http://marketstreetservices.com/marketstreetreportThe Market Street Report Updatesen-us  By Christa Tinsley, Project Associate.   Perhaps we don’t need more municipal designations splintering regions into smaller and smaller pieces, but as the concept of regionalism advances, it may help to better define the parts...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=110268Tue, 07 Sep 2010 22:47:00 ZBy Stephanie Allen, Project Assistant. I first heard of the idea of local currency while visiting Ithaca, NY nearly a decade ago when I was in college in New York State. I thought it was a quaint idea for such a supportive community of aging...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=110248Thu, 02 Sep 2010 21:08:00 ZBy Alex Pearlstein, Director of Projects. A couple posts ago, I betrayed my bias that the quality of a community’s leadership is the ultimate determinant of its current and future success. I mentioned Cincinnati and its confounding malaise...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=110230Tue, 31 Aug 2010 16:59:00 Z By Ranada Robinson, Project Associate.   The winners of Phase 2 of the Race to the Top educational reform competition were announced two days ago, and I was very happy to see Georgia on the list. Along with the District of Columbia, the...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=110207Thu, 26 Aug 2010 21:38:00 ZBy Will Corbin, Project Associate.   Parking on the streets of downtown America can be very stressful. This is one reason why, in Atlanta, I try to take the MARTA train, part of Atlanta’s public transportation system. However, sometimes most...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=110193Tue, 24 Aug 2010 21:29:00 Z By Matthew Tester, Project Associate.   It seems that buses are going the way of the skinny tie. Except that the return of retro-cool fashion indicates disposable income while the return of the local bus system as a transit priority...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=110164Fri, 20 Aug 2010 18:44:00 ZBy Matt Tarleton, Project Associate.    Last Friday, the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) announced results from its 2010 fiscal year project activities. In total, companies invested $3.75 billion across the state,...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=110130Tue, 17 Aug 2010 20:57:00 Z By Christa Tinsley, Project Associate.     Last month I mentioned the City of Baltimore’s Virtual Supermarket Program , where residents of neighborhoods without local grocery stores can pick up fresh groceries at their public...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=110101Fri, 13 Aug 2010 17:31:00 ZBy Ellen Anderson, Director of Research.   I had the opportunity to attend my first ACCE annual conference last week, which was held in beautiful Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The conference had solid professional development workshops, best...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=110089Wed, 11 Aug 2010 20:58:00 Z   By Matthew Tester, Project Associate.   We talk a lot about the virtues of innovation here at Market Street, and recognize – along with most economic analysts – that entrepreneurs and small businesses will drive the bulk of employment...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=110058Mon, 09 Aug 2010 14:16:00 ZBy Alex Pearlstein, Director of Projects.    Small businesses account for a significant percentage of local job growth. Because of this, economic development programs are increasingly focused on multiple strategies to launch, stimulate and grow...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=110019Tue, 03 Aug 2010 21:53:00 ZBy Ranada Robinson, Project Associate.   Earlier today, President Obama delivered a speech on education reform at the National Urban League Centennial Conference. After a few comments on the recovery of our economy over the past 6 months,...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=109994Fri, 30 Jul 2010 13:19:00 ZBy Will Corbin, Project Associate.    During my semester of graduate study abroad in Newcastle, England, I decided to visit a friend of mine who was also studying abroad. My friend was taking classes at the London School of Economics,...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=109972Wed, 28 Jul 2010 13:02:00 Z By Matthew Tarleton, Project Associate This past week I had the pleasure of visiting with Mike Gaymon and the entire staff at the Greater Columbus Chamber of Commerce. During my visit, I tagged along with Mike to his weekly radio...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=109955Mon, 26 Jul 2010 13:42:00 ZBy Ellen Anderson, Director of Research.    A large part of what we do at Market Street is present research to tell stories about communities and translate those stories into real-world economic development strategies that leverage assets and...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=109899Tue, 20 Jul 2010 15:41:00 ZBy J. Mac Holladay, founder and CEO. Diversity. Webster says it means – “the condition of being diverse.” Diverse is defined as “differing from one another – distinct or unlike elements or qualities.” Diversity comes in many forms and...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=109852Thu, 15 Jul 2010 13:14:00 Z By Alex Pearlstein, Director of Projects.    Today’s blog could easily be a novel; I won’t deny that this subject is done short shrift by a cursory examination of why some cities succeed while others fail. Indeed, there is probably...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=109833Tue, 13 Jul 2010 21:38:00 ZBy Ranada Robinson, Project Associate. When I was in junior high and high school, my mom sent me to various summer camps at Pineywoods Country Life School, Jackson State University, and Alcorn State University. Each of the programs I attended was...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=109790Thu, 08 Jul 2010 17:23:00 ZBy Will Corbin, Project Associate.   If you are familiar with me or have read my previous blogs, then you know that I am a big proponent of public-private partnerships, especially when it comes to economic and community development. I...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=109771Tue, 06 Jul 2010 13:08:00 Z By Christa Tinsley, Project Associate   Earlier this year, I wrote a post on a few initiatives and incentives programs aimed at attracting fresher, healthier grocery options into neighborhoods and areas known as “food...