My Town Hustle

Wait, what? What happened? Where have you guys been? Contrary to popular belief we aren't dead, but we have experienced lots of changes in the past few months. We've been all over the place, but we're back now. Hear what's new with the My Town Hustlers, and what we've got planned for the future. Thanks for sticking with us and stay tuned for new episodes coming soon. (Don't worry, plenty of 10,000-foot views and painting with a broad brush to go around.)Who's on it?Sam TutenBret AllphinJared PerryRecordedOctober 2022Questions?Email us at support@mytownhustle.comShout Out!As always thank you to The Saylor for the hot jams. Check him out NOW on iTunes and Spotify

What is gentrification? What does it look like? Is it happening here? Where is it happening? In this episode, we'll discuss the history and origins of gentrification and offer some definitions, examples, and thoughts on how communities address equity in development (or redevelopment) so that everyone benefits. As you'll hear, we all know what the tropes of gentrification are, but the actual circumstances are often much more difficult to observe. In case you missed them, hot takes and fun banter are included at no extra cost. Who's on it?Sam TutenBret AllphinJared PerryRecordedApril 2022ResourcesAPA – California Northern Chapter – Gentrification – March 2019StrongTowns – ‘What does “Gentrification” Really Mean?' – August 2017Questions?Email us at support@mytownhustle.comShout Out!As always thank you to The Saylor for the hot jams. Check him out NOW on iTunes and Spotify

Parking! Minimums! Can you feel the excitement!!!! In all honesty, this is an important topic and one of the key areas of local policy that communities can modify to support small businesses and the general business environment. With Black Friday and Small Business Saturday in our recent memory, and similar events becoming more significant retail opportunities for downtowns, the time to think about parking is NOW. There's no doubt that most folks still access our downtowns using personal vehicles, so how can we rethink how we utilize our precious space to park the vehicles we need. Our friends at StrongTowns have a few ideas, Jared has a few ideas, and Sam gives us a new entertaining segment to close out the episode.RecordedNovember 2021ResourcesAPA – October 2018 – ‘People Over Parking'StrongTowns – ‘How to Build a Parking Garage'StrongTowns – Parking Mandates MapQuestions?Email us at support@mytownhustle.comShout Out!As always thank you to The Saylor for the hot jams. Check him out NOW on iTunes and Spotify

With the recent passage of the federal infrastructure bill, broadband is once again at the forefront of the conversation. While this topic has never been far from the front page in rural communities, additional funding provided through recent legislation has rekindled many discussions around how to provide access to the highest need and most difficult to serve communities. In this conversation, we discuss a 2017 short documentary entitled ‘Do Not Pass Go' by Hyrax Films which details the challenges two small communities in North Carolina faced in establishing a municipal broadband network. We feel this documentary is important as many communities may be left facing similar circumstances in the near future if existing service providers cannot (or choose not to) provide service to local communities.  Who's on it?Sam TutenBret AllphinRecordedNovember 2021ResourcesDo Not Pass Go – Hyrax Films - VimeoGreenlight Community BroadbandConnecting AppalachiaBroadbandOhioQuestions?Email us at support@mytownhustle.comShout Out!As always thank you to The Saylor for the hot jams. Check him out NOW on iTunes and Spotify

Election Day 2021!  Both Sam and Bret were running for local office (school board and city council respectively), and this was our honest conversation about the election experience on the most anxious and tense day of the year!  In this episode, we give an honest perspective on what it was like conducting a campaign, how it compared to expectations, what kinds of feedback folks provided, and other questions that aspiring local candidates should be thinking about. (Spoiler alert: Both Sam and Bret were successful in their efforts!) Who's on it? Jared PerrySam TutenBret AllphinRecordedNovember 2021 Resources Washington County Board of Elections – Nov. 2, 2021 Election Results Ohio Secretary of State – 2021 Candidate Requirement GuideQuestions?Email us at support@mytownhustle.com Shout Out! As always thank you to The Saylor for the hot jams. Check him out NOW on iTunesand Spotify 

