By MARCIA CAMERON 

Economic gardening is an intriguing concept that has been used to create jobs and help increase revenue in local communities across the United States.  Much like a garden that gradually grows, successful businesses need tender care to assist in their growth.  

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Bronx’s unemployment rate was 8.9 percent in March 2015, compared to Brooklyn with 6.7 percent. Economic gardening focuses on creating jobs by supporting existing local businesses. Bronxites are badly in need of locally created jobs, which can lead to increased sales tax revenue and lower unemployment. This economic development philosophy puts Bronx local entrepreneurs first.

This concept was first launched in Littleton, Colorado in 1989, producing a 71 percent increase in employment and three-fold increase in sales tax revenues that exceeded any other initiative in the area. All of this occurred without any tax incentive to entice outside businesses to migrate. The majority of Littleton resources was focused on small business growth within their own local community. The Bronx is primed for this type of economic development.

For an economic garden to be successful, it requires strong connectivity or networking skills, marketing research, community and workforce development and infrastructure. Connectivity is critical to growing a successful Bronx economic garden.

Economic gardening can help Bronx businesses find affordable spaces to rent, employees that they will need to get started, and most importantly, early-stage funding.  In addition, Bronx networking events allow entrepreneurs to meet with investors and others interested in nurturing entrepreneurship and cultivating business-to-business connections and resources to feed their growth.

Extensive market research will provide Bronx entrepreneurs access to baseline and custom market research, market profiles, and site selection assistance.  This type of resource can improve the growth of entrepreneurs by assisting them in advertising and promotional activities, while informing them of public policies and key community issues.

There are many agencies/organizations in the Bronx that offer some type of technical assistance to small businesses. However, George Acevedo, the director of the Bronx Women’s Business Resource Center, states that “There are additional resources that are needed, namely the infrastructure for upcoming businesses to find healthy “soil” for entrepreneurs to plant their seeds.”

Many local businesses have expanded over the years and opened new locations throughout the Bronx; MetroOptics is one that comes easily to mind. MetroOptics’ four locations are locally owned and create jobs locally, all of which benefits the Bronx local economy.  Wouldn’t it be great to develop more local businesses that are invested locally? Let’s start practicing economic gardening in the Bronx, and together we can reap the benefits.

Marcia Cameron, MBA, EDFP, is a candidate for certification as a   certified Economic Developer (CEcD) through the International Economic Development Council.

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Welcome to the Norwood News, a bi-weekly community newspaper that primarily serves the northwest Bronx communities of Norwood, Bedford Park, Fordham and University Heights. Through our Breaking Bronx blog, we focus on news and information for those neighborhoods, but aim to cover as much Bronx-related news as possible. Founded in 1988 by Mosholu Preservation Corporation, a not-for-profit affiliate of Montefiore Medical Center, the Norwood News began as a monthly and grew to a bi-weekly in 1994. In September 2003 the paper expanded to cover University Heights and now covers all the neighborhoods of Community District 7. The Norwood News exists to foster communication among citizens and organizations and to be a tool for neighborhood development efforts. The Norwood News runs the Bronx Youth Journalism Heard, a journalism training program for Bronx high school students. As you navigate this website, please let us know if you discover any glitches or if you have any suggestions. We’d love to hear from you. You can send e-mails to norwoodnews@norwoodnews.org or call us anytime (718) 324-4998.