Wait, what? What happened? Where have you guys been? Contrary to popular belief we aren’t dead, but we have experienced lots of changes in the past few months. We’ve been all over the place, but we’re back now. Hear what’s new with the My Town Hustlers, and what we’ve got planned for the future. Thanks for sticking with us and stay tuned for new episodes coming soon. (Don’t worry, plenty of 10,000-foot views and painting with a broad brush to go around.)Who’s on it?Sam TutenBret AllphinJared PerryRecordedOctober 2022Questions?Email us at support@mytownhustle.comShout Out!As always thank you to The Saylor for the hot jams. Check him out NOW on iTunes and Spotify

What is gentrification? What does it look like? Is it happening here? Where is it happening? In this episode, we’ll discuss the history and origins of gentrification and offer some definitions, examples, and thoughts on how communities address equity in development (or redevelopment) so that everyone benefits. As you’ll hear, we all know what the tropes of gentrification are, but the actual circumstances are often much more difficult to observe. In case you missed them, hot takes and fun banter are included at no extra cost. Who’s on it?Sam TutenBret AllphinJared PerryRecordedApril 2022ResourcesAPA – California Northern Chapter – Gentrification – March 2019StrongTowns – ‘What does “Gentrification” Really Mean?’ – August 2017Questions?Email us at support@mytownhustle.comShout Out!As always thank you to The Saylor for the hot jams. Check him out NOW on iTunes and Spotify

Parking! Minimums! Can you feel the excitement!!!! In all honesty, this is an important topic and one of the key areas of local policy that communities can modify to support small businesses and the general business environment. With Black Friday and Small Business Saturday in our recent memory, and similar events becoming more significant retail opportunities for downtowns, the time to think about parking is NOW. There’s no doubt that most folks still access our downtowns using personal vehicles, so how can we rethink how we utilize our precious space to park the vehicles we need. Our friends at StrongTowns have a few ideas, Jared has a few ideas, and Sam gives us a new entertaining segment to close out the episode.RecordedNovember 2021ResourcesAPA – October 2018 – ‘People Over Parking’StrongTowns – ‘How to Build a Parking Garage’StrongTowns – Parking Mandates MapQuestions?Email us at support@mytownhustle.comShout Out!As always thank you to The Saylor for the hot jams. Check him out NOW on iTunes and Spotify

With the recent passage of the federal infrastructure bill, broadband is once again at the forefront of the conversation. While this topic has never been far from the front page in rural communities, additional funding provided through recent legislation has rekindled many discussions around how to provide access to the highest need and most difficult to serve communities. In this conversation, we discuss a 2017 short documentary entitled ‘Do Not Pass Go’ by Hyrax Films which details the challenges two small communities in North Carolina faced in establishing a municipal broadband network. We feel this documentary is important as many communities may be left facing similar circumstances in the near future if existing service providers cannot (or choose not to) provide service to local communities.  Who’s on it?Sam TutenBret AllphinRecordedNovember 2021ResourcesDo Not Pass Go – Hyrax Films - VimeoGreenlight Community BroadbandConnecting AppalachiaBroadbandOhioQuestions?Email us at support@mytownhustle.comShout Out!As always thank you to The Saylor for the hot jams. Check him out NOW on iTunes and Spotify

Election Day 2021!  Both Sam and Bret were running for local office (school board and city council respectively), and this was our honest conversation about the election experience on the most anxious and tense day of the year!  In this episode, we give an honest perspective on what it was like conducting a campaign, how it compared to expectations, what kinds of feedback folks provided, and other questions that aspiring local candidates should be thinking about. (Spoiler alert: Both Sam and Bret were successful in their efforts!) Who’s on it? Jared PerrySam TutenBret AllphinRecordedNovember 2021 Resources Washington County Board of Elections – Nov. 2, 2021 Election Results Ohio Secretary of State – 2021 Candidate Requirement GuideQuestions?Email us at support@mytownhustle.com Shout Out! As always thank you to The Saylor for the hot jams. Check him out NOW on iTunesand Spotify

