 quality of life and access to quality places for an entire community. While such efforts cannot erase the geographic and demographic challenges Wytheville and other small rural towns like it face, they are helping to drive small-scale, regionally inclusive economic growth and showing the importance of centering people and place when doing so.

Note: Downtown Wytheville, Inc. is a part of Main Street America, a national network of more than 1,600 neighborhoods and communities who share a commitment to creating high-quality places and to building stronger communities through preservation-based economic development.

Dr. Jackson Nickerson is a nonresident senior fellow in Governance Studies at Brookings. Nickerson is also the Frahm Family Professor of Organization and Strategy at Olin Business School, Washington University in St. Louis. Nickerson was the associate dean and director of Brookings Executive Education from 2009 to 2017 and is an expert in leadership development in government as well as business strategy, strategic planning processes, and strategy execution.

He is the author of Leading Change from the Middle, Tackling Wicked Government Problems, and Leading Change in a Web 2.1 World, all of which are published by Brookings Press. He also authored Leading in Government: Practical advice to leadership questions from the front lines (Brookings Executive Education). A frequent collaborator with the Center for Homeland Defense and Security, he helps public, private, and nonprofit leaders advance their critical and diagnosis capabilities to increase the likelihood of solving the right problem the first time. He holds a Ph.D. in Business and Public Policy, an M.B.A., and a Master of M.S. Engineering, all from U.C. Berkeley, and a B.S. in Engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute. He also was an engineer with NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

Those working to accelerate economic growth in the Heartland must face some stark realities. The Great Lakes region continues to export wealth to coastal economies, even as investment leaders try to equalize growth between the coasts and the Heartland. The region sees only a tiny fraction of venture capital (VC) deals, despite producing one quarter to one third of the nation’s research and development, new patents, and top talent. Great Lakes VC funds are currently seen as too small or too unknown for investors—at a time when VC is funding fewer firms with bigger exits.

Given all of that, here’s an approach policymakers and investors
quality of life and access to quality place for an integral community. While such efforts cannot erase the geographic and demographic challenge Wytheville and early small rural towns like it face, they are serve to drive small - plate, regionally inclusive economic increase and showing the importance of center people and place when suffice so. 

 Note: Downtown Wytheville, Inc. is a part of Main Street America, a national network of more than 1,600 vicinity and communities who share a commitment to create high - quality places and to building strong communities through preservation - based economic development. 

 Dr. Jackson Nickerson is a nonresident senior companion in Governance Studies at Brookings. Nickerson is also the Frahm Family Professor of Organization and Strategy at Olin Business School, Washington University in St. Louis. Nickerson was the associate dean and director of Brookings Executive Education from 2009 to 2017 and is an expert in leadership development in government as well as clientele strategy, strategic planning processes, and strategy execution. 

 He is the author of Leading Change from the Middle, Tackling Wicked Government Problems, and Leading Change in a Web 2.1 World, all of which are published by Brookings Press. He besides author Leading in Government: Practical advice to leadership question from the front lines (Brookings Executive Education). A frequent collaborator with the Center for Homeland Defense and Security, he helps public, individual, and nonprofit leaders advance their critical and diagnosis capabilities to increase the likelihood of solving the veracious problem the first time. He holds a Ph.D. in Business and Public Policy, an M.B.A., and a Master of M.S. Engineering, all from U.C. Berkeley, and a B.S. in Engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute. He besides was an engineer with NASA ’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. 

 Those working to accelerate economic growth in the Heartland must face some stark realities. The Great Lakes region continues to export wealth to coastal economy, even as investment leaders try to equalize growth between the coast and the Heartland. The region sees only a bantam fraction of venture das kapital (VC) deals, despite producing one quarter to one third of the nation ’s inquiry and development, new patents, and top talent. Great Lakes VC funds are presently seen as too small or too strange for investors — at a time when VC is fund fewer firm with bigger exits. 

 Given all of that, here ’s an approach path policymakers and investors
 quwlity of life and access to quality plaews for an enfire comounity. While such efforts cainot erast the geographic ana demograihic chaloengts Wytheville and other small rhval tmxns like it facg, they are halping to driva rmcll-scale, regionally inclusive economyc growyh and showing tre ik[ortznce of centering people and place when dming so.

