<< 1 >>
Rating: 
Summary: The future is here
Review:
Subtitled "7 1/2keys to big success in small towns," Schultz's book focuses on just what small and medium-sized towns and cities must do to share in the economic good times.
Schultz coins the term "agurbs" as a label for a new kind of economic development. "Agurbs" are those areas outside the major influence of metropolitan areas that have historically been agricultural in nature. But that is changing, he argues, as more and people seek a good life in these outlying areas. The population is moving and economic development is sure to follow. However, Schultz cautions that not every community will prosper. If they are to compete successfully in this new kind of development market, Schultz suggests that cities must:
1. Adopt a "can do" attitude;
2. Shape their vision;
3. Leverage their resources;
4. Raise up strong leaders;
5. Encourage an entrepreneurial approach;
6. Maintain local control;
7. Build their brand; and
7½. Embrace the teeter-totter factor.
We won't steal Schultz's thunder here; rather, we encourage you to buy the book to find out more about his seven and one-half keys to success. The "teeter-totter" factor is especially interesting.
But there are some really interesting facts in the book. Consider these:
From 1990 to 2000 metro areas produced 10% of the population growth and 9% of jobs in the United States. In contrast, "agurbs" produced 20% of the population growth and a stunning 24% of employment growth! Well, what about high-tech areas like Silicon Valley, Austin, TX, and those other creative-class Mecca's?
Here's the real kicker. High-tech areas (much like metro areas) gave the United States another 10% of population growth but just 12% of employment gains. The Top 100 agurbs (in terms of growth rates) showed a 28% increase in population and 32% of job gains. That means that one in three new jobs in the United States over the last decade came from the top 100 agurb areas.
No wonder we are so hot on those "micropolitan" areas we discussed last month (see this month's feature article, above). There is a very high positive correlation between Schultz's "agurbs" and the Census Bureau micropolitan areas.
Where are these agurb areas? In terms of density per state the highest number of them are found in Colorado, Wisconsin, Michigan, North Carolina, and Georgia. Hmm, interesting political implications here. Texas, Minnesota, Missouri, and other mid-western states also rank high on the index.
The implications seem rather obvious for economic development professionals. Look to areas that are characterized by high-quality communities; don't focus on low wage rates and tax incentives.
We are particularly intrigued by Schultz's work because he seems to say that real job creation is occurring exactly where we would predict: in areas that have high quality of life and clean environments, and that tend to be non-urban. Duh! Not only are people moving to these areas (according to the US Census), but they are becoming centers of job creation and, hence, wealth. We think Schultz is definitely on to something here.
What this book does is provide a primer for community leaders in these areas. His message is simple: get with the program or be left behind. When we look at Schultz's seven (and one half) factors we see qualities that separate successful developing areas from those that are not successful. And to loop back to our lead article, it is precisely these factors that make a difference between micropolitan areas that flounder (almost 50% of them) from those that are growing at tremendous rates.
Boomtown is another must-read if you are at all concerned about building social capital in your community. And Jack Schultz's checklist of keys to success may lead community leaders to an honest evaluation about whether they are positioned to succeed in tomorrow's economic reality.
And if I'm a corporate real estate executive or relocation specialist, guess what my first seven (and one half) questions will be about when the Mayor and Chamber of Commerce hosts me for dinner in West By God, Anystate, USA?
Rating:
Summary: Is your town a winning team?
Review: Is Your Town a Winning Team?
As a chief executive officer of a company that for 17 years has developed industrial properties in small towns in the Midwest, Jack Schultz is in a unique position to answer the question: What separates the thriving towns from the struggling ones?
In his new book, BoomtownUSA: The 7 ½ Keys to Big Success in Small Towns (NAIOP, $21.95), Schultz has written an inspirational "how-to" guide for leaders of small communities; his central message being that it is possible, using the right tools, to build a team capable of shaping the destiny of its community.
Schultz describes the keys needed for small towns to thrive and grow. He asserts that in small, rural communities, a solid core group of bright, dedicated people working as a team can make a difference. To back up his premise, the author has filled his 167-page book with over one hundred examples and case studies.
The author claims that the third great population shift in America's history, from the suburbs to what Schultz has termed "the agurbs" has begun. The first wave was from farms to urban areas, the second wave from urban areas to the suburbs, and now a dramatic shift back to rural areas. During the 1990s, more than 18 million people moved from metropolitan areas into small communities and rural counties. Why? Lower costs of housing and living, lower crime rates, better schools, shorter commutes and, in general, a more relaxed and less stressful lifestyle.
With the technological advances in the last 20 or so years, Schultz states that there has been no better time in history for small towns to prosper. Thirty-three percent of the American jobs created between 2001 and 2004 went to residents of rural counties with average populations of 40,000. But the success or failure of small communities does not just happen on its own; the prospering small towns in this country have set themselves apart by excelling in the 7 ½ Keys: adopting a can-do attitude, shaping a vision, raising up strong leaders, encouraging an entrepreneurial approach, maintaining local control, building a brand, and embracing the teeter-totter factor (small actions that can make either a negative or positive impact on the entire community).
Success hinges on strong leadership, teamwork, and entrepreneurs. Schultz states that in towns that operate effectively, leadership is spread among a multitude of people; no single hero on a white horse will ride in and save your community. Rely on the collective wisdom, experience, vision and dreams of the committed people already in your community, and "empower the people with passion."
