Seeking to build a stronger local economy through small-scale manufacturing, Uplift San Bernardino has been selected to join the 2022 Recast Leaders Program led by community development expert Ilana Preuss.

Recast Leaders is an intensive training program for local leaders looking to revitalize their downtown or main street neighborhoods by bringing in and supporting small-scale manufacturing. As Preuss explains, small-scale manufacturing businesses help create thriving places, with local business ownership opportunities and well-paying jobs that other business types are not able to fulfill.

Drawing from her experience from working with both small and large governments, Preuss presents her five-step method for recasting a city. Graduates from the program are able to build a stronger, more resilient and more inclusive business community; find the right local businesses for the main street; bring small-scale manufacturing to the limelight to achieve these goals; grow buy-in to bring back main streets; and redevelop a targeted area.

Members of the San Bernardino cohort include Jennifer Carter, Executive Director of Oak Tree Learning Center and Board Member of the Making Hope Happen Foundation; Monica Robles, President and Founder of La Asociación de Emprendedor@s and Co-Chair of the Small Business Resource Group (SBRG); Robert Carrillo, Associate Broker and Realtor with eXp Realty; Uplift San Bernardino Director Karen Suarez; and Uplift San Bernardino SBRG Program Coordinator Noraly Sainz.

Pruess notes that cities and towns have started to shift to a new economic model that works with the community to invest in place in an inclusive and thoughtful way, with short-term wins that build momentum for long-term growth. Preuss assures that the secret ingredient to this successful model is small-scale manufacturing.

During the next 12 months, the San Bernardino cohort will learn and apply the five-step method using the secret ingredient of local small-scale manufacturing to build a stronger, more resilient and inclusive business community in a main street within the City.

To learn more about the Recast Leaders Program, HERE. To join the effort, interested persons may email Noraly Sainz.

Photo Courtesy of Director Karen Suarez in a recent visit to the Santa Fe Depot in San Bernardino.