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=109754Thu, 01 Jul 2010 21:03:00 ZBy Kathy Young, Director of Operations.    Though it seems like summer only just began, Market Street is already looking ahead to an exciting end-of-summer event, the American Association of Chamber Executives (ACCE) annual convention . This...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=109708Fri, 25 Jun 2010 15:53:00 ZBy Matt Tester, Project Associate.   …is increasingly called a bicycle.   American cities are warming to the idea that bike-sharing systems are a valuable means of generating downtown activity, providing viable alternative...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=109689Wed, 23 Jun 2010 19:17:00 ZBy Ellen Anderson, Director of Research.   University of Phoenix. Argosy. DeVry. Kaplan. You see their commercials on television and likely see their buildings alongside interstates. These universities and others like them represent the growing...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=109641Thu, 17 Jun 2010 14:46:00 ZBy Alex Pearlstein, Director of Projects.    In an interesting confluence of events, the 2010 World Cup began the same day the U.S. Census Bureau announced that the United States will soon be a “minority majority” country, with non-whites...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=109613Mon, 14 Jun 2010 14:32:00 ZBy Ranada Robinson, Project Associate. One of the long-term effects of successful economic development is decreased poverty rates. We know that poverty is the state of having insufficient means to attain necessities such as housing, nutrition,...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=109586Thu, 10 Jun 2010 20:27:00 Z By Will Corbin, Project Associate. I recently read a very interesting article (see footnote 1) regarding the association between numeracy (the ability to reason with numbers and mathematical concepts) and people who fell behind on their...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=109561Tue, 08 Jun 2010 14:00:00 Z By Christa Tinsley, Project Associate   Last week I dined on shrimp étouffée in southern Louisiana and fried flounder on the Alabama coast. I enjoyed a Mobile-style gumbo full of oysters and shrimp and caught blue crabs off of...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=109546Fri, 04 Jun 2010 22:04:00 Z By Matthew Tarleton, Project Associate.    Around this time last year, I was sitting in a rocking chair at the Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina, looking down at what had become a pathetic excuse for technology in this day and age:...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=109502Tue, 01 Jun 2010 19:24:00 ZBy Ellen Anderson, Director of Research.   The Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER, formerly ACCRA) celebrated its 50th anniversary last week at its annual conference held this year in our nation’s capital. The theme of this year’s...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=109461Tue, 25 May 2010 16:59:00 Z By Alex Pearlstein, Director of Projects.   It’s funny how things work.  About a week ago, I was scheduled to fly from Des Moines to Nashville via Minneapolis when my old nemesis, Delta Airlines, reared its ugly head and delayed...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=109440Fri, 21 May 2010 22:23:00 Z By Ranada Robinson, Project Associate.   In October, I wrote a post highlighting dropout factories and how prevalent they have become. The issue of high school dropouts is one near and dear to my heart since I tutor...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=109409Tue, 18 May 2010 22:19:00 Z By Will Corbin, Project Associate. Microfinance is a very interesting and important concept in the world of economic development. Its usage has grown increasingly over the last quarter century - most notably by nations in the emerging world that...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=109381Fri, 14 May 2010 17:19:00 Z By Christa Tinsley, Project Associate.   Incentives in Georiga have triggered another “race to the bottom.” While communities still clamor to be awarded the labels of Main Street community, Certified Work Ready, Certified Green...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=109373Wed, 12 May 2010 22:11:00 Z By Matthew Tester, Project Associate. It should come as no surprise that our nation’s cities are in trouble; the Great Recession has cut a wide swath. My colleague Will Corbin blogged in March about the Recession’s constrictive effects on municipal...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=109327Wed, 05 May 2010 20:05:00 ZBy Matt Tarleton, Project Associate. Last week I attended IEDC annual Federal Forum in our nation’s capital. Over the course of two days, we heard from representatives from a number of federal agencies, providing updates on recent initiatives and new...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=109293Fri, 30 Apr 2010 20:31:00 ZBy Ranada Robinson, Project Associate.   More communities are actively giving attention to attracting young professionals, including one of the communities in which we’ve worked, Waco, Texas . This involves making quality of place a priority and...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=109270Wed, 28 Apr 2010 19:20:00 ZBy J. Mac Holladay, Market Street founder and CEO. The Merriam-Webster definition of perception begins with observation, concept, and consciousness. Last week we all watched as another horrible mine disaster engulfed the State of West...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=109197Mon, 19 Apr 2010 21:05:00 Z By Alex Pearlstein, Director of Projects.   Today’s rant/vent is economic development related, I swear.  Health care is the Energizer Bunny of the U.S. economy; it just keeps growing and growing.  Ensuring this growth...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=109184Fri, 16 Apr 2010 19:56:00 Z  By Christa Tinsley, Project Associate.   Recently the Working Poor Families Project released a policy brief, “Strengthening State Economic Development Systems: A Framework for Change” by John Quinterno. The study examines how...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=109162Tue, 13 Apr 2010 21:59:00 ZBy Stephanie Allen, Project Assistant.    