reputation of disaster victim to an identity grounded in prosperity? Consider the case of New Orleans. Ravaged by hurricane Katrina, the city...