Chuck D'Aprix-- ENTREPRENEURSHIP KEY TO COMMUNITY RENEWAL

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) December 8, 2007 -- Washington DC
December 10, 2007

Chuck D’Aprix acclaimed downtown and community revitalization guru has one word for cities and towns looking to revitalized their downtowns and neighborhood shopping districts: ENTREPRENEURSHIP!

D’Aprix, a nationally-recognized expert on urban rebirth has been studying downtown redevelopment for years and says that it is futile for communities to chase chains, and existing independent businesses. He says, “ Communities are spending three to four times what they need to in order to get the interest of a just a single retailer downtown.
It is not an efficient use of resources.”

The downtown expert says that people use neighborhood shopping districts or downtowns differently than they did even 30 years ago. He says, “Downtown or your neighborhood commercial district was the center of your shopping life—no longer. Now people go to downtowns and similar areas for an experience, to enjoy unique shops and to eat at interesting restaurants. Unfortunately chain stores are providing most of the every day goods we use—and those goods are not downtown –they are in BIG BOX cities at the edge of town—it’s a travesty but we need to accept reality.”

D’Aprix says that downtowns and neighborhood centers need to reinvent themselves regularly and the best way to do that is through entrepreneurship—they need to home grow their own businesses. He assists communities in growing new businesses with his firm the Downtown Entrepreneurship Project based in Washington, D.C., but he works nationally in small towns and large cities.

According the community renewal expert, he is helping cities and towns start all types of entrepreneurship programs, including: entrepreneur attraction programs, the development of retail incubators, entrepreneur training programs and entrepreneur welcome programs.

Chuck D’Aprix says,” Mall are dying, lifestyle centers—which are a type of mall are growing and Big Box Retailers are as common as pennies. If downtowns and neighborhoods shopping districts are going to fight the good fight and proudly display their character, then they need to home grow some retailers. The best way to do that is call the Downtown Entrepreneurship Project and get cracking.”

More information can be found online at http//:www.downtownproject.com

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