Subscribe to the Power HomeBiz Newsletter!
Home About Us Contact Us Site Map Search

  

  Contents

Home Biz Guides
E-Commerce Guides
Success Stories
Tools and Solutions
Consult Your 
Guide

Related Links
Message Board
SmallBiz News

  Contact Us

•  Send us your comments, requests and feedback.


Small Business Research
Impact of Neighborhood Quality on Small Business Growth 

 
Small business owners may be more likely to invest in the growth of their businesses if they see their surrounding neighborhoods thriving as well. 

By Isabel M. Isidro
Power HomeBiz Guides

 

Cities can enhance their economic and social viability by keeping established small businesses from leaving their neighborhoods and encouraging them to invest in their locations.  Small business owners may be more likely to invest in the growth of their businesses if they see their surrounding neighborhoods thriving as well.  This according to the latest study commissioned by the Research Institute for Small and Emerging Business, Inc. (RISEbusiness).

The study, Small Business Development and Neighborhood Quality of Life, examines ways for local governments to enhance the business development of their communities.  Authored by William B. Gartner of the University of Southern California, the study suggests that a small business owner’s optimism (or pessimism) about future sales growth significantly affects whether a small business owner undertakes efforts to invest in, or enhance, business operations.

“Improving neighborhoods, therefore, can be viewed as a way to stimulate small business investment and growth, which subsequently leads to further improvements by these businesses within their business neighborhoods,” states Gartner. 

The study identified several factors that affect small business owners’ growth expectations. The three major determinants are crime, neighborhood appearance, and transportation accessibility. Local governments need to reduce crime, particularly burglary, robbery, damage to property, drugs and graffiti, to increase small business owners’ optimism about the future of the locality. The upkeep and cleanliness of the neighborhood’s streets, sidewalks and buildings also impacts on small business owners’ expectations of future sales growth.

RISEbusiness President and CEO Mark Schultz noted that, “While the findings may appear to be obvious, the actions required on the part of local governments have not been so apparent. Local governments must do a much better job of operationalizing their community development strategies and of utilizing them as a business development tools – for ‘location, location, location’ has been and continues to be the mantra of businesses hoping to survive and thrive.”

Recommended Resources: 

Location, Location, Location : How to Select the Best Site for Your Business (Psi Successful Business Library) by Luigi Salvaneschi, Camille Akin (Editor)

 

Like this article? Recommend this to a friend!


Success Tip Archive

Additional collection of tips and advice that you can use to increase your productivity, to better manage your time and resources, and to attain success in your business endeavor. 

 

Details Count in Direct Mail Promotions
Getting the Most from Tradeshows
Tips on Dealing with Business Failures
Making Sure You Get Paid
Do You Know Your Competitor?
Keeping Your Business Legal
Tips for Preparing Loan Documents
Controlled Use of Limited Capital for Start-Ups
Do's and Don'ts in Workspace Design

 

Previous Article

Back to the Top

Next Article


Home About Us Contact Us Site Map Search

Copyright © 2000 PowerHomeBiz.com, LLC. All rights reserved. Click here for Terms of Use and Privacy Policy applicable to this site. For sponsorship and advertising information, click here.