March 6, 2003 | Read Time: 1 minute
The Community Economic Development Handbook: Strategies and Tools to Revitalize Your Neighborhood
by Mihailo Temali
Nonprofit organizations can help revitalize the economy of poor neighborhoods and improve residents’ quality of life at the same time, writes Mihailo Temali, founder and executive director of the Neighborhood Development Center, in St. Paul.
His book describes the four hallmarks of community economic development: attract businesses and consumers to commercial districts, help small businesses start up and remain viable, provide job training and placement services, and create new jobs.
To help nonprofit groups tackle each facet of development, Mr. Temali provides worksheets and guidance on how to assess current needs and resources, gather reactions from residents of the neighborhood and businesses, prepare and carry out a work plan, and evaluate results.
The book provides examples of projects that can improve an economically depressed neighborhood, including offering small grants to help store owners renovate their buildings and sponsoring workshops to help entrepreneurs create financial plans to open their own businesses.
Throughout the book, Mr. Temali stresses the need to keep local residents informed and involved in the process. He suggests that groups publicize open meetings in local newspapers and create a slogan or design that can be displayed by participating businesses.
Publisher: Amherst H. Wilder Foundation, 919 Lafond Avenue, St. Paul, Minn. 55104-2108; (651) 659-6024 or (800) 274-6024; fax (651) 642-2061; books@wilder.org; http://www.wilder.org; 288 pages; $35; I.S.B.N. 0-940069-36-9.
