Too Small to Fail
Over the past 18 months or so, the phrase "too big to fail" has become nearly as universal as "In God we trust." But what about the flip side–is there such a thing as "too small to fail"?
Talk to independent business owners and civic leaders from one end of this country to the other in places like Thomasville, Ga., Columbus, Ind., and Gearhart, Ore., and they’ll tell you with certainty that the answer is yes. They’ll quickly point out that beyond creating jobs and generating tax revenue, small businesses are essential to the social fabric of towns and cities and foster, in essence, a sense of community. Small businesses, they will argue, support local civic initiatives and open their doors and wallets to charitable events. "They are always the first ones to step up to the plate," says Karen Smith, director of Thomasville’s Main Street program, which aims to rehabilitate historic downtown buildings with the assistance of the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation.
In downtown Thomasville, Dana Davidoff Abernathy, co-owner of specialty kitchen store Relish, has created what she calls a community "hangout," with overstuffed seating and roomy kitchen tables for morning coffee. "You could sit here for five minutes or five hours, there will always be someone to chat with you. Everybody wants to feel part of a community." Read full story:
