Kelsey Campbell-Dollaghan profiles Smallknot, a Kickstarter-like platform that allows local businesses to tap their neighbors for capital investments in exchange for goods and services.
Founded by two Wall Street refugees frustrated with the inability, or disinterest, of the global financial system to invest in small businesses, SmallKnot facilitates neighborhood-based seed funding.
Campbell-Dollaghan explains the service thus: "Let's say your local bike shop wants to expand, or your favorite pizza
shop wants to install an authentic wood-burning oven...business owners can launch a campaign to incentivize their
own customers to invest, in return for special deals and perks--not
unlike a more targeted, localized version of Kickstarter."
"Since launching in October, Smallknot has helped a fairly diverse group of small businesses raise funding: $2,500 for a new cake shop, for example, and $10,000
to help beloved Williamsburg brunch spot, Egg, replace its tables and
chairs. Today, a small progressive radio show in South Carolina is hoping to rebuild its website after a hacker knocked it offline ($100 will make you co-host for a show)."
FULL STORY: A Platform For Playing Angel Investor, In Your Own Neighborhood
Depopulation Patterns Get Weird
A recent ranking of “declining” cities heavily features some of the most expensive cities in the country — including New York City and a half-dozen in the San Francisco Bay Area.
California Exodus: Population Drops Below 39 Million
Never mind the 40 million that demographers predicted the Golden State would reach by 2018. The state's population dipped below 39 million to 38.965 million last July, according to Census data released in March, the lowest since 2015.
Chicago to Turn High-Rise Offices into Housing
Four commercial buildings in the Chicago Loop have been approved for redevelopment into housing in a bid to revitalize the city’s downtown post-pandemic.
Pennsylvania Mall Conversion Bill Passes House
If passed, the bill would promote the adaptive reuse of defunct commercial buildings.
Meet NYC’s New Office of Livable Streets
The NYC DOT program will build on pandemic-era initiatives to promote safe and comfortable streets that enhance community and expand uses beyond just moving cars.
Transit Riders Face the Highest Safety Risks in These 10 States
According to federal data, the average number of safety incidents on public transportation averaged 55.2 per 100,000 people across all states between 2010 and 2023. Which states came in well above the national average?
City of Costa Mesa
Licking County
Barrett Planning Group LLC
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
City of Universal City TX
ULI Northwest Arkansas
Town of Zionsville
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.