Eyes On The Street

In this episode we're joined by Jamie Sabbach, founder of 110%, to discuss the critical intersection of parks, recreation, and financial sustainability. We dive into the challenges cities face in balancing community wants with fiscal responsibility and the importance of smart, long-term financial planning. Jamie highlights the need for better public education around tax allocation and the true costs of maintaining public spaces, advocating for more responsible local government spending. The conversation explores how parks shape community identity and how elected officials must navigate difficult financial decisions to ensure sustainable public services for future generations.

In this episode, we dive into the evolving landscape of talent attraction with Monica Hershberger and Kate Wilson from Role Call. As the world of work shifts, we explore how remote work has changed the game for communities and businesses striving to attract and retain top talent. Monica and Kate share their insights on the strategies that successful communities and companies are using, the role of quality of life and placemaking in talent retention, and how talent attraction efforts reflect a community's identity. Plus, we look into the crystal ball to discuss what the future holds for talent attraction strategy and economic development. 

In this episode, we sit down with Jeff Andreason of aQuity Research to demystify the world of engagement data. We discuss statistically valid surveys (and some of the confusion around them), unpack the nuanced relationship between sample size and representative samples, and delve into the critical role of weighting survey responses to ensure data reflects the true diversity of a community. Whether you're a city planner, leader, or simply curious about making data-driven decisions, this conversation provides a fresh perspective on how to truly understand and engage communities.

In this episode, we sit down with Brandon Still to hear his  story of Lost Lake, a once a hidden gem cherished for its tranquility, now become a popular spot  due to social media exposure. Brandon shares his thoughts on how the influencer that promoted Lost Lake described it as "the perfect escape" which highlights a deeper issue: Why are we building cities and places that people feel the need to escape from? Drawing from his experience in running and consulting on co-working spaces in small towns, Brandon discusses the importance of community and how it's the connection between people, not just the place itself, that truly matters.

In this episode, we sit down with Jaime Izurieta, author of the new book "Main Street Mavericks," to delve into the world of experience design and its pivotal role in the success of Main Street businesses. In a landscape increasingly dominated by online giants, creating memorable experiences for customers has become more crucial than ever. Jaime shares his expertise on how businesses and community leaders can harness the power of experience design to thrive in today's competitive market. Discover practical strategies, inspiring anecdotes, and actionable insights as we explore the art of crafting unforgettable experiences that keep customers coming back, drive community engagement, and propel Main Street businesses to new heights. Whether you're a seasoned entrepreneur, a budding small business owner, or a main street manager this episode offers invaluable wisdom for navigating the ever-evolving terrain of modern commerce. Tune in and learn how to transform your business into a destination that leaves a lasting impression on everyone who visits.

In this episode, Brisa Byford from CivicBrand sits down with High Point, NC City Councilman Michael Holmes to delve into the complexities of public engagement and leadership. They explore the challenges of balancing the needs of the community with the voices that shout the loudest, and discuss the delicate art of acting in the best interest of the public while navigating the intricacies of place branding. Tune in as Councilman Holmes offers a unique perspective on the role of elected officials in fostering meaningful engagement and shaping the identity of their city.

In this episode, we're joined by Nate Storring of Project for Public Spaces we dive into the transformative power of public spaces and the role of placemaking . From Community Placemaking Grants,  Training, Market Cities Program and the upcoming Placemaking Week we dive into the world of Project for Public Spaces. 

In this episode, we're joined by Adam Williams, a seasoned podcaster and journalist who is at the helm of the "We Are Chaffee" podcast. Together, we delve deep into the pivotal role of storytelling in community development, uncovering the barriers, tips, and best practices for launching storytelling initiatives that truly make an impact.Adam shares his experiences and insights into how storytelling can be a catalyst for change within communities, breaking down the barriers that often hinder progress. Whether you're an aspiring podcaster, community leader, or simply passionate about the power of narrative, this episode is a must-listen.

