Before you hire someone to walk your downtown, read this
One of the best things that Deb Brown and I do for communities is a walk-through or a drive-through.
One of us will come to your town, and we walk down the main street with you, or you drive us around. Doesn’t sound like much. Especially since you get so many different versions of walk arounds: everyone from your state agencies, to consultants to self-appointed experts.
Here’s what makes ours different.
Difference #1: We will not lecture you or give one-size-fits-all advice. There is no standard set of rules or recommendations. Our suggestions are based on what we see right there in your town. We listen to you, your ideas and what you want most for your community. And the questions and side discussions are often the most valuable part.
Difference #2: We aren’t there to tell you what you’re doing wrong, like a windshield survey or a 57 point checklist of what you lack. Based on what we see, we share ideas from our broad knowledge of what other towns are trying right now.
Difference #3: We involve more than just one organization. It can’t be all city leaders; that’s too focused on the municipal viewpoint. It can’t be all business owners. It works best to have a variety of different viewpoints, not necessarily official leaders or “important” people.
I’ll always remember walking through a downtown in Iowa, and Deb stopping to talk with a woman smoking a cigarette outside the bar. Deb treated her as a valuable member of the community. I’m not sure most “experts” would have done this, but we talk to everyone.
Difference #4: We don’t sell you some grand plan that you will spend years struggling to fund and implement. We focus on the practical, the real-world and the do-able. These are not quick fixes. We don’t have a magic wand.
Difference #5: Nobody needs to take notes. If one idea excites you, you write that down and you follow up.
Why are we this way? Because we’re rural people who’ve done the work. Deb spent four years in the trenches as a small town chamber of commerce director. I ran a small town retail store for more than twelve years. We’ve both served on community boards, volunteered, planned, and worked alongside our neighbors. We’ve seen what actually creates change, and we know what just gives people another big binder to put on the shelf.
What you get is the best of the information you’d gather from hearing one of us give a keynote speech at an event, but it’s right there in your community, in the context of your own assets and your own challenges.
If you’re ready to move your town forward, then taking a walk or a drive with one of us is your next Small Step. Let’s set a date.
