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Mike McCollum's avatar

Thank you for this. I’m not sure how this is sustainable or capable of being replicated given this involved a huge national investment into a town that had been designated a European cultural capital. I like the idea of the future involving interconnected economically viable villages and towns (I think 60,000 is more like a town or small city), and perhaps this story is inspiring

because it involves a town branding itself with its local history and culture and perhaps that sort of micro branding is how towns stand out. And I agree with Orlando that the strategy can’t just be tourism, so I would be curious to learn how small towns can become competitive in manufacturing or making or providing specific services for export….maybe one idea is a town develops a particular craft and then hosts digital nomads or people who want to spend a season learning that craft. Mixing tourism with economic production.

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Jared's avatar

Stellar article Elle!

2,447 events in 2019 and brining in 500,000 visitors is impressive!

I also like how clearly you explained the benifits of investing in the local community had. I wouldn't have immediately thought there would be that big an impact on entrepreneurship. How good!

Your article reminds me of the story about Molly Melching. Molly was an activist who spent 40 years trying to end female genital cutting, child marriage and forced marriage in Africa.

As I'm sure you've heard, in a lot of places experts parachute in (just like in Matera), with good intentions but no relationships, or respect in the area. They don't do good. And often do bad.

Molly didn't do that.

Instead, Molly spent years living in Senegal. She build relationships and became a part of the community, before offering any solutions.

And when solutions came, they were often from the community.

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