Downtowns have experienced decline since the 1990s in Japan and several strategies have been implemented to deal with it. This research focuses on one of such strategies-the Town Management Organization (TMO) model. Although the model was expected to achieve downtown revitalization through...

Community development loan funds (CDLFs) play a critical role in financing affordable housing, small businesses, and non-profit organizations in low-income communities throughout the US. Since the 2008 financial crisis disrupted CDLFs' primary sources of capital-banks and foundations-many CDLFs...

Local independent businesses are critical to the economic health and quality of life of communities. This thesis examines whether marketing can motivate people to consciously and reliably support local independent businesses in their community. The first chapter provides an introduction to the...