Sometimes, you get to meet your heroes. In this week's episode of My Town Hustle, we are excited to share our interview with Chuck Marohn, the Founder and President of Strong Towns, and the author of the new book ‘Confessions of a Recovering Engineer'- released in September 2021. In our conversation, we discuss the transportation challenges identified in Chuck's new book, ideas around how we can begin to address those challenges in our communities, and many more topics covered by the biggest Minnesota Twins fan to ever appear on our show. Our thanks to Chuck for spending time with us and being a critical advocate for these issues that impact communities across the nation. Don't forget – you can watch the video of this interview in its entirety by checking out our YouTube channel. Who's on it?Sam TutenBret AllphinChuck Marohn - Founder & President of Strong Towns.RecordedOctober 2021ResourcesStrongTownsConfessions of a Recovering EngineerMy Town Hustle - YouTubeQuestions?Email us at support@mytownhustle.comShout Out!As always thank you to The Saylor for the hot jams. Check him out NOW on iTunes and Spotify

Can you see me now?  How about now?  As part of our effort to evolve My Town Hustle to the next level – we're making the podcast a video show!  We'll still have the podcast for you to enjoy as you always have.  Now you'll just be able to see our faces. If you want to. (You definitely want to.)Be sure to tune in next week for our interview with Chuck Marohn from StrongTowns!Who's on it?Jared PerrySam TutenBret AllphinRecordedOctober 2021ResourcesMy Town Hustle – YouTubeQuestions?Email us at support@mytownhustle.comShout Out!As always thank you to The Saylor for the hot jams. Check him out NOW on iTunes and Spotify

My Town Hustle is just over a year old! In celebration of this, we wanted to look back at our first year and reflect on our experience and share what we've learned.  Perhaps most importantly, we have a new studio, new equipment, new sounds (‘talk to me goose…'), new hot takes, and a new commitment to keep the show going and growing in the future. We've got an exciting interview coming up that will launch us well into Year 2 and we're excited to bring our listeners along for the ride!Who's on it?Jared PerrySam TutenBret AllphinRecordedAugust 2021ResourcesStrong Towns‘Confessions of a Recovering Engineer' – Chuck Marohn – Available September 8, 2021. WestSB – More PeopleQuestions?Email us at support@mytownhustle.comShout Out!As always thank you to The Saylor for the hot jams. Check him out NOW on iTunes and Spotify

Infrastructure is often hailed as the key to our future economic success. While there is absolutely no doubt that it is critically important, are we giving enough consideration to the long-term costs of infrastructure projects in our communities? Are we targeting returns that provide actual dollars invested in our communities or tangible cost savings to stakeholders? Or are we targeting something else? We will cover all these items and more as they are discussed in Chapter 4 of the book, 'Strong Towns: A Bottom-Up Revolution to Rebuild American Prosperity' by Charles Marohn Jr. This is a follow-up to Episode 35, where we introduced the book and its concepts to our listeners. Who's on it?Jared PerrySam TutenBret AllphinRecordedJuly 2021ResourcesStrong Towns: A Bottom-Up Revolution to Rebuild American Prosperity by Charles Marohn Jr.Questions?Email us at support@mytownhustle.comShout Out!As always thank you to The Saylor for the hot jams. Check him out NOW on iTunes and Spotify

Rural communities, especially those in Appalachia are filled with legacy industrial sites that remain from our collective industrial past. Often these facilities remain vacant, consuming valuable space in our communities, hoping for a future that despite every opportunity, has never come. In this episode, we will talk about one such site in our town, and how we can (and should) pull the plug on the outdated thinking that keeps us unrealistically holding on to these properties when we should be focusing on what is pushing our communities forward.    Who's on it?Jared PerrySam TutenBret AllphinRecordedJune 2021Resources‘A Property's Past: Remington Kardex' – Michael Kelly, Marietta TimesQuestions?Email us at support@mytownhustle.comShout Out!As always thank you to The Saylor for the hot jams. Check him out NOW on iTunes and Spotify

