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.

A couple of months back several clients asked for a joint brochure and digital presentation to be created, one that they could take to the Farnborough International Airshow, the world's largest aerospace event. The event is held every other year at Farnborough Airport in Hampshire, England. Our clients Mid-Atlantic Broadband Cooperative Communities, Southern Virginia Regional Alliance, and Virginia's Growth Alliance were attending the show as a team, displaying in the Virginia Economic Development Partnership booth.

The clients wanted a 4-panel brochure that didn't open accordian-like, and requested a die-cut design. Printer Dogwood Graphics in South Hill, VA, advised that die-cut would add a substantial amount to the cost, so we worked with them to devise a concept for the illusion of a die-cut. Dogwood chose a hefty cardstock for printing, and the brochure turned out great!

At right are photos of notes & sketches from our initial meeting with the clients, a proof printed on plain ink jet paper to test the concept, and a proof printed by Dogwood Graphics (we'll post pix of the entire brochure later). Below are photos from the Farnborough Airshow. Click any photo to enlarge.