Community Revitalization Centered on Resiliency as Guided by Sence of Place: A Case Study of Wellsville, Ohio

Keywords: Ecological Resiliency, Diversity, Community Revitalization, Small Town, Sense of Place
Abstract Type: Paper Abstract

Abstract

Small communities across the Unites States struggle to maintain economic and social viability as their economic foundations have shifted or disappeared. Many of these historical single industry communities look to replace the lost industry, at the peril of continually being vulnerable to a single employer. Few can attract a sizable employer if any due to the limited leveraging opportunities of these locations. For many of the residents of these communities, the lur of employment elsewhere is not enough of an attractor to leave. The values associated with a place for community members may hold the key to attracting new non-traditional economic stakeholders and new citizens. Some village officials and businesses owners of Wellsville, Ohio recognize the importance of characteristics associated with ecological resiliency to reestablish and maintain a vibrant and stable community. The foundation of their resilient framework hinges on capitalizing on the intrinsic characteristics of the Village that creates a sense of place for community members and potentially others.