Historic buildings are more than just bricks and mortar—they’re a testament to a community’s heritage, holding stories of the past while shaping the future. At The Development Group, we understand the importance of preserving this history, which is why the restoration of 126 W Main Street has been a labor of love and a symbol of our commitment to Hardee County’s Growth.

Owned by Brent Stephens, Honey Bear Bake Co. offers a cozy, welcoming space for the community. Known for Utilitech, Giovanni’s, and Cowbelle’s; Brent brings his passion for quality & experience in the restaurant and customer service industry to Honey Bear Bake Company.

Honey Bear Bake Co. is a warm, inviting space where details are infused with care and quality. From freshly baked croissants and cookies to savory snacks and indulgent cakes, every item is crafted to delight. They even offer a selection of gluten-free treats, ensuring everyone in the community can find something to love. Pair your favorite pastry with their full line of specialty coffees—don’t miss their popular Nitro Cold Brew!

This project reflects our mission: preserving history, supporting local businesses, and fostering community pride. The restoration of 126 W Main is a shining example of what can happen when we honor our history while embracing opportunities for the future. Projects like these are about more than buildings—they’re about community, growth, and shared pride in the place we call home.

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April 16th. Doors open at 5 p.m.

One Community. BIG Opportunities!

The Development Group’s Inaugural meeting is an elevated experience!

Walk through the doors of the historic Wauchula city hall, they open at 5 p.m, and immediately review the results of the Hardee Speaks survey. The responses from Hardee County citizens will be published and on display in the lobby, don’t worry, the responses are anonymous.

As you make your way to your seat, you will receive a personal-sized charcuterie appetizer, water, and a free copy of Bill Yeargin’s book.

The Development Group CEO, Denise Grimsley, will lay out the vision for a vibrant community and the five pillars that will deliver big opportunities for Hardee County.

Renowned speaker, author, and businessman Bill Yeargin will deliver the keynote address and inspire attendees to take advantage of all that Hardee County has to offer.

A meet and greet with event speakers will include hors d’oeuvres and drinks. The reception will be hosted at the historic train depot and is included in the event ticket.

Take this investment in yourself, business, and community!

Denise Grimsley, CEO of the Development Group, invites you to attend the inaugural meeting on Tuesday, April 16th. Doors of the Historic City Hall, located at 225 E. Main Street, Wauchula FL 33873, open at 5 p.m.

The post The Development Group’s Inaugural Meeting appeared first on The Development Group.

April 16th. Doors open at 5 p.m.

One Community. BIG Opportunities!

The Development Group’s Inaugural meeting is an elevated experience!

Walk through the doors of the historic Wauchula city hall, they open at 5 p.m, and immediately review the results of the Hardee Speaks survey. The responses from Hardee County citizens will be published and on display in the lobby, don’t worry, the responses are anonymous.

As you make your way to your seat, you will receive a personal-sized charcuterie appetizer, water, and a free copy of Bill Yeargin’s book.

The Development Group CEO, Denise Grimsley, will lay out the vision for a vibrant community and the five pillars that will deliver big opportunities for Hardee County.

Renowned speaker, author, and businessman Bill Yeargin will deliver the keynote address and inspire attendees to take advantage of all that Hardee County has to offer.

A meet and greet with event speakers will include hors d’oeuvres and drinks. The reception will be hosted at the historic train depot and is included in the event ticket.

Take this investment in yourself, business, and community!

Denise Grimsley, CEO of the Development Group, invites you to attend the inaugural meeting on Tuesday, April 16th. Doors of the Historic City Hall, located at 225 E. Main Street, Wauchula FL 33873, open at 5 p.m.

The post The Development Group’s Inaugural Meeting appeared first on The Development Group.

Pew Research Center credits an individual’s age as the most common predictor of differences in attitudes and behaviors. A person’s age references their place in the life cycle and their belonging in a cohort of individuals with a shared value based on expectations and experiences shaped by society.

Generations are a common research tool to group age cohorts. Yet, generations have become an identification factor that has outgrown traditional research. Generational grouping has become a fire that is fanned by social media and nomenclatures. Creating a following that is placing opinions, attitudes, and behaviors at the culmination of a culture. Will this growing acceptance of generational identities create a more polarizing future? Perhaps. Will it link an entire generation and spur social change? Absolutely possible.

