Footwork’s Post

In Annapolis, a wave of digital transformation is sweeping through the small business community, driving unprecedented success and positioning the city as a leading hub for entrepreneurial growth in 2024. As these businesses adapt and innovate, they set an example for others to follow. Annapolis small businesses are strategically embracing digital tools to transform operations, enhance customer engagement, and extend market reach. From optimizing social media interactions to implementing e-commerce platforms and utilising data analytics, these businesses are harnessing technology not just to survive, but to thrive. Supporting this digital push, CovingtonAlsina is offering complimentary workshops to empower owners with vital financial insights, tackling everything from retirement to estate planning. Such initiatives enable entrepreneurs to make informed decisions, reinforcing their financial resilience. Community involvement is another cornerstone of Annapolis' thriving small business environment. The Chesapeake Arts Center's upcoming 10th annual Arts in the Park Free Community Festival promises to showcase the rich cultural fabric of Annapolis. Scheduled for Saturday, October 5, this event epitomizes the symbiotic relationship between local culture and commerce. Annapolis is also a powerhouse of arts and entertainment, marrying Nashville's soul, New Orleans' rhythm, and Austin's energy at venues like Rams Head On Stage. This cultural vitality not only draws in tourists but also energizes local businesses, creating a lively marketplace. Moreover, Leadership Anne Arundel's Grassroots Program is forging the community's future leaders through its Neighborhood Leadership Academy 2025. This initiative cultivates leaders who can champion local growth and support small businesses' journey to success. Gardening, more than a pastime in Annapolis, integrates deeply into local life, backed by legislation focused on sustainability. This commitment underlines Annapolis’ holistic approach to development, nurturing not just businesses, but an entire ecosystem. Annapolis is charting an exciting path towards a digitally-empowered, community-driven economy. The combined forces of technology, culture, and education are proving that, together, Annapolis' small businesses can do more than just keep pace—they can lead. Join the conversation: How are digital tools reshaping your business landscape? Share your experiences. #AnnapolisBusiness #DigitalTransformation #CommunityGrowth #LeadershipDevelopment

I can now share the first of my #ParkLife on Tour videos, which was my visit to the Fareham Innovation Centre to interview Anna Bravington. I have wrote a blog piece and added the 13 minute video to a dedicated blog and will share the link at the end. My key findings are that: • The inclusion of business support and mentoring, especially access to skills across the parent group (Oxford Innovation Space) that has 30+ similar centres, which is what elevates the place from just rented desk space to an innovation centre. It gives business owners the skills needed beyond their product or service, to grow and innovate. • Building a varied community of tenants, from different sectors and bringing in outside speakers and experts through their events adds to the diverse thinking needed. • I liked how even the tall workshop units had doors that went inside to the building corridors and access to the communal areas, so everyone can feel connected. Plenty of parking for staff and visitors alike. https://lnkd.in/e2fWN6HQ I've added a snippet of video where I asked Anna about their approach to community building.

In the dynamic landscape of urban living, fostering genuine connections and nurturing a sense of belonging is paramount. Enter Ray Oldenburg's concept of the "Third Place" – those vital hubs beyond the realms of home and work where individuals converge to socialize, exchange ideas, and build meaningful relationships. Now, imagine this concept brought to life in the vibrant streets of Atlanta, where diversity thrives, and innovation knows no bounds. Welcome to Your 3rd Spot™ Social Dining – a dynamic fusion of Oldenburg's Third Place philosophy and the pulsating heartbeat of this iconic city. Here, within the eclectic tapestry of Atlanta's neighborhoods, Your 3rd Spot Spot emerges as more than just a physical space; it is a vibrant nucleus of community engagement, exploration, and entrepreneurial spirit. At its essence, Your 3rd Spot embodies the core principles of Oldenburg's Third Place – inclusivity, accessibility, and a deep-rooted sense of connection. Like the quintessential neighborhood pub or the cozy café where friendships are forged, Your 3rd Spot serves as catalysts for organic interactions and the cultivation of authentic relationships. Moreover, the spirit of innovation that permeates Atlanta's DNA finds fertile ground within the confines of Your 3rd Spot. From collaborative team events buzzing with entrepreneurial energy to art work on the walls showcasing local talent, these Third Places are incubators of creativity and platforms for collective growth. As we delve deeper into the synergy between Ray Oldenburg's vision and the essence of Your 3rd Spot, it becomes evident that these spaces are more than just places to gather – they are catalysts for positive change. By fostering a culture of inclusivity, diversity, and collaboration, Your 3rd Spot empowers individuals to become active participants in shaping the fabric of their communities. Join us on this journey of transformation. Together, let us cultivate spaces where authentic relationships flourish, ideas take flight, and the spirit of community thrives. Welcome to Membership – where every interaction is an opportunity to create something extraordinary. https://lnkd.in/eNWrctzg #ThirdSpotAtlanta #CommunityEngagement #Innovation #AtlantaLife