The first-time homebuyer tax credit is set to expire this summer; houses must be under contract by the end of the month and sales must be finalized by June 30th to qualify for the credit. By all accounts...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=109089Tue, 06 Apr 2010 20:29:00 ZBy Ellen Anderson, Director of Research.   For decades, the United States has attracted the best and brightest engineers and researchers from around the world. Our nation’s corporations, universities, and foundations heavily invest in...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=109049Thu, 01 Apr 2010 15:07:00 ZBy Ranada Robinson, Project Associate.   Community groups across the country are joining with the U.S Census Bureau to increase awareness of the 2010 Census and its importance, and to encourage citizens to complete it. Just two weekends ago,...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=109025Tue, 30 Mar 2010 19:33:00 Z By Will Corbin, Project Associate.    The harsh economic realities of the present day have forced local government leadership to rely more on private organizations and non-profits in order to spur economic and community development....http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=108982Thu, 25 Mar 2010 21:03:00 Z William Teasley, Project Manager.   Although the news media has focused on the challenges of politics, both locally and nationally, some very good things are coming out of Washington, D.C. these days that will have a dramatic impact on...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=108948Tue, 23 Mar 2010 14:07:00 ZBy Alex Pearlstein, Director of Projects.    Our sunny, 60 degree St. Patrick’s Day seemed to confirm that winter here in Central Iowa was finally over. The last of the snow has almost melted, “hail to spring” articles  are showing up in the...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=108912Thu, 18 Mar 2010 14:22:00 Z  By Christa Tinsley, Project Associate.     Today I participated in a webinar hosted by the Southern Growth Policies Board called “The Role of Chambers of Commerce in the Green Economy.” We heard from three chamber leaders...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=108705Thu, 11 Mar 2010 22:25:00 ZBy Kathy Young, Director of Operations.    I recently attended an interesting event sponsored by Georgia Tech’s City and Regional Planning Department, a conversation between three former City of Atlanta Planning Commissioners. Billed as “Dear...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=108629Tue, 09 Mar 2010 13:56:00 Z By: Matthew Tester, Project Associate.    Top economists from Moody’s Economy.com recently stopped in Atlanta to discuss the Economic Recession of 2007-2009 in all its glory. Speakers Steven Cochrane and Gus Faucher covered a lot of ground in...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=108589Thu, 04 Mar 2010 21:24:00 ZBy Ranada Robinson, Project Associate.   In previous blog postings, we have discussed the importance of entrepreneurship and small businesses, especially in light of the current economic recession. Here are three long-term ways that communities...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=108554Tue, 02 Mar 2010 22:33:00 ZBy Ellen Anderson, Director of Research. A March 2008 article in The Atlantic entitled  “The Next Slum?” explored some of the potential impacts of the housing market fallout on city/suburb dynamics. It describes how vandals and drug users...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=108504Thu, 25 Feb 2010 22:18:00 ZBy Matt Tarleton, Project Associate.   Two weeks ago, Mac Holladay wrote a piece covering recent changes in federal support for small business financing and the need for chambers and economic development organizations to focus on the role...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=108484Wed, 24 Feb 2010 14:01:00 Z By Will Corbin, Project Associate.      “The Dismal Decade,” “The Lost Decade,” “The Decade from Hell,” “The Worst Decade Ever.” American writers and scholars have used all of these phrases to describe the first ten years of this new...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=108445Fri, 19 Feb 2010 17:06:00 Z By William Teasley, Project Manager.    I have previously written about the significance of broadband communications as a critical component of a community’s infrastructure. A community’s broadband access is an equalizer and asset, equal to...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=108428Wed, 17 Feb 2010 14:36:00 Z  By Christa Tinsley, Project Associate.   Many of the more rural communities and regions we work with are underserved in retail. Often they complain of having to drive to the next city or county when they want to eat out at a...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=108376Thu, 11 Feb 2010 23:11:00 Z By Alex Pearlstein, Director of Projects.    Anyone who follows urban revitalization trends is aware that, in addition to artists, the “first wave” of central-city pioneers is often comprised by gay residents. They move into disinvested...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=108338Mon, 08 Feb 2010 15:15:00 Z By J. Mac Holladay, Founder and CEO.    This recession has had a devastating effect on small businesses across the country. In fact, 41% of all the jobs lost in this recession have come from firms with fewer than 50 employers. That...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=108322Thu, 04 Feb 2010 22:34:00 Z By Ranada Robinson, Project Associate.  My alma mater, Tougaloo College, which is a private college located right outside of Jackson, Mississippi, offers an early admission program for high school juniors who meet certain criteria, like GPA...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=108286Mon, 01 Feb 2010 22:26:00 Z By William Teasley, Project Manager.   High quality public education is one of the greatest assets in economic development. The ability to generate a high quality workforce is paramount to the success of existing a future businesses in...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=108236Wed, 27 Jan 2010 14:08:00 Z By Christa Tinsley, Project Associate   The U.S. Department of Labor awarded $100 million in green jobs training grants to 25 communities earlier this month. Austin, Texas received $4.8 million of this money to train for and...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=108195Fri, 22 Jan 2010 15:24:00 Z By Matt Tarleton, Project Associate.    