I started this blog on August 7, 2007, nearly ten years ago, and after over 1,100 posts, I still find it a challenge to frequently write posts that meet my standards – that I enjoy writing the blog post and that there is a reasonable chance someone will find it helpful and/or entertaining. While shopping Parnassus Bookstore in Nashville during lunch hour yesterday, I came across 642 Tiny Things to Write About, a writing prompt book (it gives 642 topics/scenarios and you write a little about it.) On first thought, what does this have to do with economic and community development? But on looking at it a little closer, like everything else, it doesn’t fall far from the the tree we call economic and community development. On the dedication page, it promised “This tiny book contains all the ingredients to expand your mind, make time disappear, and supercharge your creativity.” If it does this for me in writing for this economic development blog when I can’t think of anything to write, well, then, it was well worth the purchase price.
My first ‘tiny thing’ is “Offer a one-sentence argument for who your city should name its next street after.”
My city should name its next street “LOCAL CITIZENS WHO SUPPORT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STREET” after the local citizens who support economic development by making the city an attractive, desirable place to live, work and do business by not taking up all those parking spaces in front of our restaurants and retail stores, courteously stopping to let shoppers back out of street parking, greeting folks on our sidewalks with a smile and hello, and supporting initiatives that make our city a destination, create a business-friendly environment and sustain a vibrant community.
