Within these communities, city governments have placed a priority on ensuring the adequacy of public infrastructure. Governments can use the tools already available to them through municipal codes and zoning to achieve desirable uses in the downtown and to ensure that buildings are properly maintained so that they do not fall into disrepair over time.
The use of umbrella organizations, such as the one in Mount Vernon, exemplifies the economies of scale and collaborative power that are derived from housing separate but complementary groups – such as the Chamber of Commerce and the economic development group – under the same roof. Communities have also embraced the necessity of turning to passionate volunteers to staff design and preservation committees, chair and execute public events and fundraisers and maintain relationships with community actors at institutions such as the college.
All cities must view their fiscal resources as scarce and valuable. There is inevitably a need to spread the cost of improvements across both the public and private sectors. Cities should leverage their limited financial resources to encourage business and property owners to invest in themselves and their communities.