Cuba, a small city just southwest of St. Louis, caught our attention several months ago as a community that has weathered the recession exceptionally well. We had the opportunity to visit the town and discuss Cuba’s success with local leaders. Among the most important factors we observed were Cuba’s strong economic leadership and extensive planning. Everyone we talked to was proud of the city’s strong foundation that allowed it to excel even during the economic downturn. Still, they all had an eye toward the future and were excited by the possibilities ahead.
We’ve continued to receive updates from Cuba and are happy to report that their enthusiasm has led to several new initiatives to promote economic growth. The city recently formed the Cuba Development Group. Led by Mardy Leathers (featured prominently in our videos from Cuba), the group aims to capitalize on Cuba’s resources to attract diverse industries and strengthen the city’s economic base. They have since launched a website that outlines the group’s mission and provides resources for marketing and leasing commercial space in Cuba. This sort of innovative thinking has worked well for Cuba in the past and can serve as a model for other small towns.
Let us know if you have stories from your community during the recession. We’d love to hear your experiences!
From the Beacon’s Job Talk: GO! Network
Fri, Jan 29, 2010
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