Generational Impacts on the Economy

Without a doubt, generational differences shape the economy through workforce, spending, and politics. Economic development professionals and community leaders can adjust their practices to target specific generations and predict the economic needs of the future.

Workforce

Workplace expectations vary between generations and become evident in the workforce’s values. Purdue Global notes that there are five generations in the workplace for the first time in history (six if you maintain the divided baby boomer generations).

Generation X, Millennials and Generation Z, together account for 73% of the current workforce. These younger generations prioritize a work-life balance and are more willing to leave an organization than their older counterparts.

The post- war generation makes up 2% of today’s workforce. Their straightforward, dependable and loyal characteristics are derived from their obedience over individualism worldview. Motivated by respect and recognition, employers can use personal touch and handwritten notes to encourage employees of the post-war generation.

10,000 Baby Boomers reach retirement age every day. However, 65% of the generation plans to work past the age of 65. Known as the “workaholics” of the workforce, Baby Boomers demonstrate company loyalty and hold the belief that sacrifice is necessary for success. Dr. Bea Bourne, DM, faculty member in the School of Business and Information Technology at Purdue Global encourages employers to provide Baby Boomers with specific goals and deadlines to achieve maximum results. This generation responds well to being elevated to mentor roles and being provided coaching-style feedback.

Flexible, skeptical and independent, Generation X is resistant to change at work if it affects their personal lives. Their communication style reflects their later, yet formidable, exposure to technology. Generation X marks the middle of the road between earlier and later generations. They prefer whatever communication style is most efficient, including phone calls and face to face. Generation X makes up the largest percentage of startup founders as they are motivated by their personal-professional interests over their employer/company’s interests.

Millennials are known to be the competitive, achievement-oriented generation of the workforce. Responsibility, quality of their manager and unique work experiences motivate this generation. Millennials value challenges, growth, and development just as much as a fun work life. Their perception of the quality of their manager will have the greatest impact on their work.

Finally, Generation Z has been dubbed the least focused of the workforce. Offering opportunities to work on multiple projects at the same time meets their need, which was arguably created by their exposure to technology. This generation is progressive and independent, preferring to be self-directed with minimal interactions with their superiors. Their creativity and individuality make them an asset to the team.

With diverse strengths, having a historical number of generations in a single workforce should create more robust work product. However, with such varying core values employers must be flexible in managing. Standard blanket expectations and management practices will not result in the most productive work environment.

Spending

As unique as each worldview, generational groups have spending habits that allows economist to differentiate between each generation. The World Economic Forum has studied how Americans spend their money and identified patterns within generations.

Currently, Generation X has the largest Average Annual Expenditure at $83,357 with Millennials following at $69,061, Boomers at $62,203, Post War at $44,683 and finally our youngest generation Gen. Z at $41,636. Breaking spending habits into 14 categories, how the generations spend their income is illustrated in the graphs below:

Before diving into the differences of spending, we will first explore the similarities. Each generation spends the most amount of money on housing. The entertainment category falls as the 6^th highest expenditure. Just like in the workplace, Generation X, Millennials, and Generation Z are the most common in their spending habits. The younger the generation, the lower healthcare spending ranks. Contrasting, the older the generation the lower education ranks.

Generation X and Millennials invest more into personal insurance and pensions and less on food than any other generations. As can be expected based on their stage of life, Generation Z spends the most on education when compared to the other generations. Millennials match Generation Z on their spending for apparel and services. Boomers spend more on food than any other generation.

Knowing how each generation prioritizes expenditures allows leaders to determine what their community should look like to attract the intended generation. Spending is a true reflection of priorities and allows researchers to track habits and plan intentionally.

Politics

The polarizing political divide is often casted into the shadows of republicans and democrats. Generational beliefs may be the leading culprit of the differing attitudes and values. Millennials and Gen X lean toward a liberal political view. The racial and ethnic diversity of younger generations may be a leading factor. Millennials are more than 40% non-white and 65% of Millennials disapprove of Trump’s presidency.

Contrasting the younger generations, Post War and Boomers express higher approval of Trump’s presidency. As the generations age, they continue to vote more along the republican lines. These political values are consistent in issues such as immigration, same-sex marriage, and opinions about America’s relative standing in the world.

It is notable that generations differ on most political values. However, they all share a sentiment of distrust towards the federal government. It is important for community leaders to be aware of an innate skepticism toward government and officials. Creating a practice of transparency and a narrative of accountability and community involvement will be necessary to move initiatives forward.