In this unique episode of Eyes on the Street, CivicBrand co-founder Ryan Short interviews ChatGPT as read by none other than the iconic voice of Snoop Dogg. Through Snoop's West Coast charm, we get to hear how ChatGPT answers questions about public engagement, place branding, and placemaking. Depending on your experience with AI the answers are either surprisingly (or not surprisingly) really good! 

In this episode, we delve into the relationship between cities and brands. Join us as we explore how place, culture, and the identity of a city influence the creation and growth of brands, and conversely, how brands can impact and shape the very essence of a city.We are thrilled to have Hunter Harlow, co-founder of Sendero Provisions, as our special guest. Tune in to discover what cities need to do to foster an environment where brands can thrive, and how these thriving brands, in turn, become cultural ambassadors for their locales. Whether you're a city planner, entrepreneur, fan of Sendero, or simply curious about the interplay between commerce and culture, this episode is a must-listen. 

In this episode, we are joined by Rik Adamski of Ash + Lime, as we delve into the concept of "3rd places" and their vital role in fostering community and connection. Expanding beyond the realms of home (1st place) and work (2nd place), 3rd places encapsulate environments like cafes, parks, and community centers where individuals gather to socialize, relax, and engage in meaningful interactions. We explore how 3rd places contribute to a sense of belonging, encourage serendipitous encounters, safety, and nurture a diverse range of relationships, and even their role in experiencing our community and environment.

In this episode, host Ryan Short from CivicBrand sits down with Evan Snow, the co-founder of Zero Empty Spaces, to delve into the transformative work they are doing in partnership with cities and property owners. Zero Empty Spaces is revolutionizing communities by repurposing vacant spaces into affordable artist studios, resulting in a win-win-win situation. Evan explains how their initiative activates these areas, stimulates economic development, and ultimately creates more vibrant and thriving communities. They discuss the process of collaborating with property owners, selecting artists, and the positive impact that these artist spaces have on the local neighborhoods. Tune in to discover how Zero Empty Spaces is harnessing the power of art to revitalize communities and foster a sense of creativity and vitality.https://www.zeroemptyspaces.com/

In the podcast episode, Ryan Short from CivicBrand and Lev Kusher from the Department of Here discuss a recent CityLab article written by Lev. The article explores the increasingly blurred lines between remote workers and tourists, and how this trend is changing the way cities approach economic development, tourism, and destination marketing and branding.Ryan and Lev delve into the implications of this trend for cities, discussing how cities can adapt to this new reality and take advantage of the opportunities it presents. They also explore the potential challenges that cities may face as they navigate this new landscape, including issues related to housing, infrastructure, and workforce development.Throughout the episode, Ryan and Lev share their insights and experiences, drawing on their knowledge of economic development, tourism, and branding. They offer practical advice for cities looking to embrace this new reality and position themselves for success in the years ahead. Overall, the episode provides a  glimpse into the changing landscape of economic development and offers valuable insights for anyone interested in the future of cities.

In this episode, we'll be discussing a new approach to events for Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) with Jason Gleason, Executive Director of Montclair Center BID. In many downtown areas, BIDs rely heavily on events to drive foot traffic and economic growth, but is this approach sustainable? Jason shares his insights on the role of BIDs in creating vibrant downtown areas, and how Montclair Center BID in Montclair, NJ is taking a different approach to events that's having a positive impact on their community. Join us as we explore the benefits and challenges of event-based strategies for BIDs, and learn about a new way forward for downtown revitalization.

In today's episode, Ryan interviews Jake Rishavy of Chaffee County Economic Development to discuss an inside-out approach to economic development. This strategy emphasizes internal development through initiatives such as start-up cohorts, mentoring, investment, and on-brand events, and is already yielding significant results and impact.Chaffee County EDC:https://chaffeecountyedc.com/Central Mountain Entreprenuershttps://drivenbynature.co/

The title of this episode may shock a few folks. Are we really suggesting to stop doing public engagement? Are we really advocating for a cookie-cutter plan? Maybe, and in many communities, yes.Equitable public engagement is at the foundation of everything we do at CivicBrand, but who hasn't been in a project interview where the client says, "We don't want a cookie-cutter plan"? So, how could we possibly be suggesting this?The reality is that public engagement can be insulting and a waste of time and money when we're asking people things we already know. Those things are often the basics of any community, and you could even say they are "cookie-cutter." Many of those things are likely in your old plan.So when is the right time for public engagement? And when do you need more than a cookie-cutter plan? In this episode, Ryan Short of CivicBrand and Jeff Siegler of Revitalize or Die discuss just that.

