Community Practice Area
Shepherd works with communities to improve growth planning and accelerate adoption of clean technology solutions. We work with community clients to:
Examples of specific services we provide our community clients are described below:
Economic Gardening: Shepherd has pioneered Economic Gardening in Michigan, and is currently working with more than a half dozen community economic developers to foster entrepreneurial growth of promising local businesses with solid high-growth potential. Shepherd helps to identify companies with high growth potential, and then works with those companies to provide tactical and strategic market research and Web marketing support to help them grow faster and more successfully.
Clean Energy and Sustainability Planning: Shepherd works with communities to identify achievable, but ambitious goals and objectives for reducing energy use and overall environmental impact, generating alternative energy, and growing and improving the economy and quality of life in their community.
Clean Energy Program Development and Implementation: Shepherd works with communities and local utilities to develop and implement specific programs for reducing energy use and/or increasing the use of renewable energy within their communities. We provide extensive knowledge and examples of best practices from across the country, work with clients to design and budget for energy efficiency or renewable energy projects, help communities seek funding for implementing these projects and programs, and evaluate and calibrate programs as needed after initial implementation.
Sustainable Growth Economic Development: Shepherd works with community clients to create strategies for economic development that are sustainable, focus on growing existing businesses and attracting new industry, and take advantage of key community attributes for relevant growth markets. Shepherd conducts extensive value-chain marketing analysis, evaluates best practices and comparable community strategies/actions, and provides in-depth analysis of key options for sustained economic growth.
- Grow promising local businesses and jobs
- Design, implement, and evaluate innovative sustainability projects that improve the local environment
- Improve energy efficiency and renewable energy efforts
- Seek funding
Examples of specific services we provide our community clients are described below:
Economic Gardening: Shepherd has pioneered Economic Gardening in Michigan, and is currently working with more than a half dozen community economic developers to foster entrepreneurial growth of promising local businesses with solid high-growth potential. Shepherd helps to identify companies with high growth potential, and then works with those companies to provide tactical and strategic market research and Web marketing support to help them grow faster and more successfully.
Clean Energy and Sustainability Planning: Shepherd works with communities to identify achievable, but ambitious goals and objectives for reducing energy use and overall environmental impact, generating alternative energy, and growing and improving the economy and quality of life in their community.
Clean Energy Program Development and Implementation: Shepherd works with communities and local utilities to develop and implement specific programs for reducing energy use and/or increasing the use of renewable energy within their communities. We provide extensive knowledge and examples of best practices from across the country, work with clients to design and budget for energy efficiency or renewable energy projects, help communities seek funding for implementing these projects and programs, and evaluate and calibrate programs as needed after initial implementation.
Sustainable Growth Economic Development: Shepherd works with community clients to create strategies for economic development that are sustainable, focus on growing existing businesses and attracting new industry, and take advantage of key community attributes for relevant growth markets. Shepherd conducts extensive value-chain marketing analysis, evaluates best practices and comparable community strategies/actions, and provides in-depth analysis of key options for sustained economic growth.