As Glastonbury 2024 hits its stride and the fields of Worthy Farm transform into the world's most amazing celebration of art and culture, it's hard not to think about what makes this festival, this gathering, and this community so magical. There it is. That word. Community. Much overused and appropriated, somewhat ironically, by big tech; its meaning reduced and flattened. This begs the question, when is a community real and when is it, in fact, something else in all but name? The inimitable Caitlin Moran says lots of brilliant things (as ever!) in her article in The Times today about the magic of Glasto. For us, a true community is about a feeling. It is about sensory experience. A vibe. It’s about choice, self-discovery, values, and ideals. It’s active, not passive - something you discover and choose as opposed to something you are born into. Often great communities (you know the ones everyone REALLY loves) develop slowly over time. Ultimately it is about people. Human beings. Last night our Chief Creative Officer, Patrick Keogh, was in conversation with Sharmadean Reid MBE about her new and rather wonderful book, NEW METHODS FOR WOMEN, at Second Home. A distillation of her wisdom and brilliance from a life at the intersection of entrepreneurship and creativity, we loved how she described communities as "playgrounds"; vibrant, joyful arenas that create the conditions for people to meet and come together and build relationships without any external interventions. That's what a true community is. Kudos to all the great convenors out there Serena O. - Founder of Fin-Erth, Emily Eavis - Co-organiser of Glastonbury, Sharmadean Reid MBE - Founder of The Stack World, and happy vibes to all the Glasto-goers, including some of our own team!

Brilliant night last night at Lancashire's premium sky resort (SKI ROSSENDALE LIMITED), bringing the feel of the Alps, to the Lancashire Valley. The first meet up of Rossendale Digital and an incredible showcase of the good and great, from the local tech community. Damian Hanson is a local legend. Exited 2 tech businesses out of Rossendale within a decade and remains so passionate about the local area and the future of tech. A couple of big takeaways for me, from his fireside chat with the wonderful Amanda Robinson. Firstly that both businesses were built with the focus and intent to sell. Both One Iota and Circleloop (became Missionlabs) were built to disrupt industry and then be acquired. I love that honesty and the vision resonates. Secondly a small, but focused, phrase around how a start up tech business should operate for success. The 3 T's; Tech, Team and Traction. Simple, yet so clear and effective. Class to see Dean Mason, ☕ Thomas Redstone, Dave Walker and 🏵️ Cat Mawdsley. There were plenty of faces in the room that I didn't know, which I'll rectify at the next event and leaves me excited about Rossendale's onward journey in the digital and tech space. alistair@altechgroup.co.uk Building teams that deliver. #networking #tech #digital #Rossendale #Lancashire

One of my big take-aways from this morning's The Right Place, Inc. Investor Exchange event: we need to always remember that development dollars are mobile. Real estate investors (aka potential backers of local development projects) have the whole country (as well as international opportunities) at their disposal. The funding necessary to make a much-needed housing project viable in Greater Grand Rapids could just as easily be deployed in Florida, Texas or North Carolina if the financial returns are more attractive there. Just because a project "can pencil" here, doesn't mean it can move forward without help to attract this crucial funding. Especially now with traditional financing as expensive as it is. It was certainly a beautiful morning for about 200 of our closest West Michigan friends at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park. With a focus on regional development opportunities and trends, we heard from Randy Thelen why and how PLACE MATTERS 😁 in our communities, the many place-focused initiatives we're leading as an organization along with many collaborators, and highlighted our above-target progress on our strategic metrics. Brad Thomas of Progressive AE - our event sponsor - further emphasized place as an essential component of prosperity across our many sectors of West Michigan, and made an exciting announcement about his firm's branding and presence! The highlight of the morning was a candid, deep-dive panel discussion with Ben Smith of Heritage Development, Rachel Michaud of The Gillespie Group and Ryan Talbot of Talbot Development about the opportunities and challenges in the real estate development ecosystem in our area. While there's a lot of reason for optimism and tons of positive momentum, there are still headwinds out there to be sure. Huge thanks for their insights this morning, and investments in our region! Kudos to my big boss-man Tim Mroz for his expert moderation and setting the stage for discussion! Lots of fantastic connections, conversations and introductions made, which is a major value-add of these events. #placematters #greatergrandrapids #westmichigan #communitydevelopment #realestateinvestment #collaboration