I recently wrote a piece about the migration patterns of the college educated , identifying some of the metropolitan areas that have been successful in attracting new residents with average...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=108171Tue, 19 Jan 2010 20:11:00 Z By Alex Pearlstein, Senior Project Manager.    The provision of incentives is one of the most controversial issues in economic development today and likely will be for a number of years to come. As the competition for relocation prospects...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=108137Fri, 15 Jan 2010 19:52:00 Z By Ellen Anderson, Director of Research.    As the U.S. Census Bureau rolls out each new year of American Community Survey (ACS) implementation, the survey offers a greater variety of data to a broader reach of geographies. The 2008 ACS...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=108093Wed, 13 Jan 2010 17:20:00 Z By J. Mac Holladay, Founder and CEO.    This week in Atlanta the American Economic Association held its annual meeting. There were PhDs everywhere, nearly 1000 of them. Finally on the last day of the meeting they asked the only relevant...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=108033Fri, 08 Jan 2010 21:25:00 Z By Ranada Robinson, Project Associate.   Everyone who knows me knows that one of my least favorite pastimes is driving in traffic. Any time I have to drive from one area of Atlanta to another, especially if it’s any time between 4:00 pm...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=108047Wed, 06 Jan 2010 22:28:00 Z By William Teasley, Project Manager.    At Market Street , we often talk about change and growth of communities and the people within them. As an outside observer it is sometimes easier to see what impedes communities moving...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=107989Thu, 31 Dec 2009 20:42:00 Z By J. Mac Holladay, Founder and CEO.    It is hard to believe that we are headed to a new year and a new decade in a few days. Time Magazine called the last 10 years “The Decade from Hell”. The pace of change has continued to accelerate and...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=107961Mon, 28 Dec 2009 17:33:00 Z   By Christa Tinsley, Project Associate.   Last week, the U.S. House of Representative passed its $154 billion jobs bill, called the Jobs for Main Street Act of 2010 . Among other things, the expansive legislation hopes to increase...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=107877Wed, 23 Dec 2009 21:28:00 Z By Matt Tarleton, Project Associate.    “ Change is debilitating when done to us, but exhilarating when done by us .” – Rosabeth Moss Kanter This quote is one of Mac Holladay’s favorites, and it has quickly become one of mine as...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=107847Fri, 18 Dec 2009 22:34:00 Z By Ellen Anderson, Research Manager.    While there are many varied strategies that can be employed in the name of economic development, the goal is wealth creation for local families. Per capita income(PCI) is one of the most common and...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=107834Wed, 16 Dec 2009 18:29:00 Z By Alex Pearlstein, Senior Project Manager.   Time magazine has taken pity on Detroit. It is sponsoring a campaign called “ Selling Detroit ” that aims to help “America’s most struggling city (attract) business and talent.” Part of a yearlong...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=107813Fri, 11 Dec 2009 16:28:00 Z By Ranada Robinson, Project Associate.    Many feel that innovation and technology transfer are the keys to future economic growth.  With the decline in manufacturing jobs, math, science, and engineering fields have...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=107759Wed, 02 Dec 2009 16:09:00 Z By Christa Tinsley, Project Associate.   During the community input phase of each project we work on, a comment we usually hear repeated in almost every community is regarding the lack of adequate or quality child care...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=107717Wed, 25 Nov 2009 00:03:00 Z By William Teasley, Project Manager.    I recently had the pleasure of working with the Decatur-Morgan County Chamber of Commerce in creating the One Vision – One Voice – One Morgan County community strategy that addresses...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=107658Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:56:00 Z By Matt Tarleton, Project Associate.  One the most common things we hear from communities across the country is a desire to be a magnet for the college-educated. High-tech centers such as the San Diego, San Francisco, and Boston metropolitan...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=107548Mon, 16 Nov 2009 21:13:00 ZBy Alex Pearlstein, Senior Project Manager.  A Sunday  article in the Des Moines Register on the steep decline of manufacturing jobs in rural Iowa communities again called to mind the plight facing hundreds – perhaps thousands – of U.S. cities and...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=107518Tue, 10 Nov 2009 21:36:00 Z By Ellen Anderson, Research Manager. It is estimated that nearly nine million households in the United States do not maintain bank accounts. That is a staggering number of people who do not participate in the mainstream financial system. They...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=107470Fri, 06 Nov 2009 23:29:00 Z By Christa Tinsley, Project Associate.   Last week, the Wall Street Journal reported that a private Chinese energy farm is constructing a $1.5 billion wind farm in western Texas, to be completed in 2011. The wind farm...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=107433Tue, 03 Nov 2009 22:06:00 Z By Ranada Robinson.   Have you ever heard of dropout factories? Well, according to a report published last month by the Alliance for Excellent Education, there’s probably one near you, especially if you live in the South. More than...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=107415Fri, 30 Oct 2009 13:28:00 Z By J. Mac Holladay, Founder and CEO.    I recently returned from a lengthy trip to Australia and New Zealand. As I sat in the Atlanta airport earlier this week waiting to depart for Nashville several things are coming to mind about the...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=107408Thu, 29 Oct 2009 12:17:00 Z By William Teasley, Project Manager.    