Really getting a handle on business recruitment for urban commercial districts

People don't really understand the issues. How difficult this can be, and what businesses are looking for. M. David Milder's "Downtown Business Recruitment" handbook really lays it out--that you need to have a good inventory of property availability, and that properties have to be the size that meets the expectations and needs of business owners, that the district has the right demographics and image.

Too often us city people believe that others have the same kind of resignation to building quality that we do, and that excited business owners overlook the warts. They don't. They have limited capital and want to invest it where they can get the greatest return.

There is also an interesting Powerpoint presentation on "Ethnic Commercial Business Districts" on Mr. Milder's website, www.danth.com. I have also put a link to the Business Recruitment Handbook in the list of "must read reports" links in the right sidebar.