Reinvigorating North Bay: Baylor report offers recommendations for change.

• Author: Kelly, Lindsay
• Position: NEWS

A new report from the Baylor Focus Firm Partnership Project outlines a number of recommendations that could help North Bay become a thriving, desirable community, including reinvigorating the downtown, setting up a networking space/ incubator, and improving communication with the community.

The report is the result of an eight-month research process undertaken by MBA students from Texas-based Baylor University as part of its Focus Firm program, which allows students to gain real-life experience and businesses to be analyzed for improvement. North Bay was the first municipality Baylor's chosen to study.

Project lead Kevin Hutchison said the research shows a number of small steps can be taken to enhance North Bay and what it has to offer.

"The data's telling a story that, in the 21st century, it's not about landing the big fish in suburban environments," Hutchison said. "It's about building within the urban core the right entrepreneurial vision and leadership, and attracting those that will create the jobs of tomorrow."

To start, the city should reinvigorate its downtown, since research shows younger generations are drawn more to grimy, industrial parts of a city than sanitized suburbia. Make it safer and unique, and more young entrepreneurs could be drawn there, the study says.

The study also shows that an incubator/networking space has helped other communities draw in small, young companies. Hutchison said it's one way to make it easy for companies to succeed.

"If we're going to attract some folks, why don't we attract those orphan companies that are looking for a home and have great potential?" Hutchison said.

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The study proposes "The Hive," a building where business can network, get mentorship, share space, and co-work.

Another recommendation proposes better communication from city hall to residents. Survey results indicated a large...