What Does this Mean for Economic Developers and Community Leaders?

Without creative ingenuity, generational differences and values may be viewed as an obstacle. As economic developers, these generational attitudes and values can be valuable in determining resources and projects that will attract the desired demographics. Knowing how each generation spends money, selects a workplace and how they vote will allow community leaders to make decisions that attract particular generations. It also gives decision makers the knowledge and ability to smooth the gaps between differing values.

References

World Economic Forum: How do different generations in the US spend their income? | World Economic Forum (weforum.org)

Purdue Global: Generational Differences in the Workplace [Infographic] (purdueglobal.edu)

Pew Research: The Whys and Hows of Generations Research | Pew Research Center

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Have you ever been to a place that just felt good, a place that you really enjoyed and felt like calling home? There is little doubt this location had a great deal of time poured into it by a lot of people. They came together, possibly spanning several generations, they collaborated, and they planned the space out with an idea of what they wanted for their area and what they wanted it to represent. This planning process put lite controls in place and focused on collaboration through community engagement. Yes, the location formed organically, but it was a controlled organic process. This process is referred to as placemaking.

Defining Placemaking

Placemaking refers to the practice of transforming a space into a destination or community gathering spot. It is a way of creating a sense of belonging and identity for residents and visitors. This can be achieved through various activities such as design, branding, and community engagement. Placemaking considers the cultural and social characteristics of a community and incorporates them into the physical environment.

In economic development, placemaking plays an important role in attracting businesses and retaining talent. Businesses are attracted to vibrant and livable communities with a unique character and identity. Placemaking can help create these communities by developing public spaces that are designed for both functionality and aesthetic appeal.

At the same time, placemaking also benefits residents by fostering a sense of community and pride. It creates a place where people want to live, work, and play, ultimately increasing their quality of life.

True placemaking should not be institutionalized. It should have significant community input, incorporate private investment and have strong leadership. It should inspire a collective of a community to reimagine their public spaces. All of these steps allow placemaking to benefit multiple stakeholders and accomplish multiple initiatives at once.

Types and Examples of Placemaking

Placemaking at its core is simply creating spaces where people want to be. However, that is a broad generality and does not bring into focus a true and workable plan. To be useful we must drill down to specific types of placemaking.

• Strategic Placemaking: In a strategic placemaking endeavor we pick a specific area and target a specific goal or several goals to achieve. This could be creating spaces to attract retail businesses, creating a walkable area, or developing multiple types of housing to complement an area.
• Creative Placemaking: This type of placemaking integrates art and culture. This could be creating a mural zone or designating a specific area to activities which recall a community’s heritage and is what the community wants as their identity.

Examples

Placemaking can take many forms and may incorporate multiple strategies, below are some examples.

Creating a walkable environment which gives access to shopping, entertainment and professional services that are safe and convenient for foot traffic. This would require designing roads that minimize or control the vehicular traffic through the defined, walkable areas. Also, organizing businesses to be arranged in a fashion to encourage the foot traffic. And lastly, make it a visually pleasing area that attracts and encourages walking. This would also include adequate parking in a relatively close proximity and incorporates safety features for all aspects.

Another example could be developing a natural area, such as a park, that protects a natural resource and makes that resource readily available to enjoy. This could be a standalone location for a large community or a preserve that enhances a single development and gives that development a unique feature.

Yet another placemaking endeavor might be designing, or redesigning, a neighborhood in order to provide a safer residential environment for families. This may include adding lighting, lowering speed limits and routing traffic to a more appropriate corridor.

The point is placemaking can take on many forms and everyone in a community should be actively involved in the design and development of spaces to make the community a place they love.

Controlled Growth vs. Organic Growth

Controlled growth vs. Organic growth, guess what they can be the same thing. Controlled growth simply means strategically placing limitations on what type of development is desired in a specific and defined area. Once those certain limitations are put into place then it’s time for organic growth to do its thing.

Controlled growth is important in economic development as it ensures that expansion happens in a way that benefits the community as a whole. It prevents unchecked growth that may lead to environmental degradation and congestion. It also ensures that growth happens in a way that is sustainable, creating long-term economic and social benefits for the community. This process may also be referred to as urban planning.