In this episode, Ryan Short of CivicBrand is joined by Clayton Garrett and Scott Snodgrass, founders of Meristem Communities, to discuss what it really means to really build for humans. From creating more environmentally and fiscally sustainable communities to places with diverse options so that individuals, couples, families, and seniors can all co-exist and age in place within a community. They discuss sweating the small details and how that is what placemaking really is. 

At CivicBrand we love data. We use it in the engagement phase to ensure we're reaching everyone, in the strategy and design phase to test ideas, and in the implementation phase to measure what's working and what is not.However, there is a problem with data, especially in the civic space. In this episode Ryan Short and Brisa Byford of CivicBrand dive into the problems with data.Far too many use data as a shield in the decision-making process. They look for data to make the decisions for them so that it shields them from any potential blowback.  Additionally, many often focus only on one type of data and overly value quantitative data over qualitative data. 

In this episode, CivicBrand senior strategist Brisa Byford talks to Dr. David D. Perlmutter, Dean of Communications at Texas Tech University.  Brisa and Dr. Perlmutter discuss what truly makes a place authentic,  how communities are now competing globally for talent and residents, and the generational impacts on place identity. Dr. Perlmutter has authored ten books on political communication, new media technologies, and higher education published by, among others, Palgrave, Oxford, and Harvard University Press. 

Get some valuable and free legal advice as CivicBrand CEO Ryan Short and trademark and patent attorney Grady Bergen discuss trademarks. Understand the difference between trademarks and copyrights, what rights you have by common law and what rights are extended when you federally register and the steps you need to take to protect your mark.Your brand is one of your most valuable assets and there is a lot of nuance and detail to managing and protecting your brand.  If you'd like to hire Grady Bergen to help with a trademark search or registration you can contact him at grady@inventlegal.com.

Public engagement is all about listening. Whether that's through surveys, focus groups, interviews, or on-the-street engagement we've found that too many cities and consultants are simply asking the wrong questions. In this episode, Ryan Short and Brisa Byford of CivicBrand discuss what those wrong questions are and how to dive deeper and get at the real issues. 

In this episode of Eyes On The Street, Ryan Short is joined by other members of the CivicBrand team Layne Ferguson, Landon Ferguson and Connor Cox to discuss Placemaking. They discuss what placemaking is, the types of placemaking from large projects to small and the many goals of placemaking from beautification, activation, safety, economic development, civic pride and public engagement. They discuss  common barriers or pitfalls that keep cities from doing these projects and how to measure the impact and importance of  placemaking.

In this special live episode of Eyes On The Street, the CivicBrand team sits down with Waco Mayor Dillion Meek as well as Wendy Gragg and Jeffrey Vitarius of City Center Waco at the Summer of Downtown launch party in the brand new 7th Street Pedestrian Plaza. The CivicBrand team was hired by Waco to do a parking study, brand audit as well as design and implement two placemaking interventions in Downtown Waco. The first was a 4 block pedestrian walkway to connect the Silos to Austin Avenue and create a safer, more visible and experience for pedestrians. The second was a Pedestrian Plaza on 7th street that turned an under utilized street into a thriving community space. The episode is two conversations live at the launch event with a band playing and Capri Suns in-hand, enjoy!

Developing a place brand always starts with listening and together with the community crafting a brand story that is authentic. This collaborative and inclusive process doesn't end when the brand has been developed as implementation is key. In today's episode of 'Eyes On The Street' we sit down with Andrea Haley of Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo in Alberta, Canada to discuss their journey in developing and implementing their place brand. 

