Small Towns Big Ideas: Case Studies in Small Town Community Economic Development

Small Towns, Big Ideas is the result of an intensive, yearlong effort to identify and document the stories of small towns that are surviving - and in come cases, thriving - as hubs of civic and economic activity.

This publication includes stories about planning and implementing economic development strategies in 45 small towns with populations fewer than 10,000 residents. Hald of the towns featured are from North Carolina, and half are from other states.

Stories are told in a narrative format and are intended to provide concrete ideas, inspiration and hope to civic leaders working in small communities and to policy makers dealing with rural development issues. The lessons section draws a series of conclusions, from across all the case studies, about economic development in small communities.