Sometimes, you get to meet your heroes. In this week's episode of My Town Hustle, we are excited to share our interview with Chuck Marohn, the Founder and President of Strong Towns, and the author of the new book ‘Confessions of a Recovering Engineer’- released in September 2021. In our conversation, we discuss the transportation challenges identified in Chuck’s new book, ideas around how we can begin to address those challenges in our communities, and many more topics covered by the biggest Minnesota Twins fan to ever appear on our show. Our thanks to Chuck for spending time with us and being a critical advocate for these issues that impact communities across the nation. Don’t forget – you can watch the video of this interview in its entirety by checking out our YouTube channel. Who’s on it?Sam TutenBret AllphinChuck Marohn - Founder & President of Strong Towns.RecordedOctober 2021ResourcesStrongTownsConfessions of a Recovering EngineerMy Town Hustle - YouTubeQuestions?Email us at support@mytownhustle.comShout Out!As always thank you to The Saylor for the hot jams. Check him out NOW on iTunes and Spotify

Can you see me now?  How about now?  As part of our effort to evolve My Town Hustle to the next level – we’re making the podcast a video show!  We’ll still have the podcast for you to enjoy as you always have.  Now you’ll just be able to see our faces. If you want to. (You definitely want to.)Be sure to tune in for our interview with Chuck Marohn from StrongTowns!Who’s on it?Jared PerrySam TutenBret AllphinRecordedOctober 2021ResourcesMy Town Hustle – YouTubeQuestions?Email us at support@mytownhustle.comShout Out!As always thank you to The Saylor for the hot jams. Check him out NOW on iTunes and Spotify

My Town Hustle is just over a year old! In celebration of this, we wanted to look back at our first year and reflect on our experience and share what we’ve learned.  Perhaps most importantly, we have a new studio, new equipment, new sounds (‘talk to me goose…’), new hot takes, and a new commitment to keep the show going and growing in the future. We’ve got an exciting interview coming up that will launch us well into Year 2 and we’re excited to bring our listeners along for the ride!Who’s on it?Jared PerrySam TutenBret AllphinRecordedAugust 2021ResourcesStrong Towns‘Confessions of a Recovering Engineer’ – Chuck Marohn – Available September 8, 2021. WestSB – More PeopleQuestions?Email us at support@mytownhustle.comShout Out!As always thank you to The Saylor for the hot jams. Check him out NOW on iTunes and Spotify

Infrastructure is often hailed as the key to our future economic success. While there is absolutely no doubt that it is critically important, are we giving enough consideration to the long-term costs of infrastructure projects in our communities? Are we targeting returns that provide actual dollars invested in our communities or tangible cost savings to stakeholders? Or are we targeting something else? We will cover all these items and more as they are discussed in Chapter 4 of the book, 'Strong Towns: A Bottom-Up Revolution to Rebuild American Prosperity' by Charles Marohn Jr. This is a follow-up to Episode 35, where we introduced the book and its concepts to our listeners. Who’s on it?Jared PerrySam TutenBret AllphinRecordedJuly 2021ResourcesStrong Towns: A Bottom-Up Revolution to Rebuild American Prosperity by Charles Marohn Jr.Questions?Email us at support@mytownhustle.comShout Out!As always thank you to The Saylor for the hot jams. Check him out NOW on iTunes and Spotify

Rural communities, especially those in Appalachia are filled with legacy industrial sites that remain from our collective industrial past. Often these facilities remain vacant, consuming valuable space in our communities, hoping for a future that despite every opportunity, has never come. In this episode, we will talk about one such site in our town, and how we can (and should) pull the plug on the outdated thinking that keeps us unrealistically holding on to these properties when we should be focusing on what is pushing our communities forward.    Who’s on it?Jared PerrySam TutenBret AllphinRecordedJune 2021Resources‘A Property’s Past: Remington Kardex’ – Michael Kelly, Marietta TimesQuestions?Email us at support@mytownhustle.comShout Out!As always thank you to The Saylor for the hot jams. Check him out NOW on iTunes and Spotify

With so many issues demanding our attention, it is often difficult to decide between what’s important and what is relevant to our daily lives. As community advocates and stakeholders this is also true as we work to understand which issues we should be spending our time, energy, and effort on. In this episode, we will recount a recent conversation where this very question came up, and we discuss how easy it is to get tied up in issues that ultimately don’t directly impact our daily lives and overlook the most relevant concerns.Who’s on it?Jared PerrySam TutenBret AllphinRecordedJune 2021ResourcesThe Great Game of Business Questions?Email us at support@mytownhustle.comShout Out!As always thank you to The Saylor for the hot jams. Check him out NOW on iTunes and Spotify