Marketing a region, whether it's a county or other collection of cities comes with a unique set of challenges in both brand architecture and the role destination marketing. In brand architecture it's ensuring you create a common place identity while still allowing individual communities within to have their own unique identity. In destination marketing it's about evolving beyond simply promoting an area to actively managing and advocating for your local community. In today's episode we're joined but Chuck Davison of Visit SLO CAL to talk about just that.

What exactly is a place brand? When done right it is not just about marketing or tourism but rather a clear definition of values that can be used as a filter for policy, strategy and decision making. This focus helps communities both manage growth and attract businesses, residents and visitors that share those values. In this episode of Eyes on the Street we speak to Clare Dewhirst of City Nation Place to discuss how place branding has evolved, challenges and opportunities place brands face coming out of COVID and the upcoming City Nation Place Americas conference.

Schools are one of the most important aspects of a city and greatly impact its economic development efforts. The problem is, simply put, school ratings are biased. Most school ratings focus on test scores which data shows are driven by parents income not the quality of the school. When school ratings are not truly rating the school's performance it can have serious impacts on a community. It perpetuates sprawl, robs parents of time with their children, robs children of valuable diversity experiences, impacts real estate prices, tax revenues and can undercut a city's entire economic development efforts. In today's episode we're joined by Tom Brown, founder of School Sparrow, to discuss just that.

What makes a successful community? While there are many definitions and metrics, I'd argue a successful community is one that is both fiscally resilient and has a strong identity of who they are and who they are not - all while providing real opportunity (and not just the veneer of opportunity as today's guest points out). In today's episode, we're joined by Chuck Marohn of Strong Towns to discuss just that. 

From statistically valid surveys to focus groups and conversations, what are the roles of both quantitative and qualitative research? What role does equity play in each? Ryan Short and Brisa Byford of CivicBrand are joined by Adam Probolsky of Probolsky Research to discuss engagement and research in community branding and destination marketing projects.

In today's episode we sit down with James Kunke, the Community Relations & Tourism Director, with the City of Lewisville, TX to discuss the role of history in shaping a community's identity. From the International Pop Festival in 1969 to the city's history as a farming community we discuss ways your history can shape your community in the future.

We all know how political differences can pull us apart but those same differences could be exactly what our communities need. In today's episode we speak with Sarah O'Brien of Collaborative Development Collective about political divisiveness and local economies.

As a follow-up to the previous episode the CivicBrand team (Kinsey Stewart, Brisa Byford, Colin Coolidge, and Ryan Short) discuss ways that cities can foster civic pride.

Jeff Siegler of Revitalize, or Die sat down with CivicBrand founder Ryan Short at the recent Texas Downtowns Conference. They discuss civic pride and how place shapes us.

Branding, while something we're all aware of is something that is so misunderstood. A brand is a promise that has to be lived up to every day. It is built through a series of consistent and ongoing cumulative experiences. Skeptics of branding think it is just a logo, tagline or lipstick on a pig - unfortunately they are right in far too many cases. Very few approach branding the right way and develop a system and structure that allows them to truly live the brand. In today's episode we'll be talking with Jason Thorne with the City of Hamilton, ON about real and practical ways that cities can identify, implement and live their brand on a daily basis.

Letecia McNatt, the downtown coordinator with the City of Garland sat down with CivicBrand founder, Ryan Short at the recent Texas Downtowns conference to discuss managing downtowns and fostering the relationships between business owners, the city and residents.

Real estate developer Derek Avery sits down with CivicBrand founder Ryan Short to discuss revitalization without gentrification and the role of preservation in development.

Cities are dynamic places, full of contrast. Young people, older people, those who are new the community and those who have been there for generations. Those who want things to stay the same and those who want change. How does a city - whether for branding or planning projects - ever build consensus amongst such a diverse community?Diversity is what makes our cities great. So how do we embrace that diversity and contrast to create something that is better together. That's what we'll be talking about on today's episode of Eyes on The Street.Alan Webber, the mayor of Santa Fe, New Mexico and Ryan Short, the founder of CivicBrand discuss the idea of contrast and how cities can embrace contrast and opposing ideas to create something even better.