With so many issues demanding our attention, it is often difficult to decide between what's important and what is relevant to our daily lives. As community advocates and stakeholders this is also true as we work to understand which issues we should be spending our time, energy, and effort on. In this episode, we will recount a recent conversation where this very question came up, and we discuss how easy it is to get tied up in issues that ultimately don't directly impact our daily lives and overlook the most relevant concerns.Who's on it?Jared PerrySam TutenBret AllphinRecordedJune 2021ResourcesThe Great Game of Business Questions?Email us at support@mytownhustle.comShout Out!As always thank you to The Saylor for the hot jams. Check him out NOW on iTunes and Spotify

Many communities recognize that there aren’t as many folks around town as there used to be. Why is that? In this episode, we will talk about a fascinating series of articles published in 2020 on www.westsb.com called “More People.” The articles focus on how the population of South Bend, Indiana fell by 50,000 people in 50 years. We’ll be talking about if any of the lessons learned from South Bend can apply to rural communities, especially those in Appalachia. If this hasn’t exactly happened in our community yet, what steps can we take to avoid it? Hot takes, quips, and laughter included.  Who's on it?Jared PerrySam TutenBret AllphinRecordedMay 2021ResourcesWest.SB - A New Read on South BendQuestions?Email us at support@mytownhustle.comShout Out!As always thank you to The Saylor for the hot jams. Check him out NOW on iTunes and Spotify

It’s the remix!  DORA legislation successfully passed in Marietta in late April 2021.  In this episode, Sam and Bret give updates and lessons learned on the DORA process since we last talked about it on Episode 2 in July 2020.  We will give five key points that we have learned through the community engagement process that other communities should be thinking about as they create their DORA programming.  If you aren't in Ohio, listen and learn more about Ohio's Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area as a model on how to get this creative economic tool for your downtown.  Moderately hot takes are included as always.Who's on it?Sam TutenBret AllphinRecordedMay 2021ResourcesDORA at the Banks - CincinnatiQuestions?Email us at support@mytownhustle.comShout Out!As always thank you to The Saylor for the hot jams. Check him out NOW on iTunes and SpotifyPhoto provided by City of Hamilton, Ohio

In this week's episode, we interviewed Jesse Roush, Executive Director of our local port authority, Southeastern Ohio Port Authority. Jesse talks about his organization, how it can be an economic development tool in communities, challenges that our area faces, and his goals moving forward. Tune in to learn more about these types of organizations and ask yourself, does your community have one?

In this week's episode, Sam and Jared will discuss trash. Yes, that is right, trash. From trash cans on the sidewalk to trash dumpsters in the alleyways, there are some cool ways that trash is being collected and stored in your downtowns.

In this week's episode, Jared and Sam explore a variety of ideas that you could use in your town. These ideas are ones that both Jared and Sam are particularly passionate about. From making your city more child-friendly to the redevelopment of alleyways, listen in as they explore what a life would be like if these ideas would come true in their own community but also yours.

Have you thought about going into the public sector? Do you have a desire to help your community or you are interested in local, state, or federal government? Well, in this week's episode, Bret and Sam will discuss their own journeys to becoming public servants. What their experience has been like, how has it changed, what school was like, and so much more. We are missing Jared this week as he and his wife, Alaina have welcomed a new baby into their home. Join us this week to learn more about what it is like, why it is important, and who we feel should be in these roles. More importantly, we want our listeners to know that this field is powerful and provides so much good.

Do you live just outside the city?  Do you live in a community that was formed like the City of Eagleton in Parks and Rec because they left a city like Pawnee to make something better?  Are you missing out on an essential service because of where you live?  Well, in this week's episode, we'll go over annexation.  Annexation is the legal process in which municipalities can grow their boundaries into areas in which are not already incorporated into that particular municipality.  Now, there are a lot of pros and cons which we'll discuss in the episode like increase taxes or access to public utilities but one aspect that we look into is, should cities be wanting to grow?  Do they have the resources to expand and offer more of their services to neighboring communities?  Annexation in smaller rural areas versus bigger cities is different but why should cities limit themselves from growth, especially if there is an opportunity for new development or available land outside the city, which is more of the case in smaller rural areas.  Although we discuss the process within the State of Ohio, every state is different but all annexations are a long process so be prepared and hopefully, if you are a city official, you are looking at growing your tax base and all the services that you provide.