Example: Downtown Planning

Lite controls: First, define the boarders of where the downtown district is located. Second, regulate what is allowed to be placed into that area. Third, decide how that area is to be accessed.
Organic component: What does a community want in this downtown environment, maybe a small park to attract families and children to be in the area for longer periods of time. From there someone opens an ice cream shop, as a permissible use under the lite controls, and it becomes a hangout spot for the kids to go after school and families to visit on the weekends. There you have organic growth in a controlled environment.

Organic growth, on the other hand, is important because it allows for community input and creativity to flourish. It allows for new businesses and ideas to develop that might not have been considered in a controlled growth environment. It also helps to create a sense of place and identity for the community, making it a unique and desirable place to live and work.

In order to achieve successful economic development, there needs to be a balance between controlled and organic growth. Placemaking is the key to achieving this balance. Placemaking is the deliberate and collaborative process of creating spaces that people want to be in. It involves community input, thoughtful design, and careful consideration of the needs and desires of the community.

Simply put placemaking allows for organic growth in a controlled environment.

Change of All Sizes Never Stops

Placemaking can be an effective strategy for large as well as small changes. It doesn’t matter if you want to change a corner building, a whole block, or an entire urban landscape, placemaking can help.

Finally, placemaking is never stagnant, it is an ongoing process. It supersedes generations and ages. It “changes with the times” and sometimes requires major changes. True placemaking will always require strong leadership to be its guide, but just as important it requires involvement from a wide range of individuals within the community. This collaborative effort to create spaces that reflect a community’s unique identity and character will take time, but the end product can be highly rewarding. This process will result in a vibrant community, which is crucial to economic growth and in enhancing the quality of life for residents.

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A “third space” is a social environment that is separate from the home or work environment. They are places where people can come together to socialize, relax, and have fun. These spaces are important because they provide a place for people to connect with others outside of their work or home life.

“Third spaces” can be found in a variety of places, such as coffee shops, bars, restaurants, parks, and public libraries. In a world that is increasingly digital and disconnected, “third spaces” provide a much-needed opportunity for people to interact with others in a face-to-face setting.

“Third Spaces” play a vital role in our lives. They offer a quietude from the daily stress of our work and home lives, often allowing for a mental and emotional respite from our daily grind. In Ray Oldenburg’s book, “The Great Good Place”, he suggests that for a healthy existence, citizens must live in a balance of three realms: home life, the workplace, and the inclusively sociable places. Third spaces are also important for helping to build relationships and foster community. They can be places where people make meaningful connections and build social networks. This helps to combat the loneliness and isolation that is so common in the modern world.

Third spaces are becoming increasingly important as our world trends towards a more digital platform. As we grow increasingly more dependent on technology, we are losing touch with the personal connections made from the face-to-face interactions. Third spaces can bridge that gap created by the digital world in which we operate, and the physical world where we interact and reconnect with each other.

The advantages of “third spaces” don’t just apply to individuals; they can also be a huge benefit for businesses. By providing an informal, relaxed atmosphere, third spaces can help businesses create a culture of collaboration and creativity. This can boost productivity, increase innovation, and ultimately lead to better results.

Third spaces are also a great place for businesses to host networking events, client meetings, and team-building events. This brings people downtown, creating a vibrancy that is necessary for keeping a community active, engaging, and alive. A community thrives on activity. Creating third spaces helps foster that milieu where the business community and the citizens have a united relationship. Each providing an essential “nutrient” for the other, that is crucial for the success and well being of the two.

How do you create a third space in your community? Here are some tips for building a third space and creating a setting that invites vivacity:

1. Start by finding a suitable location. Spaces should be easy to reach and offer an inviting atmosphere.
2. Utilize existing resources. Empty buildings or public places can be turned into a third space.
3. Ask for suggestions and ideas from local people, businesses, organizations, and other stakeholders.
4. Ensure that the third space is comfortable, has all the necessary equipment, and offers food, drinks, and other amenities.
5. Make it an inviting atmosphere. Play music, display art, plants, and other items to make the space more inviting and a place where people want to relax.
6. Promote the space. Advertise the space online and offline, and host events to attract people to the third space.

By creating a “Third space” in your community, you can help to foster a sense of connectedness and togetherness, encouraging collaboration and creativity. You provide a roadmap for businesses and people to come together to support one another. “Third spaces” are a valuable tool in keeping your community alive.

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