Description: Sustain a unique and thriving downtown by choosing to invest in our local economy, cultivate consumer choice, and encourage cultural diversity by nurturing small, locally owned businesses. We need to cultivate a deepened culture of community or collective voice within the different interested parties. Currently there are “silos” of community, but a framework is needed to serve as a way to bring these groups together and facilitate honest conversation and feedback. We need to develop a representative document to serve as a collective voice listing the major issues facing local businesses and providing suggested solutions to decision-makers
Top Three Challenges
- Difficulty in working with the City of Phoenix Development Services Department
- Lack of connected community among local business owners
- Lack of economic assistance for locally owned businesses
Possible Solutions
- Hold annual conference to support advocacy and development
- Either serve as or find a point person to go out to all community groups to identify and compile common issues; report back to all
- Write an annual report of issues facing local businesses to present to decision-makers
- Have a team of volunteers canvas local businesses to solicit feedback and educate them of available resources
Go to Neighborhoods >>
Review 2004 Locally-Owned Businesses background information
Review 2004 Locally-Owned Businesses challenges and solutions (including 2010 analysis of progress)
Downtown Voices Coalition 