CDBG or otherwise known as Community Development Block Grants.  Most communities have it but what exactly is it?  Most people might know it because either their community uses those funds for sidewalk improvements or use them to help low-to-moderate income homes with improvements.  Better yet, your community might use them for both.  In this week's episode, we'll take a look at what CDBG is, why was it established, does reform need to happen?, and what we feel communities should be using these funds for.  Each State administers this block grant to local communities differently and can have different or the same programs as other states, depending on their needs.  Although we have only started the dig on what CDBG really is, the three of us can agree that there are small and large needs that communities can use these funds for but do you know what those projects are?  Do you know that you have a voice in those projects or better yet, do you know what programs your community offers?

TIFs.  Tax Increment Financing.  What is that?  Well, most developers or city planners are familiar with TIFs.  TIFs are just one way to incentivize development in your community.  This week, we explore how TIFS are typically used in Small Towns, and from our experience, they are used in a way that goes against what they were originally intended for.  Most cities go after the big box retailers with new infrastructure which creates your "typical" on the border commercial district.  When a TIF district is established, it is used to subsidize redevelopment or other infrastructure projects by diverting future property tax increases based on the redevelopment and is used to help pay off bonds or other costs of the project.  We discuss rather or not this is the best way for small communities to incentivize development and should they be looking at other methods?  Small Towns are always looking for the "next" big thing but why can't these TIFs be used for current infrastructure like your downtown?  Why not, right?

Thinking about running for office?  Well, in this week's episode, we explore the different positions in local government.  We dive into those positions as they stand in the great State of Ohio but these positions are also found throughout local governments in the United States.  Are people running to serve their community or are they running so they can have a job?  Being an elected official is hard work and when you are voting on one, it is important to be informed about what their goals are, what their vision is for your community, and what kind of legislation they will advocate for.  Also, it is important to know what officials have the responsibility to appoint administration staff.  City officials are one aspect of a government running efficiently but what about the non-election positions.  City officials should also be well informed and understand the potential and limitations of their staff and any legislation change could have an impact on their ability to run efficiently.

GIS?  What is it?  Well, it stands for Geographic Information System and you can find it almost everywhere now.  GIS is a great tool that provides the ability to capture, store, and display data spatially.  It is way more than a pretty map, as it helps planners, public officials, and governmental organizations make decisions based on spatial patterns and relationships of data.  If you wanted to know how many Maple Trees were in your neighborhood, you would have to go out and collect that data and place it in geographically in GIS and now you will know how many Maple Trees are on your street.  Just google COVID19 and you will find links and links to data and maps that show the COVID19 pandemic.  Listen in to this episode as we discuss how we get data, how data is collected, and how it is used to tell a story through the power of GIS. Who's on it? Jared Perry Sam Tuten Bret Allphin Any good resources? COVID19 Data Maps for reference to GIS in the news from Johns Hopkins University of Medicine Census & American Community Survey Data How to Lie with Maps by Mark Monmonier (Book) esri / ArcGIS Ohio Data - OGRIP Ohio URISA Recorded August 2020 Questions? Email us at support@mytownhustle.com Shout out? As always thank you to The Saylor for the hot jams. Check him out NOW at iTunes and Spotify!

Do you live in a historical district?  Do you consider your community either historic or charming?  Well, listen in to this week's episode as we talk about Architectural Review Boards.  ARBs are established through local ordinance as a historical preservation tool for historic districts either commercial or residential.  If you own property within these districts that are governed by a historic preservation ordinance than you know that you have to go before a board before you make changes to your property.  We discuss why ARBs are designed to protect the buildings, not the people.  The My Town Hustle team also talks about the word "historic" and the difficulties of determining what is considered "historic" in a community.  Do you pick 1890 or 1940?  If your community is considering a historic preservation ordinance, open dialogue about how you want to preserve those districts is key! Who's on it? Jared Perry Sam Tuten Bret Allphin Any good resources? Marietta, Ohio Historic District Dublin, Ohio ARB Julia-Ann Square Historical District Recorded August 2020 Questions? Email us at support@mytownhustle.com Shout out? As always thank you to The Saylor for the hot jams. Check him out NOW at iTunes and Spotify!

