With our nation's loss of nearly 600,000 jobs last month and pink slips now being doled out at the rate of 20,000 per day according to a recent front-page headline in The New York Times, communities across America have good reason to think "the sky is falling."  Few occupations or corners of the country are being spared.

So what are economic developers to do?  Do they throw in the towel until the economic stimulus plan starts to work and the economy shows signs of recovery?  Economic developers in communities – big and small, rural and urban – might do well to take a page from Kalamazoo, Michigan. 

After suffering a long period of economic setbacks in the 1990s when factory closings, corporate mergers and downsizings hacked thousands of high-paying jobs, the community embraced a long-term economic development strategy now known as "Community Capitalism."  It's a "by your own bootstraps" approach to revitalization that harnesses the resources of corporations, non-profit organizations, educational institutions and entrepreneurs rather than looking for a "bailout" from state or federal governments.

Kalamazoo's successes are recounted in a new book, "Community Capitalism: Lessons from Kalamazoo and Beyond."  The book, which has been featured on FOX Business News, and its practical advice on what communities can do in the face of devastating job losses, is gathering a head of steam in this economy.  One community, Newark, Ohio, even bought 1,200 copies of the book, passed them out to residents for inspiration and held a series of town hall meetings to discuss what they could do to help themselves.

Now, the book's author and Southwest Michigan First CEO Ron Kitchens is partnering with Eric P. Canada of Blane, Canada Ltd. to present a Webinar on Community Capitalism on March 10 at 1:00 p.m., CST.  The 90-minute session costs just $89.

Don't be "Chicken Little" running around proclaiming that the sky is falling.  Take a hard look at how your community can seize control of its economic future.  Consider registering for the Webinar at:  http://www.eventbrite.com/event/272309485. 

With people increasingly busy and the economy on the fritz, many Convention and Visitor’s Bureaus (CVB) and Tourism Associations are finding success in offering “trails” to their visitors.  Whether it is a wine trail, an ale trail, an art walk or a wilderness adventure trail, travelers have become more and more responsive to the offering of a variety of experiences in an organized and cost-effective manner.

One of the first prosperous examples of this trend began 25 years ago in upstate New York’s Finger Lakes region when several wineries along Cayuga Lake joined together for the greater good and created a wine trail.  Since this cooperative marketing effort was born, there has been no looking back. In an article by the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle earlier this year, Bob Madill, President of the Cayuga Lake Trail and owner of Sheldrake Point Winery, was quoted saying, “In 1999, we saw 17,987 in the tasting room at our winery.  In 2007, we saw almost 33,000.  That’s because of the wine trail.”

Other industries have picked up on the benefits of this idea as well.  For culture lovers, many CVBs have organized art walks and cultural trails for visitors to explore. Lancaster County, Pennsylvania has several trails organized through its CVB including a Sweet and Salty snack food trail, a Market Basket Trail through farmer’s markets and an Ale Trail flaunting the many microbrews the region produces.

However, Pennsylvania’s most successful trail has nothing to do with food or drink. The Elk Scenic Drive, located in the heart of the Pennsylvania Wilds, was the first major tourism-oriented initiative to promote the region and make the elk herd more accessible to travelers and nature lovers.  The 127-mile drive directs visitors to wildlife viewing sites and scenic overlooks designed to enhance and guide their experience. Open since 2004, more than 75,000 people now travel to Winslow Hill and Benezette Township to view elk in September and October.

Overall, trails seem so popular because, in addition to being offered at little to no cost, they help create an inviting experience for the traveler by eliminating the need for extensive research and planning.  And areas that have put together such trails, walks or drives have seen the tremendous benefits, including new business opportunities that create jobs.  Today, that’s good news for everyone.