Increases in elderly populations and population declines expected in the next decade and longer will cause rural areas and small towns, especially, to lose many essential long-standing businesses such as grocery stores, restaurants, etc. Retirements of elderly long-time owners, loss of young families to larger centers, and other issues will make it difficult to transition these businesses to new owners. At the same time, the businesses are critical to maintaining a high quality of life and viability of the communities.

We are compiling an edited volume of successful business transition programs used around the world. These examples should go beyond business retention and expansion efforts. The main interest is ways in which communities and local leaders have creatively helped young adults and/or people wishing to relocate take over businesses from retiring owners.  These transition programs as being a step between an Employee Stock Option Program and a Community Owned Business.

Attached is a Call for Abstracts that we ask you to share through the IACD network or other sources including personal contacts. The object is to identify successful examples from as many diverse settings as possible.  Abstracts are due July 15,  2020.  By September 1, successful authors will be invited to write a complete chapter which will then be refereed before publication.

Thanks for helping to spread the word on what should be a very worthwhile and useful addition to the community development literature…

Contact me with questions. In the meantime, stay calm, healthy, and positive during this difficult period.

Best….

Norm