Home Grown Economic Development
Vol. III, No. 166 - Why investing in what we have is often the smarter play
We Are Feeding our Neighbors here at Civic Capacity
Throughout November, this publication is giving our readers an opportunity where our readers can support local food pantries. Every dollar received from our “Buy Me a Coffee” Page will be given to New Path Food Pantries.
We started November with a modest goal to raise $750. After the 12th day of our campaign, our community has raised $2,360! Our new goal for November is to raise $2,500. Do you want to be part of this effort, along with 57 other donors to help support our efforts? You can by making a donation here:
Every community wants to grow and bring in new jobs. The question is how. Should we spend our energy chasing new companies to move in, or should we focus on helping the ones already here? While new business attraction can make headlines, the long-term strength of most communities comes from the local businesses that have been here all along.
Research shows that most new jobs come from existing businesses expanding, not from new companies moving in. Local restaurants, shops, manufacturers, and service providers are the ones that hire our neighbors, support local schools, and shape the character of the places we call home.
Keeping Our Local Character
Local businesses reflect who we are as a community. They carry our history, our values, and our shared identity. When they thrive, they help keep a town’s unique flavor alive. A strong Main Street or busy local shopping area tells visitors and residents alike that this is a place with pride and personality. Relying too much on national chains or outside investors can make a community look and feel like anywhere else.
Building a Stronger Economy
When people spend money at local businesses, that money tends to stay in the community. A local shop hires a local accountant, who eats at a local restaurant, which buys produce from a nearby farm. This “multiplier effect” keeps dollars circulating close to home, strengthening the local economy from the inside out. Focusing on retention and expansion of existing businesses uses this effect to build lasting prosperity.
Creating Steady Jobs
Local businesses are reliable job creators. They hire local workers, tailor their operations to local needs, and care deeply about their employees’ well-being. When they expand, they add stable jobs that build financial security for families. Supporting their growth means supporting local employment that lasts.
Investing Back in the Community
Small and mid-sized local businesses are often the first to sponsor a youth team, donate to a school fundraiser, or join a community event. They show up for their neighbors because they live here too. That kind of engagement builds trust, pride, and a stronger sense of belonging across generations.
Taking Care of the Environment
Supporting local producers also helps the environment. Because local supply chains are shorter, they use less fuel and create fewer emissions. Many local business owners take care of their surroundings because they live, work, and raise their families in the same neighborhoods their businesses serve.
Reducing Economic Risk
Attracting new companies is not always a sure bet. Big firms may leave when tax breaks expire or when the next place offers a better deal. Local businesses, in contrast, are already committed and invested. They know the market, understand the people, and have built relationships here. Supporting them reduces the risk of sudden job losses or empty buildings.
Encouraging New Ideas
Local business networks also create space for innovation. Entrepreneurs often learn from one another and start new ventures that respond to community needs. A healthy local economy feeds creativity and keeps opportunity alive for the next generation of small business owners.
Building Resilience and Inclusion
When a town supports its own, it becomes more resilient. Local economies with diverse small businesses can better adapt to changes in national trends. Prioritizing homegrown business growth also creates opportunities for minority and small-scale entrepreneurs, widening participation in the local economy.
Making the Most of What We Have
Helping local businesses grow means using what the community already has—its infrastructure, workforce, and talent. It’s usually faster and cheaper than trying to lure in brand-new companies with expensive incentives.
In the end, true economic development is homegrown. It starts with believing in the people and businesses already here, giving them the tools and support to thrive. When they succeed, the whole community wins—economically, socially, and culturally.
Participate in our November Community Survey!
Back when this project was kicked off over two years ago, this newsletter was imagined as a helpful tool to not only help have our residents understand their community, but also to receive feedback and get ideas on how residents perceived where our hometowns was headed.
In order to achieve that goal, the decision was made to release a small survey that would ask residents their thoughts and feelings every two months. Every month seemed excessive, yet, once a quarter didn’t seem quite frequent enough. The idea was to help create a picture of the sentiment in the community and measure that sentiment over time.
So, throughout November, you can participate in our survey to give your thoughts and feelings on the direction of your hometown!
You can access the survey here:
Thanks for your time and your participation! It is greatly appreciated!
A New Handbook to grow Civic Capacity!
Recently, we created a new digital handbook, “The Citizen’s Guide to Public Records”. This handbook is designed to help residents have a better understanding of public meetings and meeting records. It’s filled with templates, ideas and other information that will open a new world of public affairs.
Also, if you have ideas for future handbooks, please let us know at pinnaclestrategiesltd@gmail.com.
Want to Learn More About Troy’s Businesses?
Our publication has recently released our September 2025 Economic Abstract, the most comprehensive and up-to-date report on the businesses and industries in the City of Troy. For those that want to understand our community’s business and industries, this is a must-have report.
Thank you to our New Media Partners!
Recently, many of our stories has been showing up on the local news website, www.mymiamicounty.com. We are grateful for the good folks for sharing our work with their audience and we would encourage our readers to check them out at their website!
Our publication would also like to recognize the good work being done at www.piquanewsnow.com. Piqua News Now is a new web-based news and information site for the Miami County area, with a specific focus on Piqua!
In addition, the good folks at Piqua News Now have started a new, 24-hour streaming YouTube channel. This channel is awesome with continuous weather updates and more importantly, it provides a 24-hour audio feed from county wide dispatch. Check it out here!
Also, thanks for reading today’s Civic Capacity Newsletter! Please feel free to share this information with your friends and neighbors.
Also, please consider subscribing to our work. If you are a free subscriber, please consider becoming a paid subscriber. For less than $1 a week, you can get timely and conversational updates about the decisions that are impacting your hometown!