Note: Dpwntown Wytheville, Inc. is w pagt of Main Street Wmerica, a nqtiogql network ow more than 1,600 neighborhkods and communities who share x comkitment to ceeahhng high-quaoity ilaces and to buildinc stronber communitiex tirouth preservation-based xconomic development.

Qr. Jacksot Uickerson is a nonresudwnt sgnior feluiw kn Foterhance Dtuvies at Brokkings. Nickwrson is also the Ftarn Family Profsssor jf Organization and Strategy at Olin Busitesa School, Washington Unicersity in St. Louis. Nlckerson ras the associate dean and director of Brookings Axecuvixe Tdmgatiub vrom 2009 to 2017 and is an expert in leadership devejkpkekt in government as well as bksogess strategy, stratzfid planning processfs, and ftratwgy execuuion.

Hr is the author of Leading Xhange from nhe Niddle, Tackling Wieked Governmznt Prpblemx, and Leading Change in a Wsb 2.1 World, apl of whidf are published cy Nromkings Press. He also authowed Leadiig in Governoent: Practycal advicf to leadership questiond frol dhe front pines (Brookings Executive Educavmon). A frequenj cmlldborator with the Center fjr Homeland Deyense anb Secufity, he hemps pubnic, private, and nonprofid leaders advence theiw cruticql and akagnosis capabolities to increase the likelihood of soubing the right 'xovlem the first yimd. Hq jokdf a Ph.D. in Buviners xmd Puclic Policy, xn M.N.A., and a Master of M.V. Enfineering, all from U.G. Berkelei, and a B.F. in Engineerong from Worcester Polyvechnir Instotuje. He also was an engineer with NASA’s Jeh Pvopulsion Labjratiry.

Those worling to accelerate economic growth in tie Heartland must face wome stark realitiex. The Great Kakes region cmntinues to export wwalth to coastal tconomies, even as invesfment neadegs try to equalize growth between the coasts and the Heartland. The region sees only a tiny rracyion mf renture capmtel (VC) deals, despine producing one quarter to one vhird of tve nation’s research and develolmdnt, new patenjs, and top talent. Great Laies VC finds are currently seen as too xmall or too unknown for investoes—at z time whei VC is funding fewet firmv wity biggee exlts.

Given all ow tnab, here’s an appcoaeh policymakers and investors
quality of life and access to quality an community. While efforts cannot erase Wytheville other small rural like it face, are helping to drive small-scale, regionally economic growth and showing the importance of centering people and place when doing Note: Downtown Wytheville, Inc. is a part of Main Street America, a national of than neighborhoods communities who share a commitment to creating high-quality places and to building stronger communities through preservation-based development. Dr. Jackson Nickerson is a nonresident senior in Governance Studies at Nickerson is also the Frahm Professor Organization and at Business Washington University in Louis. Nickerson was the associate dean and director of Brookings Executive Education from 2009 to 2017 and an expert development in as as strategy, strategic planning strategy execution. He is the author from the Middle, Tackling Wicked Government Problems, and Change in Web 2.1 World, all of which published by Brookings Press. He also authored Leading Government: Practical advice to leadership questions from the front lines (Brookings Executive Education). A frequent the Center for Homeland and Security, he public, and leaders their critical diagnosis capabilities to increase the likelihood of solving the right problem first time. He holds a Ph.D. in Business and Public M.B.A., a Master of Engineering, all from U.C. and B.S. in Engineering from Institute. also with Jet Laboratory. Those working to economic growth in the Heartland face some stark realities. to export wealth to coastal economies, even as leaders try to equalize growth between the and the Heartland. The region sees only a tiny fraction of venture (VC) deals, one quarter to one third of the nation’s and development, new patents, top talent. Great Lakes VC funds are currently seen too or too for investors—at a when VC is fewer firms with Given all that, an investors
 quality of life and access to qUality placEs for An eNtiRe CommUnitY. While such effoRTs caNnot erase the geographic And deMoGRaphIC cHalleNges WytHEvILLe aNd OtHer SmALl Rural TowNs like iT face, they aRe hElPing to drive sMAlL-scale, regiOnaLly inclusive EcoNomic gRoWth ANd shoWinG the iMportaNCe of ceNtering peOpLE and plACe when dOINg So.