Yesterday, I had the privilege of moderating the final luncheon for The Real Estate Council of Greater Fort Worth’s Mentor Series. A huge thank you to Dean Robert Ahdieh from Texas A&M-Fort Worth, Susan Miller Gruppi from M2G Ventures, and Tammy Huddleston from the Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) for sharing their insights on some of the most transformative projects underway in Fort Worth. Congratulations to Sonalie Barr, Granger DeWitt, Abby Johnson, and the entire Mentor Series committee for an incredible year of connecting young leaders with outstanding mentors! Here are my top takeaways from the panel: 1. DFW Airport is nothing short of remarkable! It’s the 3rd busiest airport in the world and essentially functions like a small city. Already one of the most cost-efficient airports for airlines to operate out of and one of the most convenient for passengers, it’s undergoing over $5B in active improvement and expansion projects. They’re even using modular construction to cut costs and speed up projects in secure areas—a highly innovative approach. Fun fact: The airport property is larger than the island of Manhattan, and its roadways could stretch from DFW to San Diego! 2. The Fort Worth Stockyards is a prime example of thoughtful real estate investment. Pre-Paris Olympics data shows it was receiving more visitors annually than the Eiffel Tower post-Covid! That’s over 9 million people each year. Since the completion of the Phase I redevelopment, the majority of visitors are now local rather than tourists—a huge shift, highlighting how impactful this redevelopment has been for the community. 3. The Texas A&M Fort Worth campus could reshape downtown Fort Worth forever. This urban campus is poised to transform the higher education landscape in Fort Worth and is also having a significant impact on private industry partners and the commercial real estate landscape. The campus is already serving as a catalyst for redeveloping an overlooked quadrant of downtown, and it may become a national example of how to execute a successful public/private partnership with benefits for all stakeholders and surrounding communities. I’m incredibly excited about the future of #FortWorth and can’t wait to see how these projects unfold. The best is yet to come!

Record-Breaking Year for WIN Program Article Link: https://lnkd.in/eZUMMhg4 The Business Council of Westchester is preparing for a fourth year of the Westchester Innovation Network (WIN), an economic development initiative that has been embraced by emerging companies and established local institutions. With a record-breaking 2024 cohort of 22 participants, WIN is solidifying Westchester’s reputation as a hub for innovation and economic growth. WIN operates on five fundamental principles: Communicating why Westchester is the logical choice for innovators. Branding Westchester as an innovator-friendly place to live and work. Facilitating funding opportunities for innovators. Building a culture that embraces risk-taking. Nurturing and expanding networking opportunities for innovators. Photo: Iona University students presented recommendations on May 2 to White Plains officials on how they can help the White Plains Education and Training Center better engage with local business owners as part of a study organized by the Westchester Innovation Network’s (WIN) City Labs initiative. #win #innovation #bcwwin #bcwinnovation #westchesterbiz #economicdevelopment

SXSW Takeaways: Visualising Creative Precincts  Designing creative precincts isn't just about space—it's about sparking innovation, culture, and community. At the SXSW event, industry leaders James de Vries, Craig Allchin, Kate Spencer, and Alison Page unpacked a few essentials and a platform to ponder more. Here's what stood out: Connectivity: Kate stressed the importance of connecting people and places through sufficient passageways – like The Goods Line at UTS which connects students to neighbouring precincts, dotted with placemaking interventions. Affordability: Craig hit on the hot topic of the day—affordable spaces for working and living and embracing the raw and messy versions instead of creating polished and expensive ones. Narrative: Alison emphasized that places need a deeper story. UTS’s Indigenous roots as an estuary—a place to nurture, feed, and create for sea kin is already perfect for a creative hub, right? I posed a question that’s still swirling in my head: Creativity flourishes wherever it can breathe (think Mexico City and New York in the 80’s. But in Australia’s risk-averse culture, are we strangling that freedom? Shoutout to Michael Rodrigues and his team for loosening the grip. And Monica Barone’s positive leadership by trying to ‘find the yes’ instead of the government's default starting point as “no”. What if the government always led with “yes, and?”  Imagine the possibilities if we shifted our mindset away from limitation. And here’s a wild thought — What is the community’s responsibility in this and how can we collectively shift? Do we need a contract with Sydney-siders to promise not to sue? This litigious attitude drives up insurance rates and red tape causing creative seedlings to shrivel before they even get a starting chance. Let’s keep the convo going below—or maybe it’s time for a full-on debate. How do we break free of the binds holding back creative freedom in our cities? #SXSWSydney #CreativePrecincts #UrbanDesign #CreativityUnleashed #Leadership #Innovation #Placemaking #Transformation #Vision Lisa Colley Sasha Baroni Bryn Davies James de Vries Craig Allchin Kate Spencer Alison Page