Building community wealth from the bottom up is a more effective way to turn struggling communities around.
A new report from the Nowak Metro Finance Lab at Drexel University argues for a move away from community development models to a community wealth system, reports Richard Florida. "They define community wealth as 'a broad-based effort to build equity for low-income residents,' which could unlock 'hundreds of billions in market and civic capital' to revitalized struggling places across America."
This bottom-up approach looks to grow individual and collective neighborhood-based assets in distressed communities, improve access to private capital, and enhance inclusion. It is a holistic and more localized way to tackle regional inequality, says Florida.
The report points to Opportunity Zones as one alternative to federal grant-based programs, and community wealth depends on such place-based approaches, says Florida. "We already know these work—to enhance workers’ skills; support and nurture local entrepreneurship; provide services to small and medium-sized businesses; and invest in neighborhood assets such as schools and parks, and public safety and other critical public services."
FULL STORY: How to Grow the Wealth of Poor Neighborhoods From the Bottom Up
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A Serious Critique of Congestion Costs and Induced Vehicle Travel Impacts
Some highway advocates continue to claim that roadway expansions are justified to reduce traffic congestion. That's not what the research shows. It's time to stop obsessing over congestion and instead strive for efficient accessibility.
Rethinking the Role of Parking in the American City
In cities big and small, the tide is turning against sprawling parking lots, car-centric development, and minimum parking mandates.
Mapping Sidewalks for Improved Connectivity
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Long Beach Residents Oppose Proposed Homeless Services Hub Near Rail Terminus
L.A. Metro’s “end-of-the-line” policy forces people experiencing homeless off transit every night at the same time and location. A proposed hub would provide services a few stops before the end of the line in Long Beach.
The Nation's Most Advanced Secessionist Movement
Legislation supporting the Greater Idaho Movement, which would annex over half of neighboring Oregon, has advanced in the Idaho legislature.
City of Greenville
City of Greenville
Resource Assistance for Rural Environments (RARE) AmeriCorps Program
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
City of Spearfish
City of Lomita
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