As state and local education budgets have been slashed do to the current economic crisis, there are several ‘green shoots’ in education reform that continue to reassure us that the next...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=107372Fri, 23 Oct 2009 17:54:00 Z By Matt Tarleton, Project Associate.  One in six. That’s how many people are either unemployed or underemployed in this country. As you walk down the street or through the grocery store, on average every sixth person you pass is either...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=107339Tue, 20 Oct 2009 20:29:00 Z By Ellen Anderson, Research Manager.    When I volunteered as a grant writer and project manager for a small community in rural Oregon, attempts to apply for Community Development Block Grant funding were thwarted because the community’s...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=107297Thu, 15 Oct 2009 13:46:00 Z By Alex Pearlstein, Senior Project Manager.    The iconic film “Field of Dreams,” shot in the humble cornfields of Iowa, has turned out to be a veritable phenomenon, with tourists continuing to make their way to Dyersville to see...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=107266Tue, 13 Oct 2009 13:14:00 Z By Christa Tinsley, Project Associate.   As I wrote a few months ago, youth employment has faced a decline since the 1980s, but this year the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funded many grants and programs that...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=107228Thu, 08 Oct 2009 13:20:00 Z By Ranada Robinson, Project Associate.    History shows that entrepreneurship in the U.S. increases during economic recession. In an effort to move forward the country’s recovery, the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation recently launched a...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=107193Tue, 06 Oct 2009 13:44:00 ZBy William Teasley, Project Manager. In many of our projects around the country, our clients are interested in seeing best practices from other communities.  Our experience and years in this business in a variety of communities has provided us...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=107162Fri, 02 Oct 2009 00:42:00 ZBy Matthew Tarleton, Project Associate. I recently had the pleasure of hearing Mark Zandi (Chief Economist) and Stephen Cochrane (Managing Director) of Moody’s Economy.com share their perspective on the national and regional economic outlook....http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=107121Fri, 25 Sep 2009 11:46:00 Z By William Teasley, Project Manager.    At Market Street , we often use a quote in our presentations from the book World Class , by Rosabeth Moss Cantor: “Change is debilitating when do to us, but exhilarating when done by us.”  This is...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=107077Mon, 21 Sep 2009 20:15:00 ZBy J. Mac Holladay, Founder and CEO. As many have written, we have never seen a recession quite like this one. This past week a couple of headlines add more power to that reality. On Thursday, September 10, a Wall Street Journal headline read...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=107053Fri, 18 Sep 2009 14:35:00 ZBy J. Mac Holladay, Founder and CEO. This recession has been devastating in terms of job losses. 2008 was the worst year since 1945 and 2009 may eclipse that. Only one sector had a net gain of jobs in 2008 and that was healthcare. All the other...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=107031Wed, 16 Sep 2009 11:48:00 Z By Ellen Anderson, Research Manager.    According to the Pew Charitable Trusts , in 2007 only 8 percent of U.S. power production came from renewable sources – solar, hydro, wind, and geothermal - far short of the President’s goal of 25...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=107016Thu, 10 Sep 2009 19:27:00 Z By Alex Pearlstein, Senior Project Manager.     I’ve recently relocated to Des Moines, Iowa as my wife attends medical school here. Needless to say, there are more than a few differences between Iowa’s capital city and Georgia’s (Atlanta),...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=107002Tue, 08 Sep 2009 20:14:00 Z By J. Mac Holladay, Founder and CEO.     The economic reports from across the nation remain confusing and contradictory. James C. Cooper at Business Week suggests that plunging inventories could lead to gains in orders and production with...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=106980Wed, 02 Sep 2009 20:51:00 Z by Ranada Robinson, Project Associate.   When I was in 6th grade, one of my favorite cartoons was Captain Planet. Inspired, I started the Save the Earth Club at school, and we were in essence, the litter patrol. We cleaned up the school...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=106966Mon, 31 Aug 2009 13:27:00 Z By Matt Tarleton, Project Associate.    Here at Market Street, we love webinars and teleconferences. Research institutes, policy centers, and think tanks are constantly looking for new ways to spread their ideas and reach a larger audience;...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=106954Thu, 27 Aug 2009 15:29:00 Z By Christa Tinsley, Project Associate.   This summer has seen the rapid adoption of citizen-friendly technology by many U.S. cities. The big tech news today is the City of San Francisco’s launch of DataSF.org , a data clearinghouse site. In...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=106926Thu, 20 Aug 2009 16:20:00 Z By William Teasley, Project Manager.      The current economic crisis facing our nation has impacted every facet of our economy. In addition to the conditions the helped cause the current recession, there is growing awareness of the other...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=106903Mon, 17 Aug 2009 14:40:00 Z By Ellen Anderson, Research Manager.    One of the most startling and widespread impacts of this recession is the level of uncertainty it has created related to the ability for those who work hard to achieve the American Dream. The idea of the...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=106898Thu, 13 Aug 2009 21:49:00 Z By Alex Pearlstein, Senior Project Manager.    If I had to make a rough estimate I’d say that in 85 to 90 percent of the communities where Market Street works the local/regional hospital(s) is the area’s largest employer. Time after time...