FCEDA President and CEO’s newest book examines economic challenges of America’s remote towns

“The Economic Survival of America’s Isolated Small Towns” is Gordon’s 12th book

FCEDA President and CEO’s newest book examines economic challenges of America’s remote towns (Photo: Business Wire)

FAIRFAX COUNTY, Va.--()--Gerald L. Gordon, Ph.D., the president and CEO of the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority (FCEDA), has published his 12th book, an examination of how many of the nation’s remote towns have confronted – some successfully, some not – the economic challenges of the recent past. The focus on remote communities follows Gordon’s previous work on economic factors affecting metropolitan and micropolitan areas.

Through 51 case studies profiling cities with populations under 10,000 and located more than 50 miles from a large city, The Economic Survival of America’s Isolated Small Towns explores why some towns have survived while others have not.

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“I’m grateful to the more than four dozen public officials who shared their insights with me and who made this book possible,” said Gordon, who has helmed the FCEDA since 1983.

Economic Survival chronicles the economic history of isolated small towns and lays out proven economic growth strategies that can be applied to communities large and small seeking to rebuild or regain their economic footing. The book also discusses the impact of technology on small-town survival, how employers in remote locations can possess an advantage and whether small towns should build facilities to attract potential employers.

“While a majority of Americans live in metropolitan areas now, many millions live in rural areas and isolated towns,” Gordon said. “Some economic factors important to metropolitan areas such as a diversified economic base are just as relevant for more remote areas. The relative isolation of these communities makes it difficult to support residents and the community’s institutions and the services needed to maintain an acceptable and sustainable quality of life.”

The book includes a special case study on Raton, N.M., which saw a significant brain drain after major employers left and critical institutions closed. Other communities profiled include Titusville, Penn., South Boston, Va., International Falls, Minn., Cody, Wyo., Elkins, W.Va., Kosciusko, Miss., Winslow, Ariz., and Yreka, Calif.

Published by CRC Press, the book is available on Amazon.com. Gordon’s other books published by CRC Press: The Economic Viability of Micropolitan America (2013), Reinventing Local and Regional Economies (2011) and The Formula for Economic Growth on Main Street America (2009).

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Contacts

FCEDA
Alan Fogg, 703-790-0600
571-213-5065 (m)
afogg@fceda.org

Release Summary

Gerald Gordon, president and CEO of the Fairfax County (Va.) Economic Development Authority, has published his 12th book: "The Economic Survival of America's Isolated Small Towns" (CRC Press).

Contacts

FCEDA
Alan Fogg, 703-790-0600
571-213-5065 (m)
afogg@fceda.org