America is faced with having to make yet another transformation. Until recently, the rest of the world has had to adjust to the advances that America’s innovation and invention have caused. Today, the changes taking place in the world are not controlled or desired by most people in America. 

America can succeed if it chooses to focus its ability to create and innovate on itself and invent the America of the future. Low-skilled, low-paying manufacturing jobs and middle management jobs were some of the first victims of the increased global competition.  A majority of low-skilled, low-paying, and manufacturing jobs have gone to other countries and are soon to be followed by many white collar jobs. It is a national problem regardless of the area of the United States, but with a more devastating impact in rural America.

The elimination of the economic base in rural America creates a downward spiral of outward migration, small business closings, empty industrial buildings, unoccupied homes, a reduction in the tax base and government services, and a decline of quality of community life.  Communities must develop a new local economy based on a new self sustaining economic model. Instead of looking to land the big industry, they must look within their own regions and identify the assets that can bring people to their area to visit and live.

 

           

E5 Community & Economic Development®

E5, our unique community and economic development model, provides communities with a way to proactively position themselves as regional leaders of quality community life.  E5  provides communities wtih the ability to reposition themselves into being more vibrant, renewable, sustainable, and competitive in today’s global society and economy.  Developing and implementing strategies under each of the five areas of E5— (1) Education, (2) Entertainment, (3) Entrepreneurial, (4) Environment, and (5) Energy —creates synergy that enables cities and communities to transform themselves.

 

E5 methodology complements existing organizations and programs by focusing on quality of life issues that attract and are important to senior citizens, active retirees, healthcare workers, creative workers, professional workers, government workers, small business workers, knowledge workers, industrial workers, and citizens. We utilize processes that address local environmental, leadership, and political dynamics impacting communities. We assist communities in repurposing existing assets, and through entrepreneurial activities create a sustaining local economy.