Our understanding of what makes a strong local economy is changing. We know that people and businesses pick a place first. That downtowns matter. And that what makes a place unique is just as important as, well, just about anything else. The Soul of the Community study by the Knight Foundation made it clear: People are tied to a place because it is inclusive, there are places to gather, and there is some aesthetic beauty of the place – the buildings, the natural environment. Yet when we work on city redevelopment plans, we forget these key elements. We know that we need to tie economic development and place together. We know that we want people to remember to love where they live. That’s where we come in - Recast City. We work with local leaders to create great places that build energy, increase the number of good paying jobs, fill storefronts, and make people proud of where they’re from. All by bringing small-scale manufacturing businesses to the forefront. Small-scale manufacturing businesses (any business making a tangible good from handbags, to hot sauce, to hardware) on main street give us that competitive edge. They are modern manufacturing (Good paying jobs, but clean and quiet neighbors). They give us an attraction on main street (Look through that window to see what they’re making!). They have diverse revenue models selling in-person and online (They’re not dependent on foot traffic). And they remind our neighbors that we have something to be proud of when they see the locally owned businesses thrive.