US towns and rural areas have more power now in attracting new residents and keeping current residents than they have in decades.

Throughout the US, these areas have been losing the fight against brain drain, but changes in technology and lifestyle preferences are giving power back to communities and making them less dependent on traditional economic development and large companies.

With the working world becoming much more mobile and many people being able to work remotely, it's easier for people to live wherever they want. It's easier than ever for young people, especially, to turn an idea into a digital business, and also pretty easy for anyone with a good idea to start a business that can win customers throughout the world.

People in their 30's and younger are rejecting the life their parents chose – the vanilla existence in a subdivision in a bedroom community with no character. They long for authenticity and are attracted to nostalgia. They also tend to reject and not trust many larger companies.

The result? Many people are beginning to choose where they live based on lifestyle choices rather than jobs.

The evidence is all around you, from eating local to craft brewing. It's no coincidence that both of these economic movements wouldn't have been sustainable 20 years ago when companies had to be large to compete.

Across America, communities have become more vanilla over the past several decades due to the proliferation of franchises, chain stores, and chain restaurants.

People yearn for a connection to places and other people, and these desires are slowly helping rebuild the demand for local products.

A geographic brand validates authenticity and quality for consumers, creates exposure for the community every time it's seen, and helps businesses by improving the marketability of products over time.

Are you one of the following types of people?

Economic Developer
Community Developer
Main Street Director
Planning District Commission Director
Workforce Training professional
Chamber of Commerce Director
...or anyone else who works in revitalizing America's local communities?

If so, read on.

This fall we'll be launching an exciting new project to help professionals like those above share stories of how they are successfully revitalizing their communities, and we're looking for interesting people to interview for our podcast. We will also be looking for guest bloggers, so if you prefer writing over talking, let us know! Or, you can do both if you're really brave (don't worry, we can guide you if you're not used to writing).

The podcasts will be short conversations about the initiatives that are making a difference for communities across the US.

note: the following press release was issued by the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs in relation to a contract recently awarded to Glerin through a competitive bid process. Both Downtown Westfield Corporation and Main Street Vineland received grants to work with Glerin.

Main Street New Jersey Awards District Branding and Digital Design Service Grant (Westfield)

TRENTON, NJ –The Main Street New Jersey program administered by the state Department of Community Affairs (DCA) today announced that Downtown Westfield Corporation has been awarded a District Branding and Digital Design service grant. The grant will allow Westfield Downtown Corporation to create a new brand for its district, as well as a specially designed website developed by Glerin Business Resources, Inc. of Halifax, VA.　

Through the Main Street New Jersey program, the DCA partners with 19 local Main Street nonprofit organizations throughout the State to reinvigorate traditional downtowns and neighborhood business districts. They all share a common goal of improving their commercial districts to help make them better places in which to live, shop, work, and do business. Over the past several years, Main Street New Jersey has included more services related directly to small business and business district branding to help traditional commercial districts market themselves more effectively.