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=106891Tue, 11 Aug 2009 18:15:00 Z By Matt Tarleton, Project Associate.    As you likely noticed from some of my other colleagues’ recent posts, a few of us attended the annual conference of the American Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE) in my hometown (Raleigh, NC)  last...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=106868Fri, 07 Aug 2009 17:04:00 Z By Ranada Robinson, Project Associate.    Last week, I traveled to Raleigh, NC, to attend the American Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE) convention, for which Market Street was a sponsor. Thursday morning, our keynote speaker was Dr....http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=106860Wed, 05 Aug 2009 14:54:00 Z By Kathy Young, Operations Manager.    This past week I attended the annual meeting of the American Chamber of Commerce Executives ( ACCE ) in Raleigh, North Carolina with two of my co-workers and Market Street’s Founder and CEO, Mac...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=106855Tue, 04 Aug 2009 01:30:00 Z  By Christa Tinsley, Project Associate   A week ago, the federal minimum wage rose to $7.25 an hour. A recent NPR story discussed the projected positive and negative effects the boost in pay would bring, with proponents of the law saying the...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=106835Fri, 31 Jul 2009 21:37:00 Z By Chelsea Arkin, Project Assistant.     It is easy to see the rippling effects of our country’s economic turndown on the art community. Art sales are dropping rapidly, with many galleries closing altogether. Many  recent studies have linked...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=106812Wed, 29 Jul 2009 14:15:00 Z By Ranada Robinson, Project Associate.    When I was in the 7th grade, I participated in the Talent Identification Program at Duke University. You see, at the time, I was in the gifted program, and my junior high school made sure that gifted...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=106789Fri, 24 Jul 2009 14:50:00 Z By William Teasley, Project Manager.    Immigration has had a dramatic and overall positive impact on our nation. America was, and remains, the symbol of opportunity and freedom to people across the globe. As a nation whose vast majority of...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=106779Wed, 22 Jul 2009 21:47:00 Z By Ellen Anderson, Research Manager.  The College Board, a not-for-profit membership organization composed of more than 5,400 colleges, universities, and other educational entities, reports that the tuition prices at many universities continue...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=106731Fri, 17 Jul 2009 17:37:00 Z  By Christa Tinsley, Project Associate.   On Monday, the White House published the report “Preparing the Workers of Today for the Jobs of Tomorrow” ( PDF ) by President’s Council of Economic Advisors. There aren’t a lot of surprises here for...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=106720Thu, 16 Jul 2009 13:04:00 ZBy J. Mac Holladay, Founder and CEO. This past week I spent at my alma mater, Washington and Lee University, studying and discussing Dr. George Herring’s classic textbook: “Vietnam -America’s Longest War.” Our country’s involvement in Vietnam...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=106712Tue, 14 Jul 2009 21:19:00 Z By Alex Pearlstein, Senior Project Manager.   Well, the Texas Transportation Institute (TTI) has released its latest Urban Mobility Report and the most respected traffic-congestion analysis in our fair land has determined that...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=106683Thu, 09 Jul 2009 13:08:00 Z By Matt Tarleton, Project Associate.    On August 31, 2008, our current president and then presidential candidate Barack Obama was in Toledo, Ohio fielding questions from a group of residents. One gentleman was called upon, and begun to speak...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=106685Tue, 07 Jul 2009 13:27:00 ZBy Ranada Robinson, Project Associate.  A hot topic in the news lately has been how healthcare will be reformed under the leadership of President Obama. In an environment where health access and cost have become increasingly important and...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=106646Fri, 03 Jul 2009 12:57:00 ZBy William Teasley, Project Manager.  Communities traditionally viewed infrastructure (including roads, rail, water and sewer, and electricity) as keys to their competitiveness. However, to survive in the 21st century, infrastructure must...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=106633Wed, 01 Jul 2009 13:26:00 ZBy Ellen Anderson, Research Manager.     Is it just me, or does it seem like in the last few years every city in the country has developed plans, built, or expanded an existing convention center? We have all been to conventions, and while the...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=106586Fri, 26 Jun 2009 13:10:00 ZBy Christa Tinsley, Project Associate.  This Monday marked the launch of President Obama’s summer service program and its accompanying website, Serve.gov . The campaign runs from June 22 to September 11, with education, health, community...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=106562Wed, 24 Jun 2009 14:27:00 ZBy Mac Holladay, Founder and CEO.  Normally, when the nation comes out of a recession, the consumer plays a key role. As the percentage of the economy becomes increasingly consumer based (now 66%), that becomes even more important. However,...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=106545Mon, 22 Jun 2009 19:03:00 ZBy Ranada Robinson, Project Associate.  During this economic recession, many localities, regions, and states are strapped for funds and must now more than ever prioritize where investments are made. However, the recession can be strategically...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=106530Fri, 19 Jun 2009 21:07:00 ZBy Matthew Tarleton, Project Associate.   In recent weeks, we’ve begun to see a few signs that various forecasts of a recovery beginning in the third quarter may be correct. In this context, a recovery is defined as positive economic output. But...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=106508Tue, 16 Jun 2009 21:57:00 Z By Ellen Anderson, Research Manager.     