RMA - Central Business Districts:  Measures of Success

To help communities develop effective strategies for central business district success, the project team:

1. Studied over 500 rural and exurban communities in the Great Lake states of Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Ohio.

2. Used economic, demographic and geographic data to determine the contributing factors to retail success within rural and exurban communities.

3. Grouped communities by size, location relative to urban area, highway access, population growth/decline, county seat status, etc.

4. Profiled successful communities within the groups through interviews and analysis to gain insights into successful strategies for different types of communities.

5. Tested findings against a case study community (Van Wert, Ohio).

This research has informed the development of a new program being offered by the RMA team. Click here to learn more about how this program can work for your community.

download a presentation (Powerpoint file)

about the program

Funding for this project was provided by OSU CARES (an initiative of OSU Extension and The Ohio State University to expand faculty, staff, and student partnerships with communities throughout Ohio); OSU Extension - Van Wert County, and; the Department of AED Economics.