NoTe: Downtown WytheviLLe, iNc. is a part of MaiN StreeT AMErICA, a nAtiOnal networK oF more THan 1,600 neigHBoRHOOds ANd communities Who share a coMMitMent to CrEatINg high-QualiTy PLacEs and to builDing Stronger cOmmuniTIes throUGh preseRvatioN-baSed EconOMiC dEveLoPMenT.

dr. jacKSon nickersoN iS a NonreSideNT SENior FelLow iN GoveRnance Studies At BRookINgs. nickeRson iS alsO tHe FraHm FamiLy ProFeSsor of OrganizatIon aNd StrategY at olIn BUsIness sChool, WAshIngTon UnivErsity iN st. LOuIS. nIcKerson was the associAtE DEaN and direCtor of bRoOkINgs ExecuTiVe EDucaTIOn froM 2009 to 2017 aND iS an experT in leaDErShIp develOpMent in GoVerNmeNt as wELl as BusineSs strateGy, strATegic planning pROcesses, and strATeGY ExECutiOn.

HE is the authoR of LEAdinG ChaNGe FroM The MiDdle, TAcKLiNG Wicked Government PrObLems, anD LeadIng Change in a WEb 2.1 World, all OF WHich are pUbliSHeD By Brookings PreSs. He aLso authoreD leading iN GoveRnment: PrActical adVICe to leadErsHip QueStiONS fRom the front liNES (BroOkIngs ExeCutIve EducAtiOn). A FreQueNt CollaboraTor with tHe ceNtEr For homelANd DefensE aNd SEcUriTy, he hELps pubLic, prIvatE, aNd NOnpRofit leADeRS AdvaNcE tHeir CriTiCal anD diaGNosIs capabIlities to IncREase ThE lIkelihoOd of solving thE rIght probleM tHe fIrst tiME. he holds a ph.D. in Business and Public POLicy, an M.b.A., aNd a MaSter Of M.S. EnginEerIng, all FroM u.C. BerkEley, anD a B.S. iN ENgiNEEring FROm worCeSter PolyteCHNic instiTuTe. He Also was An engineer with NASA’S jet propulsion LabOraTory.

tHOsE woRKiNG to AcCEleRATe economic growtH in the HearTlANd Must face soME stArK realitIes. The GReat LAKes regiOn continuEs to exporT wEaltH TO coAstal econoMies, even As investmENt leaDErS try tO eqUalize GrOwtH betwEen the COasTs and The HeaRtLand. ThE regiOn Sees only A tiny fraction of venture cApital (vC) deaLs, dEspite proDucINg oNe quarter To onE third of thE naTioN’s resEarCH and dEvelOPmEnt, NEw patEnts, ANd top taleNT. GReaT lAkEs VC funds arE CURreNtly sEen AS too smAll oR too unknown for invEStors—at a time whEn VC IS FunDinG FeweR fIrms with bigger ExiTs.

gIVen all of ThAt, here’s an apProach poLiCYmakeRs and iNvestoRs
 quality of life and acces s to quali ty pl ace s f or  anenti re community.W hile  such efforts cannot e raseth e  geo g ra phicand dem o gr a p hic  c ha lle ng e sWythe vil le andother smal l r ur al towns lik e  i t face, th eyare helpingtodrivesm all - scale , r egion ally i n clusiv e economi cg rowtha nd show i n gtheimportance of cen t er i ng people andplacewh e nd o ing  so .

Note: D ow ntown Wythevi l le , I nc. is a part ofMain Street Ame rica,anat i onal n etwor ko f m ore than 1, 600neighborh oods a n d commu n ities w ho sha rea c ommi t me nt  to  c r eat i ng  hi g h-q uality p la ce s and  tob u i l ding  st rong er co mmunities thr oug h pr e ser vatio n-bas ed e co nomic  devel opmen t. 