It has been interesting to read the variety of recent headlines relating to communities that have embraced various forms of conservation: reduce, reuse, recycle.  The common thread among these news...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=106471Fri, 12 Jun 2009 14:24:00 ZBy Christa Tinsley, Project Associate.  The most recent edition of the American Journal of Medicine reports that more than 60 percent of U.S. bankruptcies can be attributed to medical problems ( PDF ) – that’s nearly two in three bankruptcy...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=106450Tue, 09 Jun 2009 13:46:00 ZBy William Teasley, Project Manager.  At a recent luncheon for a local park conservancy, Ted Turner was interviewed by a top local news anchor on the impact the green movement is making.  One of the questions Mr. Turner was asked was what would...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=106429Fri, 05 Jun 2009 19:55:00 ZBy Alex Pearlstein, Senior Project Manager.  So says the Dayton Daily News in an editorial titled “What’s it mean to lose NCR?” The NCR referred to is a Fortune 500 company that develops cash registers, bank ATMs,and airline check-in...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=106401Tue, 02 Jun 2009 21:08:00 ZBy Ellen Anderson, Research Manager.  The USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS) publishes county typology codes, which attempt to categorize U.S. counties along common policy and economic concerns.  They have been helpful to researchers and...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=106379Thu, 28 May 2009 21:20:00 ZBy Mac Holladay, Founder and CEO.  I am writing this on Memorial Day. It is not about the economy or about our work. It is about something more important. Ten days ago I walked on Omaha Beach in France. I went to Pointe du Hoc where...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=106358Tue, 26 May 2009 13:30:00 ZBy Ranada Robinson, Project Associate.  During this time of economic struggle and record-breaking amounts of foreclosures, an issue for cities that may become increasingly significant is property vacancy.  Vacant or abandoned buildings can...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=106346Fri, 22 May 2009 13:15:00 ZBy Christa Tinsley, Project Associate.  With national businesses slow to expand in the present uncertain economy and increasing scrutiny placed on taxpayer-funded corporate incentives, some communities are looking inward to develop their local...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=106332Wed, 20 May 2009 13:30:00 ZBy Matt Tarleton, Project Associate.  Over the last fifteen years my mother has taught academically gifted students in a few different elementary schools in and around Raleigh, North Carolina. She is an outstanding educator in many regards, and...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=106319Mon, 18 May 2009 13:57:00 ZBy Ellen Anderson, Research Manager.  The Robert Lowe Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting and fostering entrepreneurship through educational outreach, leadership training, research, and advocacy.  Since January they...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=106304Thu, 14 May 2009 14:25:00 Z By William Teasley, Project Manager.  A significant challenge facing numerous communities in the South is redefining themselves in the 21st Century.  Southern communities are a lot different than they were 30 years ago, and incredible strides...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=106235Tue, 12 May 2009 11:48:00 ZBy Chelsea Arkin, Project Assistant.  Artists have long been leaders in the colonization of blighted urban areas. In the past they have typically encountered resistance to their efforts, especially from public officials.  Now, in an effort to...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=106224Mon, 11 May 2009 12:17:00 ZBy Christa Tinsley, Project Associate.  A recent Kauffman Foundation report, Kauffman Index of Entrepreneurial Activity 1996-2008 ,  indicates that entrepreneurship rates in the U.S. increased between 2007 and 2008, despite the economic...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=106217Fri, 08 May 2009 11:40:00 ZBy Alex Pearlstein, Senior Project Manager.  First it was Youngstown, Ohio .  Now, according to a recent New York Times article , Flint, Michigan .  Many more cities are likely to join the movement to “shrink” themselves in order to...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=106161Wed, 29 Apr 2009 16:08:00 ZBy Ranada Robinson, Project Associate.  Throughout my life, I’ve heard the mantra, “Education is the key to success.”  Well, it’s true.  Education, on micro and macro levels, make our communities stronger by preparing children for the future as...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=106146Tue, 28 Apr 2009 13:39:00 ZBy Ellen Anderson, Research Manager.  Last month, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics released “ A Chart Book of International Labor Comparisons ” illustrating labor market dynamics in the United States compared to select European and Asian...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=106137Mon, 27 Apr 2009 16:32:00 ZBy Mac Holladay, Founder and CEO.   In January, there was a big announcement in Birmingham. After 30 years of being separate, the Birmingham Regional Chamber and the Metropolitan Development Board were going to merge. Finally, Alabama’s largest...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=106123Fri, 24 Apr 2009 16:01:00 ZBy Matthew Tarleton, Project Associate.   It’s the sound of corporate profits going down the drain. Way down. I know, that’s not exactly shocking news.  Like much of the economy in the first half of this decade, corporate profits saw...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=106113Thu, 23 Apr 2009 12:51:00 ZBy William Teasley, Project Manager.  Over the past decade there has been a rising tide of businesses and economic development professionals that have seen the green in “Green.”  Whether it’s revamping production lines to be more energy...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=106100Tue, 21 Apr 2009 20:22:00 ZBy Mac Holladay, Founder and CEO.  The Green Challenge: that is the title of an interesting special section produced by The American Prospect magazine. The section covers a wide variety of topics, but I want to concentrate on an article...