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Archive for the ‘Neat Places’ Category

Charleston, SC Flagship and Hagerstown’s New Course

posted by Tim on September 23rd, 2009

flagship

As a great model for city economic innovation, brain-drain mitigation, neighborhood revitalization, independent retail invigoration, the Charleston Digital Corridor (CDC) expands one of its proven initiatives into full scale incubation. The CDC economic development initiative continues to enjoy documented growth in knowledge-based business sectors, elevating wages,  and workforce development at the entrepreneurial, student and neighborhood level. Previously housed in a second floor office of a renovated building on Meeting Street, the Charleston Digital Corridor recently launched its new community multi-use building – The Flagship!

In its previous space, there was room to support two start-ups at a time. Now, as a result of continued growth, demand and a commitment to sustainable construction techniques, the Corridor renovated an old video store into a 5,400-square foot space on East Bay Street, staying in close proximity to downtown amenities and universities. Like most incubation spaces, the Flagship is not meant to be a long term home, but rather be a supportive ecosystem to start-ups that sync with the special economic development goals of the City.

For me, I’ve been a believer, willing student and contributor to the Corridor initiative since its inception, when it was met with opposition that Charleston was no “Raleigh Research Triangle Park, or Atlanta, or Charlotte, etc. However, through the vision and perseverance of its founder, Ernest Andrade, the city’s Business Development Director, along with a few committed investors and start-ups, vibe and ideas were harnessed and the Corridor project has succeeded even beyond the expectations of city officials. Not only has it helped grow the city’s knowledge-based businesses from 18 to 88 and counting, and doubled wages for those working in these companies within the defined corridor districts, but it has also helped revitalize entire neighborhoods, foster retail traffic, and provides job opportunities for downtown residents and students who’d normally look outside the area for employment. Now the model is being set-up as one to follow for other communities looking to turn around their downtown, keep the students and entrepreneurs home and make a new name for themselves to change perceptions and attract high tech companies.

We’re now supporting similar efforts now afoot in Hagerstown, MD and have brought many of the initiatives, strategies and innovative focus points to a city that has a vibe similar to one I witnessed in Charleston, SC in 2001. Downtown Hagerstown has a good inventory of historic buildings (with unique second and third floor office space) – most in much better shape than those in the targeted districts in Charleston. Hagerstown has many higher education facilities, as well as a nationally ranked public education system. Hagerstown has Barbara Ingram School for the Arts – downtown! There are new, independent shops, restaurants and coffee houses popping up. Hagerstown has a strong collection of design and high-tech firms that do big city-level work, and stand to benefit from the effort’s goals of growing more professional services, bio-tech and other knowledge-based enterprise.

Hagerstown Regional Airport now provides commercial jet service, though just to Florida at the moment (I’d like to see a direct to Charleston), and offers short commuter flights to BWI and Dulles. Hagerstown is a “quick” 90 minutes from Baltimore and Washington, DC – an easy drive facilitated by its great location at the crossroads of two of the most accessible interstates in the country. The City has an impressive collection of incentives to help investors, start-ups and others who want to jump in the arena and make things happen. And, just like Charleston, SC, Hagerstown enjoys a strong logistics and manufacturing economic backbone, which is locally supported by the Washington County EDC. In Charleston, and other successful communities, their regional development authority and specialized economic development initiative strategically work together to reach their respective goals for the overall community.

I am enthused with the area’s positive energy and feedback, and feel Hagerstown is poised to really take-off and make its own name that will attract and foster more positive things for area businesses and citizens. As our national and global economies continue to present challenges, I feel fortunate to live in an area that has so much going for it, and a city that is taking bold, strategic steps to make good things happen, rather than waiting for things to happen to them. If only communities like Detroit and others would have fostered more diversity in their economic initiatives, there could be less blight and joblessness in some of these communities.

In the end, the Hagerstown goals are very similar to Charleston’s; diversify an economy so the region doesn’t have its eggs in one basket, grow wages, revitalize neighborhoods, and bring more (and better) opportunities for gainful employment and positive activity to support the quality of life benefits that make this area a great place to live.

Supporting local, privately-owned businesses in Hagerstown (part two)

posted by Scott on September 15th, 2009

If you missed my first post on this topic, you can view it here.

I wanted to follow up with a couple of other examples of how to support local business in and around Hagerstown. One thing that these places have in common is that they not only offer quality services and products, but they greet you when you walk in the door. Doesn’t it feel good to walk into a store and they remember your name or at least say hello?

For example, try shopping at Russo’s Rx for your next box of cold medicine or prescription. I decided to check them out, and they gained a returning customer — fast, friendly service! Exactly what they advertise.

