In this episode, we sit down with Jaime Izurieta, author of the new book "Main Street Mavericks," to delve into the world of experience design and its pivotal role in the success of Main Street businesses. In a landscape increasingly dominated by online giants, creating memorable experiences for customers has become more crucial than ever. Jaime shares his expertise on how businesses and community leaders can harness the power of experience design to thrive in today's competitive market....

In this episode, Brisa Byford from CivicBrand sits down with High Point, NC City Councilman Michael Holmes to delve into the complexities of public engagement and leadership. They explore the challenges of balancing the needs of the community with the voices that shout the loudest, and discuss the delicate art of acting in the best interest of the public while navigating the intricacies of place branding. Tune in as Councilman Holmes offers a unique perspective on the role of elected...

In this episode, we're joined by Nate Storring of Project for Public Spaces as we dive into the transformative power of public spaces and the role of placemaking. From Community Placemaking Grants, Training, Market Cities Program and the upcoming Placemaking Week we dive into the world of Project for Public Spaces. 

In this episode, we're joined by Adam Williams, a seasoned podcaster and journalist who is at the helm of the "We Are Chaffee" podcast. Together, we delve deep into the pivotal role of storytelling in community development, uncovering the barriers, tips, and best practices for launching storytelling initiatives that truly make an impact. Adam shares his experiences and insights into how storytelling can be a catalyst for change within communities, breaking down the barriers that often hinder...

In this unique episode of Eyes on the Street, CivicBrand co-founder Ryan Short interviews ChatGPT as read by none other than the iconic voice of Snoop Dogg.  Through Snoop's West Coast charm, we get to hear how ChatGPT answers questions about public engagement, place branding, and placemaking. Depending on your experience with AI the answers are either surprisingly (or not surprisingly) really good! 

In this episode, we delve into the relationship between cities and brands. Join us as we explore how place, culture, and the identity of a city influence the creation and growth of brands, and conversely, how brands can impact and shape the very essence of a city. We are thrilled to have Hunter Harlow, co-founder of Sendero Provisions, as our special guest.  Tune in to discover what cities need to do to foster an environment where brands can thrive, and how these thriving brands, in turn,...

In this episode, we are joined by Rik Adamski of Ash + Lime, as we delve into the concept of "3rd places" and their vital role in fostering community and connection. Expanding beyond the realms of home (1st place) and work (2nd place), 3rd places encapsulate environments like cafes, parks, and community centers where individuals gather to socialize, relax, and engage in meaningful interactions. We explore how 3rd places contribute to a sense of belonging, encourage serendipitous encounters,...

In this episode, host Ryan Short from CivicBrand sits down with Evan Snow, the co-founder of Zero Empty Spaces, to delve into the transformative work they are doing in partnership with cities and property owners. Zero Empty Spaces is revolutionizing communities by repurposing vacant spaces into affordable artist studios, resulting in a win-win-win situation. Evan explains how their initiative activates these areas, stimulates economic development, and ultimately creates more vibrant and...

In the podcast episode, Ryan Short from CivicBrand and Lev Kusher from the Department of Here discuss a recent CityLab article written by Lev. The article explores the increasingly blurred lines between remote workers and tourists, and how this trend is changing the way cities approach economic development, tourism, and destination marketing and branding. Ryan and Lev delve into the implications of this trend for cities, discussing how cities can adapt to this new reality and take advantage...

In this episode, we'll be discussing a new approach to events for Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) with Jason Gleason, Executive Director of Montclair Center BID. In many downtown areas, BIDs rely heavily on events to drive foot traffic and economic growth, but is this approach sustainable? Jason shares his insights on the role of BIDs in creating vibrant downtown areas, and how Montclair Center BID in Montclair, NJ is taking a different approach to events that's having a positive impact...

In today's episode, Ryan interviews Jake Rishavy of Chaffee County Economic Development to discuss an inside-out approach to economic development. This strategy emphasizes internal development through initiatives such as start-up cohorts, mentoring, investment, and on-brand events, and is already yielding significant results and impact. Chaffee County EDC: https://chaffeecountyedc.com/ Central Mountain Entreprenuers https://drivenbynature.co/

The title of this episode may shock a few folks. Are we really suggesting to stop doing public engagement? Are we really advocating for a cookie-cutter plan? Maybe, and in many communities, yes. Equitable public engagement is at the foundation of everything we do at CivicBrand, but who hasn't been in a project interview where the client says, "We don't want a cookie-cutter plan"? So, how could we possibly be suggesting this? The reality is that public engagement can be insulting and a waste...

