Ever get so wrapped up in the day-to-day details of something that you fail to address the fundamentals? It’s easy to do, especially when the fundamental is as nebulous and large-scale as the health of a city. Describing one aspect of the issue, Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce CEO Dave Byerly writes, “a community’s downtown may no longer be its economic heart, but it is and forever shall be the community’s soul”. So what can an ordinary human do to affect the health of their city’s downtown? Look around for neighbors who are making a difference and support them.
In my town its people like the good folk at Mountain Valley Spring Water. For over 125 years the Mountain Valley Water company has been bottling pristine spring water in the Hot Springs area. The company’s headquarters and visitor center are located in a historic building downtown. In addition to participating in local events, Mountain Valley displays the work of local artists in their visitor center’s mezzanine. When I needed a venue to host a small meetup earlier this summer, I was quickly granted access to their grand building. Companies that approach business this way offer enormous value to their local community.
There are three things we can do to make sure neighbors like these stick around:
1. Buy the water in the green bottle – Like us, our neighbors have to eat. Giving them our business allows them to continue to do what they do.
2. Share the spotlight – Use the platform you have to spread the good word. Blog, tweet or tell your Facebook friends about the people who are doing it right in your town.
3. Say thanks – A little pat-on-the-back style positive reinforcement goes a long way. Some of your neighbors are working hard to build a healthy community. Let them know when they’re getting it right.
Now’s your chance! Leave a comment below to tell us about the good work being done in your city. And to Breck, Robin and the gang at Mountain Valley, thanks for being good neighbors!
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Hey Step, Glad to see you wake up the blogging beast within! Thanks for the reminder that there are neighbors who are working just as hard (maybe even harder) for a healthy community as we are. I think I’ll go buy a case of Mountain Valley today!
Thanks Steve! You’re a great encourager!
Step,
I have been at a Conference for four days on “Building Healthy Communities.” One of the first steps is making downtown the heart again. I would love for M.V.W. to be the heart beat of our town again. We can achieve by increasing the density of people living downtown, street connectivity, cross walks, signs, sidewalks big enough for several people, bike lanes, shared green spaces and business and community living and working together. There will be a meeting to adopt a new 2030 plan that will do this and revitalize our downtown which will bring people to live here and reduce traffic problems as it will spread the people out broadly, and increase safety. Diversity with density and accessibility makes for a Healthy Community with Downtown as its’ beating heart.
Great blog post my friend:).
Thanks for the kind words Courtney. Would love to hear more about the conference.
Great advice Step!
Thanks Blake!
Great comments Step! There are great opportunities with a vibrant downtown. It starts by jumping in and helping those that are trying and doing it right. We’ll have much more to say about downtown and Hot Springs in general as this discussion moves forward.
Thanks for commenting David! I appreciate the work you and your team are doing. I look forward to the days ahead.
I really enjoyed this blog post! As you may know, Kentucky was once a thriving tobacco state. Lots of small tobacco farms supported local communities. Since regulations on smoking have increased, KY small tobacco farms found themselves out of business. Instead of allowing the farming industry die, locals in Louisville came together to find a solution. They found that there was a great demand for local, organic food. A lot of those tobacco farms converted and started farming organic produce and to get it to the communities the farms began a subscription service. http://www.grasshoppersdistribution.com/ Not only are they stimulating the local farming community but they are bringing the community together around the table! Our family appreciates them!
Great example Angela. It’s satisfying to hear about people who faced challenge and overcame it with such a fantastic solution. Thanks for sharing the link. Love you guys!