http://extension.psu.edu/community/ecd/news daily 1 2010-11-16T17:54:57Z http://extension.psu.edu/community/ecd/news/2013/aging-in-place According to a 2010 AARP survey, nearly 90 percent of people over the age of 65 want to stay in their residence for as long as possible and 80 percent believe their residence is where they will always live. These Baby Boomers "will swell the ranks of those aged 65-plus from 34.8 million in 2000 to a projected 70.3 million in 2030, ultimately representing 20 percent of the U.S. population." No publisher Peter Wulfhorst, AICP 2013-05-14T19:36:39Z News Item http://extension.psu.edu/community/ecd/news/2013/strengthening-your-community2019s-entrepreneurial-small-business-ecosystem Recent research looking at high and low entrepreneurial communities and exploring the Startup Community activity across the country provide great insights into where to start and what it takes to sustain the effort. Fortunately improving a community’s small business ecosystem doesn’t require a great deal of funding. The resources needed are already in the community. No publisher William Shuffstall 2013-05-09T20:05:00Z News Item http://extension.psu.edu/community/ecd/news/2013/are-you-a-hometown-ambassador Hometown ambassadors can help create a positive community fabric which encourages new businesses and residents to join the community. No publisher Liesel Dreisbach 2013-04-30T17:46:22Z News Item http://extension.psu.edu/community/ecd/news/2013/201cwe-all-live-downstream201d What is storm water runoff and why should we be concerned with it? Stormwater runoff is the rain and melting snow that flows off streets, rooftops, lawns, parking lots, open fields, and any other exposed area. No publisher Peter Wulfhorst, AICP 2013-04-15T18:54:56Z News Item http://extension.psu.edu/community/ecd/news/2013/a-great-way-to-sort-of-clear-your-organizations-head That's what one community non-profit said about Penn State Extension's Six Steps to a Highly Effective Organization. No publisher Judy Chambers 2013-04-15T04:00:00Z News Item http://extension.psu.edu/community/ecd/news/2013/imitation-the-sincerest-form-of-flattery I love getting credit for my great ideas. So when I see someone else using them, my 10-year-old alter ego is likely to stomp her feet and yell ‘copycat’. But temper tantrums aside, what’s wrong with using someone else’s great ideas? In the right context, there’s no problem at all. In fact we call these ‘best practices’ and encourage each other to share them widely. No publisher Judy Chambers 2013-04-11T19:35:51Z News Item http://extension.psu.edu/community/ecd/news/2013/is-anybody-home Most people serve their community because they want to make the place they love a better place for the future. Hello? Is anybody out there who is willing to serve? No publisher Liesel Dreisbach 2013-04-11T18:18:36Z News Item http://extension.psu.edu/community/ecd/news/2013/listen-to-me How many times have you said to yourself, "What this place needs is..." Maybe it's time to do something about it. No publisher John Turack 2013-03-30T03:40:00Z News Item http://extension.psu.edu/community/ecd/news/2013/speak-up Whoever said ‘silence is golden’ was not working on a committee or serving on a board. Silence isn’t golden when a community group is at work. In fact it can be toxic. No publisher Judy Chambers 2013-03-19T15:02:51Z News Item http://extension.psu.edu/community/ecd/news/2013/land-use-preemption "Those best fitted by their intelligence, business experience, capacity and moral character usually do not hold local office" quote from John Forrest Dillon, Federal Judge on the Eight Circuit Court in Iowa in 1872 who shared his feelings for local government officials. No publisher Peter Wulfhorst, AICP 2013-03-12T14:30:00Z News Item http://extension.psu.edu/community/ecd/news/2013/im-interested-in-volunteering-and-helping-my-township Workshop helps citizens get involved in local government. No publisher Judy Chambers 2013-03-11T14:28:34Z News Item http://extension.psu.edu/community/ecd/news/2013/volunteers-make-the-world-go-round If there were no volunteers, how would our communities function? Who would sit on the municipal planning board or the recreation board? Who would serve on the school board or the board of the public library? If your community has already lost some emergency services due to lack of volunteers, who has picked up the slack? No publisher Liesel Dreisbach 2013-03-07T18:43:49Z News Item http://extension.psu.edu/community/ecd/news/2013/visionary-plans-urban-design-goals-and-architectural-aspirations "As land use planning changes, ‘zoning’ is no longer appropriate," stated a recent Washington Post article that has been re-published in the planning trade journal Planetizen. In his blog entry this month, Extension educator John Turack reflects on that statement: How might it apply to the urban/suburban/rural communities of Southwest Pennsylvania, and elsewhere? No publisher John Turack 2013-03-01T18:25:00Z News Item http://extension.psu.edu/community/ecd/news/2013/a-conflict-a-day It won’t keep the doctor away, but you’re almost guaranteed to get a daily dose of conflict if you’re involved in a community organization. How you handle that conflict can make a difference in your organization’s health. And an apple a day probably wouldn’t hurt, either. No publisher Judy Chambers 2013-02-18T05:00:00Z News Item http://extension.psu.edu/community/ecd/news/2013/planning-matters "A hundred years after we are gone and forgotten those who never heard of us will be living with the results of our action" - Oliver Wendell Holmes, former US Supreme Court Justice No publisher Peter Wulfhorst, AICP 2013-02-12T19:10:00Z News Item http://extension.psu.edu/community/ecd/news/2013/startup-communities-one-strategy-to-build-an-entrepreneurial-community Building startup communities is a strategy being used by entrepreneurial leaders to increase the number and success of innovative startup enterprises in their cities and regions. Read on for an overview of building a startup community based on Brad Feld’s “Boulder Thesis.” No publisher William Shuffstall 2013-01-31T20:45:15Z News Item http://extension.psu.edu/community/ecd/news/2013/toss-your-hat-in-the-ring-programs-going-on-now This, an odd-numbered year, is when officials such as township supervisor or commissioner, boro council, and school board directors are elected. The Community and Economic Development Team is delivering this program in a few short weeks in many counties. The program in Berks County drew more than three dozen potential local candidates. No publisher Liesel Dreisbach 2013-01-29T15:09:48Z Link http://extension.psu.edu/community/ecd/news/2013/decisions-decisions Every group has to make them, but too often we put off those pesky decisions. We talk in circles, get bogged down in details, repeat ourselves – all to avoid the moment of truth when we finally decide what to do. No publisher Judy Chambers 2013-01-25T05:00:00Z News Item http://extension.psu.edu/community/ecd/news/2013/what-attracts-entrepreneurs-to-non-metro-communities Small business start-ups play an important role in economic development. Leaders in non-metro communities interested in growing the small business sector would be wise to understand the various factors that motivate businesses to start up in this type of community before jumping into projects they think will make their community more attractive to these enterprises. No publisher William Shuffstall 2013-01-16T21:14:39Z News Item http://extension.psu.edu/community/ecd/news/2013/strong-leadership-creates-good-meetings Every group can benefit by evaluating their meetings. What are we doing well? What can we improve on? No publisher Liesel Dreisbach 2013-01-16T19:14:21Z News Item http://extension.psu.edu/community/ecd/news/2013/looking-back-living-today-and-moving-forward "When planning for a year, plant corn. When planning for a decade, plant trees. When planning for life, train and educate people." -- Chinese proverb. Last month in this space I used some quotes from the website Proverbia to inspire thought about planning and planning processes. Think of this as part two. No publisher John Turack 2013-01-10T20:40:00Z News Item http://extension.psu.edu/community/ecd/news/2013/community-centered-activities-help-build-social-capital Shared spaces and activities help us to forge bonds with each other. They build social capital. No publisher Liesel Dreisbach 2013-01-02T14:42:37Z News Item http://extension.psu.edu/community/ecd/news/2012/rural-and-urban-entrepreneurship-2013-are-there-differences This article explores challenges faced by entrepreneurs in rural communities. No publisher William Shuffstall 2012-12-17T18:17:35Z News Item http://extension.psu.edu/community/ecd/news/2012/community-power Where does Power lie in your community? Are there different power centers depending on the issue? No publisher Liesel Dreisbach 2012-12-07T20:02:29Z News Item http://extension.psu.edu/community/ecd/news/2012/what-is-planning In this month's blog entry John Turack ponders the importance of plans, planning processes, and who is best suited or equipped to plan. No publisher John Turack 2012-12-03T16:45:00Z News Item