Services

Quick Wins Now. Stronger Downtowns Forever.

Reader Area Development, Inc. (RAD) helps rural and small towns break through stalled downtown revitalization, launch visible wins, and create a clear path for long-term vitality. Our work is hands-on, outcome-focused, and designed to meet communities where they are — whether you’re just starting, building momentum, or ready for a full strategy.

 

Downtown Discovery Package

Find your next five high-impact moves—in just one day.
Skip the endless reports. Get a clear picture, fresh ideas, and a short list of action steps you can actually start tomorrow.

Goal: Provide a rapid, expert assessment to help small towns uncover opportunities, identify quick wins, and take confident next steps in their downtown revitalization journey.

Format: 1-day on-site visit with pre-visit prep and post-visit summary.

What You Get:

  • 1-day site visit + visual snapshot of your downtown

  • Field notes & simplified SWOT (no jargon, just insights)

  • 3–5 “Do-Now” ideas for visible, fast wins

  • Top recommendations with 30-day action steps

  • Optional: Virtual debrief with city council, organizational board, or staff

Best For: Towns just getting started, stuck in neutral without a plan, or needing clarity on what to do next.

Price Point: $3,750–$5,000 depending on travel and add-ons

Why it works: This service delivers fast clarity without a long planning process. You’ll walk away with professional insight, real action steps, and community-specific guidance—tailored to your size, resources, and momentum level.

Downtown Action Lab

Get a visible downtown win in 60 days or less.
Move from planning to doing. We help you launch a pilot project your community can see, touch, and rally around.

Goal: Help communities prototype, test, and activate real-world downtown improvements within 30–60 days.

Format: 2-month engagement with a mix of virtual strategy and an optional on-site activation day.

What You Get:

  • Community call + workshop to identify “low-cost, high-impact” activation ideas

  • Planning guide for 1–2 pilot projects (e.g., alley pop-up, vacant storefront activation, mini parklet, business challenge)

  • Local toolkit for implementation (materials list, permits, partners, funding options)

  • Follow-up check-in + “lessons learned” for scaling or repeating

  • Optional: Co-host a pop-up event or business brainstorm in-person

Best For: Communities stuck in planning mode or needing an energy boost to show visible progress.

Price Point: $6,000–$9,375

Why it works: This program focuses on doing, not just planning. We help you test small-scale ideas with visible, public outcomes—building local energy and stakeholder buy-in while showing what’s possible.

Downtown AREA Blueprint

Your blueprint for downtown growth and investment.

A practical, step-by-step strategy to engage small businesses built on our AREA method—Assistance, Retention, Expansion, Attraction—customized to your community’s strengths and challenges.

Goal: Provide an engagement blueprint using the AREA framework that guides leaders in building sustainable economic vitality and long-term downtown success.

Format: 3-month engagement including stakeholder engagement, business mapping, and strategy presentation.

What You Get:

  • Downtown business mix analysis

  • Small business owner interviews + insights

  • Phased 12–24 month blueprint with clear priorities for local leaders

  • Presentation to key stakeholders to align buy-in

  • Optional: Implementation coaching (6-month virtual support to help leaders put the Blueprint into motion)

Best For: Towns with some traction with businesses starting up that need structure to assist their economic development efforts to guide investment and growth.

Price Point: Starting at $11,250

Why it works: This is more than a plan. It’s a strategic system that helps small towns organize around what matters, avoid common traps, and move forward with clarity. You’ll walk away with an actionable roadmap and the confidence to lead revitalization with intention.

Other Ways We Help

RAD also offers targeted support to strengthen your downtown ecosystem:

Small Business Development

  • Business attraction marketing

  • Retention & expansion strategies

  • Entrepreneur mentoring programs

Organization Support

  • Nonprofit & management advisory services

  • Budget analysis & operational planning

  • Stakeholder and member engagement

 

Not sure where to start?
Ask about our Downtown Readiness Scorecard to find out which service is the best fit for your community.