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Joe Borgstrom talks Placemaking in a practical way

By Small Biz Survival

A Positive View of Rural
A Positive View of Rural
Joe Borgstrom talks Placemaking in a practical way
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Joe Borgstrom is the Director of Downtown and Community Services Division at the Michigan State Housing Development Authority. That’s a big title, but the short version is that Joe is a smart guy about small towns.

Joe and I don’t always agree. That’s good, because our conversations always challenge each of us in our thinking.

One of the first people I ever heard mention Placemaking, and proponent of one of the smartest approaches to Placemaking I’ve heard. Beyond the trendy idea, what’s the meat?

  • How Main Street works with Placemaking
  • Business want talent, talent wants place, places want businesses
  • Talent isn’t about attracting hip young people. It’s developing talent from within.
  • How a water grant matters to place
  • How to get beyond silos whether in state government or a small town
  • Coffee and calendars – do this!
  • Can really small towns even survive?
  • Which communities are the ones that actually get things done?
  • Is there hope for communities that are fighting to ever get their act together?
  • Retaining youth, more than just mailboxes

Connect with Joe Borgstrom and the Michigan smart resources:

  • MIPlace
  • Michigan Main Street Center
  • @JoeBorgstrom on Twitter

We talked about towns giving graduating high school students mailboxes to show they are always welcome to return. I found a couple of examples:

  • Brookfield, Missouri
  • McCook, Nebraska

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You can view all the Positive View of Rural Podcast episodes here.

June 2, 2015

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