Have you ever been to a new town and didn't know where to go?  Are you even familiar with where public parking lots are in your own town?  Well, wayfinding can help with how you get from Point A to Point B.  It makes sense at an airport but why is it important in your downtown?  In this week's episode, we are talking about something as simple as a sign.  Too many can get messy and too little won't help.  We make decisions based on visual cues so why not help citizens and tourists alike navigate your community.  It seems like a funny topic to talk about but trust us when we tell you how much can go into wayfinding and although you may know where you are going sometimes, it is important to view your town as a tourist. Who's on it? Jared Perry Sam Tuten Bret Allphin Any good resources? Urban Wayfinding Planning & Implementation Manual by Sign Research Foundation Sign Research Foundation 2018 Economic Impact of Tourism in the Appalachian Region of Ohio Report from Ohio's Appalachian Country Ohio's Appalachian Country The Image of the City by Kevin Lynch Recorded August 2020 Questions? Email us at support@mytownhustle.com Shout out? As always thank you to The Saylor for the hot jams. Check him out NOW at iTunes and Spotify!

Main Street Programs?  Do you have one in your community?  Well, we here at My Town Hustle enjoy our local Main Street program.  From one of us being a Board Member to the other being the previous Director, we couldn't be more thrilled to have our first guest on the show.  Cristie Thomas with Marietta Main Street joined us to go over all things Main Street.  Main Street Programs function to revitalize historic commercial districts and strive to build a new vibrant community in those districts.  From hosting events, working alongside property owners/developers, to drafting legislation, they can do it all.  Did you know that these groups are behind the smallest of acts like hanging flowers in town but did you know that those flowers can make an economic contribution to your community?  Main Street Programs fight to save your downtowns, so please tune in to learn more, learn how you can give back to your downtown, and how these programs bring people together. Who's on it? Jared Perry Sam Tuten Bret Allphin Cristie Thomas - Executive Director of Marietta Main Street Any good resources? Marietta Main Street Marietta Main Street Facebook Page Heritage Ohio Main Street America Recorded August 2020 Questions? Email us at support@mytownhustle.com Shout out? As always thank you to The Saylor for the hot jams. Check him out NOW at iTunes and Spotify!

Does your city have a plan for the future?  Have they spent some time with you, the public, on what that might look like or what your concerns are?  Well, in this week's episode, we are going to talk about Comprehensive Planning.  We go over why we think it is important, why citizens should be involved in the process, and why all public officials should use it as the guiding principle for all their decisions.  Comprehensive Planning is important for the future growth of your community.  Sometimes Comprehensive Planning can suggest big changes or even pretty radical ones at that which may be unpopular but the most important part is that this process includes the public, it includes the people who actually live, work, or play in your community. Who's on it? Jared Perry Sam Tuten Bret Allphin Any good resources? The Importance of Implementable Comprehensive Planning Minneapolis 2040 Comprehensive Plan - Minneapolis, Minnesota Plan Hamilton Comprehensive Plan - Hamilton, Ohio Recorded July 2020 Questions? Email us at support@mytownhustle.com Shout out? As always thank you to The Saylor for the hot jams. Check him out NOW at iTunes and Spotify!

Did you know there are different kinds of local government for your town? Turns out, there is! Whether you have a statutory local government, or a charter local government can change the operations and procedures of “how things get done” in your hometown. The distinction between the two often occur around a town’s stance on a particular issue but, is only ~really~ limited by general law at the state level. This episode focuses on the differences between the two forms of government along with the pros and cons of each. Who's on it? Jared Perry Sam Tuten Bret Allphin Any good resources? Knox Pages Case Study on Charter Government Ohio Municipal League City of Athens, Ohio Recorded July 2020 Questions? Email us at support@mytownhustle.com Shout out? As always thank you to The Saylor for the hot jams. Check him out NOW at iTunes and Spotify!

