New Resources for Small Town Leaders

The National Center for Small Communities (NCSC) http://www.smallcommunities.org/ncsc/ is making two new
resources available to small town leaders and those engaged in rural development.

Government Technology

The Thriving Hometowns Network http://www.smallcommunities.org/ncsc/THN.htm is a compilation of more than 50 original and in-depth, four to seven page, community and
economic-development case studies drawn from small communities — mostly with a population of less than 10,000. It is a fully searchable
electronic database, available free of charge to anyone with Internet access.

Users can search the database of case studies by any keyword or by any or all of the following criteria: geographic region; population
range; economic development strategy; and key project organizers. All case studies may be reprinted and distributed, if credit is given to
the NCSC.

"Technology and Grit at the Grassroots," http://www.smallcommunities.org/ncsc/TechandGrit.htm a 68-page guidebook, identifies and explores effective technology-led economic development
strategies for distressed, rural communities. The guidebook is a blend of research results from studying 14 distressed rural communities
and supplemented by recent articles and reports. The guidebook offers guidance on how to put computers, the Internet and advanced
telecommunications to good use.

The NCSC is distributing 1,000 guidebooks to interested regional and statewide economic organizations and agencies at a fulfillment price
of $.93 cents per book. In trade, these organizations must give the guidebook to small town leaders.

The National Center for Small Communities

http://www.govtech.net/news/news.phtml?docid=2002.07.24-3030000000016787