“This seems too good to be true.” That’s what Marion City Manager, Ryan Waller, kept saying to himself during his visits and interview process. He canvassed the downtown, incognito with his wife, doing a little reconnaissance. He’d chat up the people he found: the bartender and the shop owner. He asked about the city– their vision and plans. “It was incredible,” he says, “because they … Continue reading Marion, Iowa – The Place People Want to Be

J.F.K. said that “a rising tide lifts all boats.” It’s the idea that success breeds success. And the glow of that success can help all those around shine, too.  The tide is rising in the city of Spring Hill. Located in middle Tennessee, this city of 55,000 is a suburb of Nashville. It used to be considered a bedroom community: a place where residents might … Continue reading Spring Hill, Tennessee – Rising and Shining 

This is a comeback story.  It’s a story of a strong community: the behind the scenes renderings of persistent leadership and passionate citizens– all willing their beloved community back to life again.  Things in Camden, Ohio, were a little bleak: buildings were vacant. The downtown was broken and blighted. Some of those buildings, even the historic ones, were eyesores. But Camden was not down for … Continue reading Camden, Ohio – Coming Back to Life