The national recession forced many communities to examine new and innovative ways to promote local economic development, resulting in long-term community changes. New techniques and approaches were used to identify available opportunities and programs which could take advantage of development opportunities. A common theme among the contributions to this book is a focus on building leadership capacity, and several chapters discuss the successful practices which are aimed at bringing new leaders into local development efforts. Especially important are ways to identify youth and young adults,...

This book describes many of the unique contributions of the Food & Fitness program including a number of early successes, drawing lessons from efforts to form and maintain partnerships, and from the strategies employed to create structural change in communities. This important study introduces the Food and Fitness community partnerships and their work to increase access to healthy, locally grown food, and opportunities for physical activity, in vulnerable communities across the United States. Established in 2007 and funded by the WK Kellogg Foundation, the partnerships are increasing the...