Many communities recognize that there aren’t as many folks around town as there used to be. Why is that? In this episode, we will talk about a fascinating series of articles published in 2020 on www.westsb.com called “More People.” The articles focus on how the population of South Bend, Indiana fell by 50,000 people in 50 years. We’ll be talking about if any of the lessons learned from South Bend can apply to rural communities, especially those in Appalachia. If this hasn’t exactly happened in our community yet, what steps can we take to avoid it? Hot takes, quips, and laughter included.  Who's on it?Jared PerrySam TutenBret AllphinRecordedMay 2021ResourcesWest.SB - A New Read on South BendQuestions?Email us at support@mytownhustle.comShout Out!As always thank you to The Saylor for the hot jams. Check him out NOW on iTunes and Spotify

It’s the remix!  DORA legislation successfully passed in Marietta in late April 2021.  In this episode, Sam and Bret give updates and lessons learned on the DORA process since we last talked about it on Episode 2 in July 2020.  We will give five key points that we have learned through the community engagement process that other communities should be thinking about as they create their DORA programming.  If you aren't in Ohio, listen and learn more about Ohio's Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area as a model on how to get this creative economic tool for your downtown.  Moderately hot takes are included as always.Who's on it?Sam TutenBret AllphinRecordedMay 2021ResourcesDORA at the Banks - CincinnatiQuestions?Email us at support@mytownhustle.comShout Out!As always thank you to The Saylor for the hot jams. Check him out NOW on iTunes and SpotifyPhoto provided by City of Hamilton, Ohio

Transportation is a key challenge facing all aspects of daily life for citizens, especially for folks living in rural communities.  On this episode, Sam and Bret give their ideas about how new technologies could improve transportation options in rural communities.  Bret also gives our listeners a preview of comments he’ll be delivering at an upcoming transportation panel on the topic.  Don't worry, Jared will be back next week to herd all the cats that were turned loose on this episode.Who’s on it?Sam TutenBret AllphinRecordedApril 2021ResourcesEnergy News Network Article – Maine and Obstacles to EV AdoptionDriveOhio – Automated Driving Systems ProjectPAVE Workshop – Preparing Ohio for the Autonomous FutureQuestions?Email us at support@mytownhustle.comShout Out!As always thank you to The Saylor for the hot jams. Check him out NOW on iTunes and Spotify

Everyone fails! Failing is an important part of learning and improving. This is just as true for individuals and private businesses as it is for governments. On this episode, we’ll talk about some of the stereotypes and fears that hold our governments back from trying the new and innovative ideas that residents may be demanding. We’ll be highlighting a recent report from the Centre for Public Impact that provides details on why governments must fail forward to succeed. Hot takes and storytimes included as always. Who’s on it?Jared PerrySam TutenBret AllphinRecordedApril 2021ResourcesCentre for Public Impact – Governments Must Fail Forward to Succeed.Questions?Email us at support@mytownhustle.comShout Out!As always thank you to The Saylor for the hot jams. Check him out NOW on iTunes and Spotify

We support public employees of all types – some of us have been public employees!  We also know that a reimagining of some public positions could help our small communities prosper and become increasingly resilient.  In this episode, we will introduce the book ‘Strongtowns: A Bottom-Up Revolution to Rebuild American Prosperity’ by Charles Marohn Jr.’  We will take a look at three key positions – City Engineer, City Planner, and Economic Development – and discuss how the Strongtowns approach re-envisions those positions. Who’s on it?Jared PerrySam TutenBret AllphinRecordedApril 2021ResourcesStrong Towns – www.strongtowns.org Link to the Strong Towns Book - https://www.strongtowns.org/book 204 Front Street – Street View (Switch between 2007 and 2019 to see the transformation of the building.)Wealthworks - https://www.wealthworks.org/ Questions?Email us at support@mytownhustle.comShout Out!As always thank you to The Saylor for the hot jams. Check him out NOW on iTunes and Spotify