I take my Wrangler to Total Lube in Smithsburg instead of franchises or dealerships. As we all know, maintenance and repairs can be costly, so being able to find a mechanic that you trust makes the experience easier to swallow.

If you’re shopping for jewelry, stop in at R. Bruce Carson jewelers instead of the mall or outlets. I just can’t say enough about Tom and the great people that work there, not to mention the impeccable quality of their jewelry. They have a shop downtown and in Stone House Square.

Studio 6 Health Club is a new gym in the Stone House Square. They work really hard to make sure that their club is first-class and that their members are happy and see results. They are not the only privately-owned gym in town, they just happen to be the one that I go to, so I’m recommending them.

There are several Women’s clothing shops around town and a few Men’s shops (we really need more Men’s shops). Some of the clothes they sell can’t be found in any other retail stores around here and the service is unmatched.

Carol and Company is a retail shop in downtown Hagerstown that has a wide selection of high quality gift items. There’s also a new gift shop on the square, but I can’t recall the name at the moment. Odyssey is another great gift shop in Williamsport.

Ten years ago I wouldn’t have put much thought into this issue, but through the years of working with clients and building friendships with other business owners, I see the importance of supporting these good folks firsthand. I hope that you consider doing the same and give them a chance to earn your business!

What are some of your preferred local businesses?

Supporting local, privately-owned businesses in Hagerstown (part one)

posted by Scott on September 14th, 2009

Bulls & Bears in Hagerstown, MD

Last Thursday I was at an event for Leadership Washington County and I was talking with Kent Reynolds about some of our favorite restaurants in the area. Kent and I found that we had something in common; we prefer local, privately-owned restaurants over franchises and chains.

We are fortunate to have a decent number of great, privately-owned restaurants in Hagerstown and the surrounding area. It’s important that we support these restaurateurs; they are our friends, neighbors, family, and they are a critical piece of our local economy.

Below is a list of some of my favorite restaurants in Hagerstown, if only for the benefit of getting the word out there and letting people know that there are nice, friendly and original places to eat with exceptional food and great service.

Schmankerl Stube – German
GG’s (Gourmet Goat) – American
Laila’s Kitchen – Afghan/Middle Eastern
Bulls & Bears – American
Rhubarb House – American
The Plum – American
Durango – Mexican
LJ’s – Amercian
Hempen Hill – American
Palettie – Mixed culture
Black Eyed Susan – American
Mr. D’s – Wings, Sandwiches, Ribs
Red Curry – Asian Fusion
House of Kobe – Japanese
Sakura – Japanese

There are also cities outside of Hagerstown with some fantastic options as well. Shepherdstown, Frederick and Gettysburg, to name a few.

See, now you can cancel your reservation at Olive Garden tonight and try something new! Don’t forget to tell your friends and co-workers about it too! Viral marketing, baby! Cheap, simple, effective.

What are some of your favorite locally-owned places to eat?

Red Curry – Asian Fusion
House of Kobe – Japanese
Sakura – Japanese

Back in the saddle again.

posted by Scott on May 29th, 2009

I was away on a mini-vacation to take care of a few things, like, getting married. Thank you Tim, for filling in the gap with your one blog entry. :) Now that I’m back, wow, we have a lot going on right now!

We’re making progress on the development side of the City of Hagerstown’s economic marketing initiative, Hagerstown Advance. This week we completed a website design for Bushey Feight Morin Architects, and we’re also working on new website designs for Studio 6 Health Club, The Woods Company, Franklin County Works, and North Square Farmer’s Market. We also have a handful of sites that are in the development phase, being coded and tested, that should be launching soon. We have some really cool stuff happening but its too early to make any announcements on those projects yet… exciting things going on behind closed doors! We’ll also be rolling out some big updates to the 2nd Floor site next week and the week after. Along with the above items, everyone is knocking out service tickets, weekly client updates, and anything else that comes up. Busy? Yeah!

Junior Fire Company Engine No. 3 HagerstownWe’ll be relocating our Hagerstown office to the old Junior Fire Engine Company No. 3 firehouse on N Potomac if everything continues to go as planned with its exterior and interior renovations. The firehouse, which (I believe) was built in 1852, comes equipped with lots of history, ghost stories, a fire pole and many other unique qualities. Yeah, a fire pole! Needless to say we’re really looking forward to getting in there!

Whew! With all that said, it’s good to be back and in the trenches!

The Best Job in the World

posted by Scott on April 16th, 2009

The Best Job in the World

Now don’t get me wrong, I love my job. But whoever gets The Best Job in the World is one lucky…

Hmm, it comes with internet access too!

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