The City of Largo enjoys a prime location nestled between the sunny shores of Florida’s Tampa Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. “We are located close to a lot of great things,” says Mayor Woody Brown. From water sports, fishing, nature preserves, and amusement parks to museums, NFL football, and aquariums, the surrounding area has it all.
From its ease of access to its corporate parks, ongoing investment, and well-managed local government, the City of Sunrise represents the best Florida has to offer. Situated in central-western Broward County – one of the three counties comprising the Miami metropolitan area – Sunrise is a hub for major employers like American Express, Chetu HQ, AT&T, Amazon and Comcast to name just a few. It’s home to many national and global headquarters, along with retail, office and manufacturing businesses in tech, medicine, logistics and other areas.
At first glance, the City of Brockton looks much like one of many leafy, green cities in the American northeast that are shaking out their feathers after the stresses of COVID-19. But, since meeting with three of its inspiring leaders, I am stuck on the theme song from the 1980s box office sensation, Rocky Balboa’s Eye of the Tiger – and the rich texture that this homespun community of almost 106,000 residents has created for itself – despite the global hardships of recent years.
Salem, Massachusetts has earned the tagline ‘Still Making History.’ “We are rooted in history,” says Director of Planning and Community Development Tom Daniel. Founded in 1626, Salem is best known for the infamous witch trials of 1692, which still captivate the public and draw tourists to the community three centuries later.
In Chisago County, Minnesota growth and development is done by design, and thanks to a countywide strategy, great efforts are being taken to collectively leverage the strengths and the growth potential of its cities, townships, and school districts to make the area a vibrant, prosperous, overall great place to be.
After featuring Waseca County, Minnesota in 2017, we checked back in with the community this month to hear the latest developments. Several exciting new programs and expansions are underway, but a key factor that has not changed is the high quality of life.
As communities across North America adapt to sweeping economic and demographic change, it is more important than ever to identify communities that provide new opportunities while retaining small-town values. Just ten miles north-east of the state capital of Madison, the rapidly-growing city of Sun Prairie, Wisconsin offers ready-made infrastructure, economic incentives, and a can-do attitude that help make this a thriving community.
As Miami-Dade County’s sixth-biggest city and home to nearly 70,000 people, the City of North Miami in South Florida is known for being as welcoming and culturally diverse as it is resilient. It is the “middle of the market” strategically located midpoint between several large business districts, two major seaports and two international airports at Miami and Fort Lauderdale.
Rich in history, the Town of Chelmsford is a picturesque place where the past seamlessly integrates with the present. Named for Chelmsford, England, this venerable Massachusetts town was incorporated in 1655. Long ago, Chelmsford’s economy was based on farming, limestone quarrying, and lumber mills; almost 370 years later, Chelmsford is known for quality of life, education, and business-friendly thinking.
In a state that is known for its automotive history, leading the charge to drive the local economy forward in Bay County, Michigan is Bay Future, Inc. The economic development organization has found ways to rally communal support for the local economy and community well-being at a time when it was needed most, during the COVID-19 pandemic.
