Creating Inviting Places.

There are countless books and articles written about the difference between place and space. It’s not our work to dissect this question, but there’s something important there. How do you describe the quality about an area that is more than its physical qualities? After all, a downtown or thriving business corridor is more than a strip of businesses. Place has character, a feeling. But what creates that feeling?

It is what we as a community build within that space-- the art, the events, the relationships that we develop. It is the emotional response to being in that place, and the way you feel when you walk away. Ultimately, it does not matter what you do to a physical space if there aren’t people there to make the space their own. People make place.

This is one thing that sets NEDCO apart from other business development institutions: we look at business districts as a whole. Healthy local economies are not just a set of businesses; they inherently include neighbors, artists, customers. Residents support local businesses, and businesses support the needs of residents; both rely on one another to thrive.

So, alongside direct business development, when NEDCO works with a business corridor, we work with neighbors to establish what kind of place we are building together. Be it murals and other visual art projects, performance-based or community events, NEDCO works to support the dreams and aspirations of the corridor’s community. Share your dreams with us!