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)

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