The Village of East Palestine is excited to announce a collaboration with Small Nation, facilitated by JobsOhio, on a strategic plan for downtown revitalization. Small Nation is dedicated to revitalizing small towns through its Small Town Success™ Formula, which empowers local leaders and property owners to build thriving downtowns with sustainable growth. They recently transformed Bellefontaine, Ohio, into a
vibrant community with new businesses, renovated historic buildings, and over $30 million in private investments.
On November 22, Small Nation’s team visited East Palestine with members of the Village Council and East Palestine’s Community Improvement Corporation (EPCIC) board. The agenda included a downtown walk-through and a presentation of proven techniques for downtown property and business development.
“Small Nation is excited to begin working with East Palestine,” said Jason Duff, Founder and CEO of Small Nation. “Every good comeback story starts with supporting people and businesses with good ideas. The Village is full of those folks, and I’ve already connected with several.”
Duff continues, “Our unique process when working with towns starts with listening. We learn the town’s history, its unique characteristics, existing businesses and beloved places. This includes a survey of business types and experiences, those that are locally celebrated, and what may be missing. The latter can then be identified as opportunities to act on.”
This partnership gives East Palestine a unique opportunity to revitalize its downtown, foster economic renewal, and create a vibrant community hub. The initiative is already underway, and its success depends on the active involvement of East Palestine’s business community, property owners, and aspiring entrepreneurs, all of whom have the power to shape the village’s future.