Schultz strongly advocates that communities need to develop leaders for the future, citing examples such as Colville, Washington, which founded the Colville Youth Commission to make recommendations to the city for the purpose of improving the quality of life for area youths.
The author states that prospering small towns can never have too many entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurs should be nurtured and given room to operate. "Towns that recognize that the better their entrepreneurs do, the better the better the town will do, generally find themselves on a positive growth curve."
BoomtownUSA is an important book for anyone who has an interest in the future of his or her small town.
Rating:
Summary: Boomtown-the 1 2/2 Keys In Small Town Sucess
Review: Name of book: Boomtown-the 7 12/2 Keys In Small Town
Success Author: Schultz, Jack Subject: A guide to making your small town grow and
prosper. Why I Chose to Read: The author is a local
entrepreneur. I was able to obtain a signed first
edition, first print copy of the book at a local book
signing. I moved it to the top of my reading list
since it was a local author. Synopsis: I must admit I was fully prepared to not
like this book. I even had a few pre-prepared remarks like "he forgot to mention the silver spoon factor" or
"I wonder what office he will be running for"
(thinking the book may have been written to help get
momentum started for a political career). I was
wrong. This is not a self-serving book outlining the
successes of the author or aimed at gaining notoriety
for a hidden agenda. I believe it is an honest effort
to share thoughts gained by a lifetime of doing
successful business in many small towns, observing
which towns are worth the effort and learning what
makes them such. The book is very well written. The author explains the
keys, as he sees and has experienced them, to keeping
small towns active, thriving and growing. He also
lists the best small towns in America and fully
explains, in a logical and understandable manner, the
criteria used evaluate them. The appendix, index and
bibliography help to make it useful reference material
if you are researching possible business, education,
or quality of life locations. I would not recommend this book for Sunday afternoon
under the shade tree reading even though it is a
"smooth read". The subject matter is simply not
entertaining for most of us. I would recommend it for
any study or reference work pertaining to "small town
America" or if you are simply interested in helping to
make your town a more vibrant and prosperous community
in which to live and raise a family or do business. Date: May 9, 2004 Mike Brasel
Rating:
Summary: DYNAMITE ADVICE TO HELP SMALL TOWNS PROSPER!
Review: Schultz is on the cutting edge of America's future. In Boomtown USA he does an extraordinary job of detailing how small towns can find their uniqueness, create jobs, and attract new residents or visitors. This book is a "must read" for any town official or private citizen who wants to make a difference and see their community prosper. And his list of the top 100 "Agurbs" is insightful, thoroughly researched, and invaluable for targeting forward-thinking communities."
Marilyn Ross, author of the forthcoming MICROPOLITAN MOVES: Advice for a Safe and Successful Relocation - or Buying Your Second Home Dream Retreat - in Small Town USA
Rating: 
Summary: A small town is yours to shape
Review: This is a useful book on an interesting topic I have not seen discussed elsewhere. Don't buy it for an enthralling read. Instead, buy it if you have an interest in the future of a small town. Like millions of others, I entertain the notion of buying rural property. One would like to make a choice that would be pleasing for decades to come. This book has substantially raised my probability of attaining a favorable outcome. Before reading it I viewed the future prosperity of small towns as something like a crap shoot--buy and hope. My purchasing decision would have been based primarily on the look and feel of a town. Schultz teaches, however, that the success or failure of small towns is not random, nor is it purely a function of capricious tastes among future potential settlers. Rather, the success of a small town is much like the success of anything else: a function of dynamism, vision, and efforts of its own citizens, particularly its most active and determined citizens. This is a useful notion for one who would like to speculate in real estate. Even more so, however, Schultz's book is something of a how-to and inspirational guide for those who live in a small community and who would like to brighten its future. Schultz's most inspiring message is that, if you are such a person, you need not wait for fait to run its course. Nor must you await the arrival of a born leader. You yourself can shape the destiny of your small town, and Schultz has useful suggestions for how to do it.
Rating:
Summary: A small town is yours to shape
Review: This is a useful book on an interesting topic I have not seen discussed elsewhere. Don't buy it for an enthralling read. Instead, buy it if you have an interest in the future of a small town. Like millions of others, I entertain the notion of buying rural property. One would like to make a choice that would be pleasing for decades to come. This book has substantially raised my probability of attaining a favorable outcome. Before reading it I viewed the future prosperity of small towns as something like a crap shoot--buy and hope. My purchasing decision would have been based primarily on the look and feel of a town. Schultz teaches, however, that the success or failure of small towns is not random, nor is it purely a function of capricious tastes among future potential settlers. Rather, the success of a small town is much like the success of anything else: a function of dynamism, vision, and efforts of its own citizens, particularly its most active and determined citizens. This is a useful notion for one who would like to speculate in real estate. Even more so, however, Schultz's book is something of a how-to and inspirational guide for those who live in a small community and who would like to brighten its future. Schultz's most inspiring message is that, if you are such a person, you need not wait for fait to run its course. Nor must you await the arrival of a born leader. You yourself can shape the destiny of your small town, and Schultz has useful suggestions for how to do it.
<< 1 >>
|
