“Beyond Economic Survival – 97 Ways Small Communities Can Thrive – A Guide to Community Vitality” Released

More Needed to Survive in a Post-Recession Economy - Economist

ALSO ATTACHED – MINI COMMUNITY VITALITY INDEX – How Does Your Community Rate?

Nelson, BC - Does your community believe in itself? Do women consider it safe to walk alone downtown at night? Do young adults 25-34 consider your community a desirable place to live?

“If you’re not asking yourself these things you are not likely to have a viable community in the long run” says economist Mike Stolte, co-author of a just-published free guide to community vitality.

“Beyond Economic Survival – 97 Ways Small Communities Can Thrive – A Guide to Community Vitality” was released on the web this week by the Centre for Innovative & Entrepreneurial Leadership (CIEL – pronounced ‘see – elle’ meaning sky in French – www.theCIEL.com), a Nelson, BC-based organization that has worked with communities in Canada, the US, Australia & New Zealand.

The guide comes about after four years of development. “We looked at more than 60 studies from around the world, had a blue ribbon national advisory committee, and have now worked closely with 50 communities in four countries to produce this guide,” says Bill Metcalfe, the report’s other co-author.

Stolte, CIEL’s Executive Director, says that most of the 97 indicators rely on perceptions - things like newcomers being welcome in the community or the community having a festival that generates a feeling of magic and excitement. “These important perceptions are often ignored in communities because they are hard to measure,” states Stolte.

The CIEL team devised a method of measuring the perceptions on a 100 point scale allowing for an important comparison to other communities (a reference group) in developing the Community Vitality Initiative (CVI) for small communities in Quebec. “Like humans, communities need to know where they stand relative to others on important matters. We might think we’re doing poorly but compared to others, we’re not doing so badly.”

CIEL has combined the CVI indicators with statistics to take the temperature (the general health of the community) in communities across Canada, including Huntsville, Ontario (site of next year’s G8 Summit) to give the communities a starting point for getting the community focused and kick-started for taking strategic action, something Stolte argues is more important than ever in an economic downturn.

“Armed with information and freed by technology, people choose their communities much more carefully than ever before. Therefore, communities must be savvy in the retention and attraction of people. In fact, if communities don’t inspire their citizens they run the risk of becoming failed communities.”

The free Guide to Community Vitality offers communities a checklist of 97 important indicators, explains why they’re important and cites the indicator research origins. The guide is available for download at www.theCIEL.com

The Centre for Innovative and Entrepreneurial Leadership (CIEL – www.theCIEL.com) strengthens communities by helping them become more entrepreneurial, vital and sustainable. In addition to developing a community leadership program for small communities for the Government of Canada, CIEL also has worked with communities using the Business Vitality Initiative (business friendliness), the Community Vitality Initiative (vitality), Community Check-up, the Communities Matrix (readiness), and the Green Light Check-Up (sustainability), all tools and processes to assess and strengthen communities. CIEL also provides technical assistance, training and custom solutions for communities.

Mini-Bio of Co-Authors

• Mike Stolte, in addition to being the founder and Executive Director of CIEL, is also the Chair of the Canadian Rural Revitalization Foundation (CRRF) and writes as the Happy Economist (http://happy-economist.blogspot.com/). Mike’s work has been featured on CBC Radio, Canadian Living and the Australian Broadcasting Company.

• Bill Metcalfe is Bill Metcalfe is a writer and researcher for CIEL. In addition, he works as a broadcaster and freelance writer. Bill co-manages Kootenay Co-op Radio in Nelson, BC. He also produces occasional pieces for CBC radio about the arts in Nelson, and writes freelance articles. He is a published fiction writer.

For more information contact:

• Mike Stolte 250-352-9192 x 222 w, 250-354-3737 Cell
• Bill Metcalfe 250-352-9192 x 224 w

How Does Your Community Rate?

Take the MINI COMMUNITY VITALITY INDEX

To see how your community rates, ask yourself these questions:

• you can strongly agree (score 4), mildly agree (3), neither agree nor disagree (2), mildly disagree (1), or strongly disagree (score 0) – add your score to see how you’re doing

A score of 60 or better – you’ve got a super community

A score of 51-60 – you’ve got some vitality and have much potential

A score of 41-50 – lots of work needed

A score 40 or below – you’re in jeopardy of losing chunks of your population.

1. Local middle-income earners can afford to buy a house in the community.
2. Women consider it safe to walk alone downtown at night.
3. For newcomers to the community and those who wish to, there are meaningful opportunities to get involved and make a difference in the community.
4. This town believes in itself. We think that with enough support, we can do anything.
5. This community cooperates with its neighbouring communities.
6. There is a good balance between new ideas and a respect for tradition and history.
7. On divisive community issues, there is civilized debate, a good flow of information, and inclusive, respectful consultation.
8. The community considers environmental sustainability in its community planning.
9. We celebrate the arts and support local artists.
10. We have at least one public festival that generates a feeling of magic and excitement.
11. We have identified something positive that is unique to this community, and we promote it well.
12. Most people know the individuals in at least three neighbouring households by name.
13. Newcomers are welcome in the community.
14. Young adults age 25-34 consider the community to be a desirable place to live.
15. This community has an optimistic spirit.
16. Businesses in the community/region market their products and services as a group.
17. The community has a distinctive or unique brand or marketing image.
18. People prefer to purchase local products & services before those from out of the area.
19. There are friendly public spaces where a variety of kinds of people feel welcome: parks, squares, fountains, outdoor cafes, benches, playgrounds.
20. There is a vibrant town centre or community core.

If you want more, please go to CIEL’s web-site (www.theCIEL.com) to download the full guide with all 97 indicators.