Friends, I am looking for a new job. As a seasoned Development Professional, I am considering opportunities in Community and Economic Development, primarily across the Mountain West and Upper Midwest states. I have particular experience in long-range community and regional planning, infrastructure, and strategic planning. I have particular interest in how communities thrive in the New […]
Improve a Vaccine—Save a Forest
QS-21 is a promising adjuvant which improves the performance of certain drugs. The trouble is, QS-21 is derived from an evergreen tree (Quillaja saponari) found in limited locations in Chile. It also has some other qualities that limit vaccine effectiveness. Researchers at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) in New York have been working on a synthetic […]
Placemaking, not Bailouts, Key to Millenials and Boomers Alike
Last month, in conjunction with the National Planning Conference in Atlanta, the American Planning Association (APA) released results of a new poll. It found interesting similarities of opinion between both young adults (my kids) and younger/potential retirees (my folks). National Poll Dispels Popular Assumptions About Improving Local Economies and Attracting New Residents Millennials, Baby Boomers […]
Talking About the Economic Census
An interesting video bit of PR from the Census Bureau on the 2012 Economic Census: [v=SVns8dKcBrE] How folks in business, economic and political leaders use economic statistics. A bit geeky, like dancing about architecture… .
2012 Economic Census First Look
We’re getting an advance view of the US Census Bureau’s 2012 Economic Census results. The mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction sector of the economy showed tremendous growth from 2007 to 2012 as the number of establishments rose by 26.4 percent, according to the 2012 Economic Census Advance Report released [March 26] by the U.S. Census Bureau. […]
Railroads riding the Bakken Boom
Rail roads seem to define America, from the Golden Spike to the Singing Brakeman. We love them, we hate them, we ride them, we wait for them. The rail industry, however, isn’t waiting for us, growing traffic where it can. Recently the rail industry has been in the spotlight, pro and con, as the work […]
Strong Towns Focus on People, Not Just Their Cars
The financial path our cities are on is fast falling apart, as our Suburban experiment of the last half-century shows its age. Our future prosperity depends on the ability of local leaders to transform their communities. How do we do that? That’s what Charles Marohn came to town to talk about, bringing his Strong Towns […]
Strong Towns Curbside Chats Coming to Wyoming
From the Wyoming Business Council: CHEYENNE, WYO. – Starting Monday, the Wyoming Rural Development Council will host the first of four Strong Town presentations throughout the state. The WRDC, in partnership with the nonprofit organization Strong Towns, invites community leaders, business owners and residents to these presentations to learn more about keeping your community strong […]
The Local Economy Revolution: Economic Ecosystems & the Value of Being Unique
“The Real Question isn’t whether Policy X or Trend Y will happen. Stuff will happen. The real question is, how do we set our communities up to thrive in a world of Macro Uncertainty.” -D.G. Rucker I’m a sucker for those big picture, MegaTrends-that-are-going-to-Rock-Your-World, blog-magazine-TEDx thingys that float all over the interwebs these days. I […]
Bakken Boom May Need Timeout
Earlier this year, the USGS estimated “mean undiscovered volumes of 7.4 billion barrels of oil, 6.7 trillion cubic feet of associated/dissolved natural gas, and 0.53 billion barrels of natural gas liquids in the Bakken and Three Forks Formations in the Williston Basin Province of Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota.” Interesting news out of North Dakota’s […]