When you are walking down your favorite street or through the main drag of your downtown, you probably aren’t thinking, “Wow, this street is not complete”, unless you are a planner or understand what a Complete Street is. Well, it is simple, Complete Streets is a transportation policy that has reshaped, redrawn, or reconstructed our city streets from vehicle focused to all types of ways we get around. This design approach is for everyone, no matter the mode of transportation that you prefer. In this week’s episode, we will quickly go over the concept of Complete Streets as this policy is different for every community. The main “drive” of this “Complete Streets” movement is more than becoming less focused on vehicles but how all modes including driving can be safer. We will discuss “Parklets” which is just one design that adds value to Complete Streets, it creates a new public place and can be an awesome tool for placemaking in your community, especially if you have limited outdoor seating. Jared is passionate about getting a “Parklet” in front of his building, so listen in to learn more from us, laugh, and hopefully walk away with a desire to advocate for safer streets in your community. Who's on it? Jared Perry Sam Tuten Bret Allphin Any good resources? What are Complete Streets? by Smart Growth America National Complete Streets Coalition U.S. Department of Transportation Recorded July 2020 Questions? Email us at support@mytownhustle.com Shout out! As always thank you to The Saylor for the hot jams. Check him out NOW at iTunes and Spotify!

ZONES!!!  In this week's episode, we'll explore Zoning in our communities.  Zoning dates back to the earliest twentieth century and is still applied to communities today.  Although zoning laws and regulations have played both a negative or positive role in our communities, Form-Based Zoning is one tool that city leaders are using to re-imagine their communities and moving away from the separation of uses.  Zoning plays such an important part in how and why our cities look the way they do but do you know how it applies to you?  Do you know some of the differences between a Planning Commission and a Board of Zoning Appeals?  Do you even know what zoning district you live or work in?  Listen in as we discuss how zoning can be a good thing if applied correctly. Who's on it? Jared Perry Sam Tuten Bret Allphin Any good resources? Form-Based Codes Institute at Smart Growth America Demolition Means Progress - by Andrew R. Highsmith Flint, Michigan, and The Fate of The American Metropolis The University of Chicago Press Village of Euclid v. Ambler Realty Recorded July 2020 Questions? Email us at support@mytownhustle.com Shout out! Smart Growth America The University of Chicago Press As always thank you to The Saylor for the hot jams. Check him out NOW at iTunes and Spotify!

Tired of looking at blighted properties?  In this week’s episode, we’ll be depositing our time into the discussion of Land Banks, no pun intended, well maybe a little.  A County Land Bank in the State of Ohio is a useful program, that establishes a private, non-profit corporation through the power of your local government, to fight vacant & blighted properties and return them to productive use in your communities.  We’ll discuss how one is established, how it can be funded, and explain to you that the reason your community may not have one is that your government doesn’t want one and not because they can’t have one. Who's on it? Jared Perry Sam Tuten Bret Allphin Any good resources? Western Reserve Land Conservancy A Lank Bank Playbook by Western Reserve Land Conservancy List & Map of Ohio County Land Banks Washington County, Ohio Auditor Website List of Delinquent Taxpayers List in Washington County, Ohio Recorded June 2020 in Marietta, OH Questions? Email us at support@mytownhustle.com Shout out! Western Reserve Land Conservancy As always thank you to The Saylor for the hot jams.  Check him out NOW at iTunes & Spotify!

In this episode, we’ll explore D.O.R.A, Designated Outdoor Refreshment Areas.  Did you know that in the State of Ohio, a DORA can be established to create an environment where you can walk in a particular area (your downtown possibly?) with a drink in your hand?  Listen as we discuss what a DORA is, how a city can get one, and what the pros and cons. Who's on it? Jared Perry, Sam Tuten & Bret Allphin Any good resources? State of Ohio Revised Code - Chapter 4301.82: Designated Outdoor Refreshment Areas http://codes.ohio.gov/orc/4301.82 A great example of a current D.O.R.A! http://www.delawareohio.net/exploring-the-dora/ Recorded June 2020 Questions? Email us at support@mytownhustle.com Shout outs! As always thank you to The Saylor for the hot jams.  Check him out NOW on iTunes & Spotify!

This episode is a quick little intro on why we decided to create My Town Hustle. You’ll get to know a little about all of our hosts along with some statistical background of the community we live and work in.