Small businesses aren’t just smaller versions of big firms—they face a unique set of challenges and limitations. As a result, what small businesses need from their local governments is also unique. This session explores the challenges that small businesses face and the strategies that planners can employ to help them succeed—strategies that typically have lower costs and more long-term benefit than conventional economic development.
Speaker Details
Taylor Stuckert
Co-Founder
Energize Clinton County
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Bio: Co-director of Energize Clinton County (ECC), a non-profit organization founded to lead a community driven response to the economic crisis caused by the closure of the former DHL shipping hub in Wilmington, OH and the loss of nearly 10,000 jobs. Working closely with the Clinton County Regional Planning Commission (CCRPC), ECC focuses primarily on 5 key areas: local businesses, young professionals, food, energy, and local visioning. Built upon experience in the Peace Corps by its co-founders, ECC strives to present its projects as providing a model for restoring rural communities as vibrant places in the world.
Education: University of Cincinnati: MCP (Spring 2013) Butler University: B.A. Philosophy (2005)
Key Publications: "Applying the Lessons of International Development Back Home," The Solutions Journal. November 2010. URL: http://www.thesolutionsjournal.com/node/806
Past Assignments: 2011-Alleviating Poverty Through Entrepreneurship Conference (Columbus, OH); 2011-Institute for the Future 10 Year Forecast (San Francisco, CA); 2011-Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (Danville, VA); 2010-Sinclair Visiting Scholars Lecture (Dayton, OH); 2010-Institute for the Future Practical Visionaries; 2009-Pop!Tech Conference (Camden, ME)
Carolyn Dellutri
Executive Director
Downtown Evanston
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Bio: Carolyn Dellutri joined Downtown Evanston, Inc as the Executive Director in July 2009. Downtown Evanston is the marketing and management organization for the 34 block central business district in Evanston, Illinois. Her duties include central business district marketing, advertising, retail events, and business recruitment and retention, management of the district by overseeing the maintenance contracts (trash removal, power-washing sidewalks, landscaping, banners and holiday decorations). Carolyn has held positions with the City of Geneva, Main Street Libertyville and the Lake County Illinois Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Education: Carolyn attended the University Wisconsin LaCrosse. She has also received her certification in tourism (CTP) through the National Tour Association as well as her certification through the National Trust Main Street Center as a Certified Main Street Manager (CMSM) and is a recent graduate from the Oklahoma University Economic Development Institute (IEDC)
Past Assignments: International Downtown Association conference session "Getting the Brand Right! A case study of Downtown Evanston Branding" and National Main Street Conference session "Writing an RFP and Responding to it"
Della G. Rucker, AICP
Principal
Wise Economy Workshop
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Bio: Principal, Wise Community Workshop. Former National Lead for Economic Development, Jacobs Urban Planning and Design Group. Former senior planner, Edwards and Kelcey.
Education: MCP, University of Cincinnati, 2001 BS ED, Northwestern University, 1991
Key Publications: Blogger, Wise Community Workshop Columnist, Planning Commissioner's Journal
Other Publications: various
Past Assignments: APA 2009: 10 Tools for Sustainable Economic Development National Town Meeting on Main Street, 2010, Public Participation 2.0 ICMA 2010, New Strategies in Economic Development various regional and national presentations on economic development, fiscal impact, public engagement, planning and downtown revitalization.
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