Is there enough public space or seating in the downtown you love to visit? Have you ever wondered how a community could quickly (and cheaply) implement more outdoor seating? A parklet may be for you! Join us as we discuss a pop-up parklet we built in conjunction with a local Main Street first Friday event in April 2021. We’ll talk about what we did, how we did it, and how you could do something similar in your town. The lesson from this episode is – find a way to try out your ideas!Who’s on it?Jared PerrySam TutenBret AllphinRecordedApril 2021Resources My Town Hustle Insights BlogGreat examples of how to design and build more substantial parklets. San Francisco Parklet ProgramSeattle Parklet Handbook - the program details are intense but provides excellent parklet design specifications. Questions?Email us at support@mytownhustle.comShout Out!As always thank you to The Saylor for the hot jams. Check him out NOW on iTunes and Spotify

Investing in the quality of our places is perhaps more important now than ever before. Creating communities where people want to live, work, and have fun is challenging. Doing this effectively in rural communities is.  In this episode, we each offer an idea about an area of focus that can help you get started on this journey. We also threw in a few free sports references, and hot takes from an unlikely source. Who’s on it?Jared PerrySam TutenBret AllphinRecordedMarch 2021Resourceshttps://www.smartcitiesdive.com/ex/sustainablecitiescollective/benefits-placemaking-go-beyond-urban-beautification/240971/https://theroyaltourblog.com/2018/03/05/urban-beautification/https://www.pps.org/article/5-steps-to-making-places https://www.cnu.org/publicsquare/four-types-placemakingQuestions?Email us at support@mytownhustle.comShout Out!As always thank you to The Saylor for the hot jams. Check him out NOW on iTunes and SpotifyPhoto Credit for Episode Artwork!Marietta Main Street

In March the American Rescue Plan was passed and signed by President Biden, providing over $360 billion in relief funding and programming in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In this episode, we talk about what this funding means for rural communities, how it can be used, important program timelines, and considerations that local stakeholders should be analyzing as this funding becomes available. We’ll also give a brief overview of previous stimulus and relief packages and how those differ from the CARES Act and the American Rescue Plan. Hot takes and fun facts included as always!Who’s on it?Jared PerrySam TutenBret AllphinRecordedMarch 2021ResourcesAmerican Rescue Plan Text:https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/1319/text National Association of Counties – State and Local Recovery Funds: https://www.naco.org/resources/featured/state-and-local-coronavirus-fiscal-recovery-funds.National Association of Counties – ARP Update Slides (great detail):https://www.naco.org/sites/default/files/event_attachments/MembershipCall_MAR112021.pdf United States Conference of Mayors – American Rescue Plan Overview:https://www.usmayors.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/USCM-American-Rescue-Plan-Overview.pdf Economic Development Administration – Awarded $3 billion in additional funding for grant-making and programming:https://www.eda.gov/ Questions?Email us at support@mytownhustle.comShout Out!As always thank you to The Saylor for the hot jams. Check him out NOW on iTunes and SpotifyPhoto Credit for Episode Artwork!Justin Cron on Unsplash

Preemption, huh? What happens when local regulations conflict with state statutes? What about when state laws conflict with federal regulations? To what lengths can local officials go in creating policy that best serves local communities? Our special guest Adam Schwendeman from Theisen & Brock law firm talks with us about the concept of preemption, and how this concept impacts local communities when it comes to implementing policies. Preemption is an example of a topic that makes us more passionate about our local communities.  Sometimes, it can be a double-edged sword for local control but to fully understand it, we'll dive briefly back into the start of the United States. If you have never heard of this concept and how it may impact local communities, listen in to learn more!Who’s on it?Jared PerrySam TutenBret AllphinAdam Schwendeman, a lawyer for Theisen & Brock in Marietta, Ohio.RecordedMarch 2021ResourcesState by State Analysis of Preemption by the National League of CitiesPreemption Laws in the State of Ohio by Giffords Law CenterAn article by the BarJournal of State Preemption in Ohio about FrackingInfo on the Supremacy Clause & the Doctrine of PreemptionState of Ohio passes ban on Plastic Bag BanQuestions?Email us at support@mytownhustle.comShout Out!As always thank you to The Saylor for the hot jams. Check him out NOW on iTunes and Spotify