Over the last few months, we have worked as bond counsel with two towns that wanted to assemble land for economic development, and that needed to borrow money to pay for the land. The towns took different approaches that illustrate the flexibility available for this...
The Retail Mall Reimagined
My first job in high school was as a lowly “dump girl” at Nordstrom. Hired to work Nordstrom’s Anniversary Sale at the famous South Coast Plaza mall, girls who “ran dump” were tasked with rapidly restocking the sales floor with copious amounts of tried-on clothing so...
You Don’t Have a Lawyer on Your CED Team? You Should.
Successful community economic development projects don’t happen by accident. Implementing a dynamic community economic development plan requires a dynamic team. You’ll want a team of qualified professionals and community stakeholders, including local officials,...
Financing alternatives for parking facilities
As more communities work to make lively downtowns, more are facing the question of: “Where are we going to put the cars?” Whether there’s a need to move parking areas off valuable redevelopment sites, a desire to put more parking near key commercial areas, or just a...
To Revitalize Main Street, Look Beyond Nostalgia
Some say that Main Street won’t ever really be the same again. Or will it? To successfully revitalize Main Street, we have to look beyond the storefronts and brands that once defined it. We have to accept Main Street for what it was – a community center. We must...
Older School Buildings May Be Your Community’s Best Asset
As populations shift and time passes, many communities have school buildings that are no longer being used, or for which use as a school is no longer the highest and best. Communities, like Rockingham, are then left with a huge asset—in terms of physical space and...
Co-working Spaces, Incubators and Accelerators – Which One is Right for You?
Wondering what to do with that vacant space downtown? Want to spur job growth and boost your local economy? Maybe it’s time for a co-working space. Or an incubator. Perhaps even an accelerator. Not sure which one? Don’t worry, you’re not alone.