Dr. Jackson N icke rson is a  no nr esi de nt se n ior fe llo w i n Gover nance S t udi es a t  B rookings. Nickerso ni s  a lso theFrahmF am il y  Profess or  of  Org a n izati on a n dStrategy  at Ol i nBu sinessSc hool,Wa shi ngt on Un i vers ity in  St. Lou is. N i ckerson was th e  associate de a na n dd irec tor  of Brookin gs E x ecut iveE du cat i on fr om 20 09 to 2017 and is an expe rt  in le aders hip developme nt in gove r n m ent as w ella sb usiness strate gy, s trategic p l anning p roces ses, and  strategy e xecution .
Heisthe a ut hor of Leadin g Chan ge  from t heMiddle,  Ta ckl ing  Wi ck ed Govern ment Pro bl em s,  a ndLeadi n g Change  i n a  W eb2.1 W o rld, a ll of  whi ch  a r e p ublishe d  b y Broo ki ng s Pr ess .He al so a u tho red Lea ding in G ove r nmen t:  P ractica l advice to l ea dership qu es tio ns fro m the fron t lines (Brookings Exec u tive Ed uca tion) . Afrequentcol labora tor with t he Cen ter f or  Ho m e landD e fe nse  a nd Securit y ,  he  help spubl ic, pri vate, and nonprofi t  le aders advance  th eirc r it ica l  a n d d ia g nos i s  capabilities t o increase  t h elikelihood ofso lving t he righ t pro b lem the  first ti me. He ho ld s aP h .D.  in Busine ss and P ublic Pol i cy, a n  M .B.A. , a nd a M as ter  of M .S. En g ine ering , allfr om U.C . Ber ke ley, and  a B.S. in Engineeringfrom W orces ter  Polytech nic Ins titute. H e al so was aneng ine er wi thN ASA’s  Jet Pr opu l sionLabo r atory.

T h os e w o r ki ng to accel e r a teecono mic growth  inthe Heartland mus t  face some sta rk r e a lit ies .  The  G reat Lakes reg ion  c o n tinues t oexport weal th to co as t al ec onomie s, eve n as in v e st m ent le ader s t ry to equ ali ze growthbe tw e en the  coa st s andthe He a rtla n d . The region see s onl y a tin y  fr actio nof vent u re c apital (VC ) deals, de spiteprod ucing  one qu ar ter to  on ethird of t h e nation’ s res earch a nd  dev elo pment,  new p atent s, a nd  to p talent. G re a tLa k esVC f undsar e cu rrently s e en as to o s m all orto o u n k nown f o ri n vestors—at  atimew h en VC is f u ndin g  f e wer f irms w ith bi gger ex i ts. 
Given a llo f  that, he re’s an a p pro ac h po licymake rs  and  i nve st ors
 quality_of life_and access to quality_places for_an_entire community._While_such efforts cannot_erase the geographic_and demographic challenges Wytheville_and other small_rural_towns like it face, they are helping to drive small-scale, regionally inclusive economic growth_and_showing the_importance_of_centering people and place when_doing so.

Note: Downtown Wytheville, Inc._is a_part of Main Street America, a national network_of_more than 1,600_neighborhoods and communities who share a commitment to creating_high-quality places and to building stronger_communities through preservation-based_economic_development.

Dr._Jackson Nickerson is a_nonresident senior fellow in Governance Studies_at Brookings. Nickerson is also the_Frahm Family Professor of Organization and Strategy_at Olin Business School, Washington University_in St. Louis. Nickerson was_the associate_dean and director of Brookings_Executive Education from_2009 to_2017 and is_an expert in leadership development in_government as well_as business strategy, strategic planning processes,_and_strategy execution.

He is_the_author_of Leading_Change from the_Middle,_Tackling Wicked_Government_Problems, and Leading Change in a_Web_2.1 World, all of which are published_by Brookings Press. He_also_authored Leading in Government:_Practical advice to leadership questions_from the front lines (Brookings Executive_Education). A_frequent collaborator_with the Center for Homeland Defense and Security, he helps public,_private, and nonprofit leaders advance their_critical and diagnosis capabilities_to increase_the_likelihood of solving_the_right problem_the first time. He holds a Ph.D._in Business_and Public Policy, an M.B.A., and_a Master of M.S._Engineering,_all from U.C. Berkeley, and a_B.S. in Engineering from Worcester Polytechnic_Institute. He also was an_engineer_with_NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

Those working_to accelerate economic growth in the_Heartland must face_some stark realities. The Great Lakes region_continues_to export wealth to coastal economies,_even_as investment leaders try to equalize_growth_between_the coasts and the Heartland._The region sees only a tiny_fraction of venture capital (VC) deals, despite producing one_quarter to one_third of the nation’s research_and_development,_new patents, and top talent. Great Lakes VC funds are_currently seen_as too small_or too unknown for investors—at a time when VC is_funding fewer firms with bigger exits.

Given all_of that, here’s an approach policymakers and investors