In this episode, Ryan Short of CivicBrand is joined by Clayton Garrett and Scott Snodgrass, founders of Meristem Communities, to discuss what it really means to really build for humans. From creating more environmentally and fiscally sustainable communities to places with diverse options so that individuals, couples, families, and seniors can all co-exist and age in place within a community. They discuss sweating the small details and how that is what placemaking really is. 

At CivicBrand we love data. We use it in the engagement phase to ensure we're reaching everyone, in the strategy and design phase to test ideas, and in the implementation phase to measure what's working and what is not. However, there is a problem with data, especially in the civic space. In this episode Ryan Short and Brisa Byford of CivicBrand dive into the problems with data. Far too many use data as a shield in the decision-making process. They look for data to make the decisions for...

In this episode, CivicBrand senior strategist Brisa Byford talks to Dr. David D. Perlmutter, Dean of Communications at Texas Tech University.  Brisa and Dr. Perlmutter discuss what truly makes a place authentic,  how communities are now competing globally for talent and residents, and the generational impacts on place identity.  Dr. Perlmutter has authored ten books on political communication, new media technologies, and higher education published by, among others, Palgrave, Oxford, and...

Get some valuable and free legal advice as CivicBrand CEO Ryan Short and trademark and patent attorney Grady Bergen discuss trademarks. Understand the difference between trademarks and copyrights, what rights you have by common law and what rights are extended when you federally register and the steps you need to take to protect your mark. Your brand is one of your most valuable assets and there is a lot of nuance and detail to managing and protecting your brand.  If you'd like to hire Grady...

Public engagement is all about listening. Whether that's through surveys, focus groups, interviews, or on-the-street engagement we've found that too many cities and consultants are simply asking the wrong questions. In this episode, Ryan Short and Brisa Byford of CivicBrand discuss what those wrong questions are and how to dive deeper and get at the real issues. 

In this episode of Eyes On The Street, Ryan Short is joined by other members of the CivicBrand team Layne Ferguson, Landon Ferguson and Connor Cox to discuss Placemaking.  They discuss what placemaking is, the types of placemaking from large projects to small and the many goals of placemaking from beautification, activation, safety, economic development, civic pride and public engagement. They discuss  common barriers or pitfalls that keep cities from doing these projects and how to measure...

In this special live episode of Eyes On The Street, the CivicBrand team sits down with Waco Mayor Dillion Meek as well as Wendy Gragg and Jeffrey Vitarius of City Center Waco at the Summer of Downtown launch party in the brand new 7th Street Pedestrian Plaza.  The CivicBrand team was hired by Waco to do a parking study, brand audit as well as design and implement two placemaking interventions in Downtown Waco. The first was a 4 block pedestrian walkway to connect the Silos to Austin Avenue...

Developing a place brand always starts with listening and together with the community crafting a brand story that is authentic. This collaborative and inclusive process doesn't end when the brand has been developed as implementation is key. In today's episode of 'Eyes On The Street' we sit down with Andrea Haley of Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo in Alberta, Canada to discuss their journey in developing and implementing their place brand. 

Marketing a region, whether it's a county or other collection of cities comes with a unique set of challenges in both brand architecture and the role destination marketing. In brand architecture it's ensuring you create a common place identity while still allowing individual communities within to have their own unique identity. In destination marketing it's about evolving beyond simply promoting an area to actively managing and advocating for your local community. In today's episode we're...

What exactly is a place brand? When done right it is not just about marketing or tourism but rather a clear definition of values that can be used as a filter for policy, strategy and decision making. This focus helps communities both manage growth and attract businesses, residents and visitors that share those values. In this episode of Eyes on the Street we speak to Clare Dewhirst of City Nation Place to discuss how place branding has evolved, challenges and opportunities place brands face...

Schools are one of the most important aspects of a city and greatly impact its economic development efforts. The problem is, simply put, school ratings are biased. Most school ratings focus on test scores which data shows are driven by parents income not the quality of the school. When school ratings are not truly rating the school's performance it can have serious impacts on a community. It perpetuates sprawl, robs parents of time with their children, robs children of valuable diversity...

What makes a successful community? While there are many definitions and metrics, I'd argue a successful community is one that is both fiscally resilient and has a strong identity of who they are and who they are not - all while providing real opportunity (and not just the veneer of opportunity as today's guest points out). In today's episode, we're joined by Chuck Marohn of Strong Towns to discuss just that.