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=106063Fri, 17 Apr 2009 16:46:00 Z By Ranada Robinson, Project Associate.  At Market Street , we believe that because U.S. workers now pick where they want to live first and find a job second, economically competitive places are those that offer a high quality of life.  Of...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=106062Fri, 17 Apr 2009 16:36:00 ZBy Ellen Anderson, Research Manager.  In March, The Nelson A. Rockefeller Institute of Government reported that at least 35 states saw a decline in total one-year tax revenues between January 2008 and January 2009.  Further, 21 states...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=106031Mon, 13 Apr 2009 15:05:00 ZBy Alex Pearlstein, Senior Project Manager.  The latest of what are seemingly monthly lists of the “best place” to live, date, work, start a company, start a family, retire, un-retire, etc., came from Forbes Magazine in its assessment of the ...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=106008Thu, 09 Apr 2009 01:03:00 ZBy Matthew Tarleton, Project Associate.   One piece of information from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) that doesn’t receive much attention is the number of individuals working part-time for economic reasons (or “involuntary part-time...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=105959Mon, 06 Apr 2009 14:15:00 ZBy Mac Holladay, Founder and CEO.  Five years ago Gary Stern, President of The Minneapolis Federal Reserve, co-authored a book titled “Too Big to Fail: the Hazards of Bank Bailouts.” The book reported on the concerns related to the size and...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=105941Thu, 02 Apr 2009 14:04:00 ZAs traditional economic development becomes more intertwined with community development, knowing details related to residents' and workers' socioeconomic wellbeing becomes as important as industry growth, job growth, and capital investment.  Healthy...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=105911Fri, 27 Mar 2009 20:51:00 Z I had an interesting conversation with a colleague the other day.  He mentioned how it makes him sad to return to his hometown in New Jersey, a once quaint and unique place that has become another faceless assembly of strip malls and big box...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=105909Fri, 27 Mar 2009 14:34:00 ZOver the course of the last week, we’ve seen some of the first positive economic indicators that point to the beginning signs of recovery in certain areas. And by “positive” I mean “not as bad as last month.” The Dow Jones Industrial...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=105900Thu, 26 Mar 2009 13:03:00 Z I often recommend Thomas Friedman’s “The Lexus and The Olive Tree” as the best explanation of globalization and how it has changed the economic development world. As I have watched the swirling events of the last week or so, something quite...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=105848Fri, 20 Mar 2009 16:05:00 ZUnemployment continues to climb nationwide, but some parts of our country are feeling the intensity and extent of this recession much more than others. The nation’s Plains States have historically held lower unemployment rates than the national...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=105831Tue, 17 Mar 2009 18:38:00 ZAfter the passage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) on February 17, 2009 communities, cities, counties, states and regional planning entities began the process of determining how to use the funds to plug deficit gaps and...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=105813Fri, 13 Mar 2009 14:29:00 ZOn February 1st, Tom Friedman wrote a column in The New York Times titled, “Elvis Has Left the Mountain.”   (It can be viewed  online or as a PDF by clicking here ).   Since I was born and raised in Memphis, Tennessee and had the chance to see “The...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=105801Wed, 11 Mar 2009 20:17:00 ZI am a non-traditional worker, telecommuting for Atlanta-based Market Street from my hometown of Chicago.    While you get less bang-for-your-buck in real estate here,  it is easy to live without a car – something that is an absolute necessity in...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=105787Mon, 09 Mar 2009 19:04:00 ZIn early February, continued unemployment claims topped five million for the first time since the Department of Labor started collecting data on unemployment claims in 1967. However, as a share of the labor force, continued unemployment claims are...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=105765Thu, 05 Mar 2009 21:53:00 ZContinuing a trend initiated by books such as Richard Florida’s “Rise of the Creative Class” and perpetuated by a growing movement of economic development professionals that argue workforce talent will be the key driver of future growth, communities...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=105759Thu, 05 Mar 2009 16:54:00 ZI graduated from college during our last economic recession.  Prompted by an utter lack of promising job opportunities and a longstanding interest in volunteering, I decided to volunteer with AmeriCorps for a year in rural Oregon.   The program...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=105733Sun, 01 Mar 2009 21:17:00 ZEconomic development has changed significantly over the past two decades.  The days of smokestack chasing have given way to people chasing.  Communities large and small are positioning themselves to attract and grow a talented workforce with skills...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=105732Sun, 01 Mar 2009 21:10:00 ZAccording to the U.S. Census Bureau, approximately seven-out-of-ten people in the United States live urban areas.  Therefore, during this recession, cities have a huge stake in finding solutions to spur economic recuperation.  The Conference of...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=105730Sun, 01 Mar 2009 21:01:00 ZIn recent weeks, there has been a plethora of political pundits on cable and network news analyzing the proposed economic stimulus legislation.  Two partisan media watchdog groups analyzed the television coverage to determine how the stimulus...http://marketstreetservices.com/default.aspx?p=28303&beid=105705Wed, 25 Feb 2009 19:19:00 Z