One of the interesting things about business development is how each community, and in many ways their businesses, want to be unique, but trends indicate we are moving towards more uniformity. When was the last time you entered a fast food restaurant and didn't know where the register/ordering area would be, or the last time you went to a large retail store and didn't know where the checkout lines would be or where the bathrooms were hidden?

That is one of the best parts about mom-and-pop small businesses. You get the sense that while they might not be as low a price as the mass consumer boxes, they are able to be themselves and showcase their local flare. These businesses might not have the buying power, but they are more powerful in keeping their relationships strong with the community that surrounds them and provides them with shoppers.

Part of what I like about the evolution we've had between Economic Development and Business Development is how we are focused more on the end-user experience. This could be the consumer/community at large, or it could be the business owner. No longer do we dwell on unemployment numbers, which, yes, we track. Nor do we get sucked into what the national economy is doing and how Dover is part of driving or being driven by that. We focus on the grassroots. We focus on how we can help Dover businesses thrive and how we can promote their value to consumers and the larger community, how citizens in Dover receive value from our local businesses and how we are all partners – residents and commercial owners alike.

For this week's main topic area, Reid will walk you through the office and how we operate and what we do to support our mission. Have a question or an idea for us? Let us know; we are looking for feedback.

Finally, if you are interested in knowing more about how certain commercial ventures have standardized and how that impacts our culture, check this video out.

Enjoy,

Deputy City Manager: Development and Strategic Initiatives