While some small downtowns across the country are dying, towns like Dubuque, Iowa are growing. John Gronen, founder of Gronen Development explains how their role has evolved into a hybrid of a typical state economic development, tourism office, and investment firm.
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Gronen's approach has been profitable, but isn't solely focused on the numbers. He doesn't see himself as just a developer but also an investor and partner with many of his tenants. He will turn down tenants to preserve the local culture local entrepreneurs have worked so hard to build. He explains how his team works alongside retailers, restaurants, service businesses, and corporate offices, and SMB leaders to see and understand the unseen value of community.
Chapters:
00:00 - Introduction
00:25 - Meet the Developer
01:14 - Amazon and Remote Work
02:19 - Dubuque's Downtown Draw
04:35 - When Remote Work Fails
08:19 - Collaboration Comes Back
10:12 - The Downtown Revitalization Pitch
10:42 - Depac and the Voices Building
15:34 - Tax Credits and Mixed Use
17:24 - What Is New Markets Credit
18:24 - Downtown Retail Shifts
19:12 - Building Vibrancy Strategy
20:43 - Critical Mass Wins
22:56 - Developer Tenant Partnership
27:15 - Curating the Right Tenants
31:28 - Starting the Revitalization
36:13 - Tax Credits as Catalyst
36:53 - Closing and Wrap Up