"Those without a job, especially residents without assets or a second worker in the household, may experience hardships such as high debt, health consequences, hunger, foreclosure, and even homelessness. Even those workers holding jobs may experience limited mobility and depressed wages and salaries when jobs are in short supply."
I have spent the last eight
years working in communities that have been economically isolated due to
disability, scarcity of resources and scarcity of demand. The recession did not help these people. We now have the
opportunity to rebuild. Based on what we have learned from the recession we as
a community can rebuild our businesses and economy and encourage business
owners to be socially conscious and understand their relationship to their
community. We can focus on sustainable growth that is good for businesses and
people. We can find answers to social issues built from an understanding that
people within a community know what is best for them. Economic security
provides the possibility of finding answers to reducing poverty, increasing
access to nutritious food, higher high school graduation rates and healthier
people.
Currently, I believe, there is great
interest in rebuilding our communities. Most people would agree our high unemployment rate is of great concern. Moving forward we
have an opportunity to regain our past economic prosperity and also address
barriers that cause economic disparity.
The Work Space in Little Canada is currently supporting small business owners as they work to build their business and employ people in the community. I think their model of supporting entrepreneurs who have already launched their business is interesting. They have seen that about 50% of small business owners close their doors after 5 years. By supporting entrepreneurs at a critical spots of growth businesses have a greater opportunity to sustainably grow and be foundations for economic security within their community.
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