(above) Legacy City of Springfield, Massachusetts, where basketball was invented.

Today's New York Times (2/3/2024) has an article about Gary, Indiana. The midwest "Legacy City" of nearly 70,000 people, like many other once vibrant manufacturing centers, is looking to reinvent itself.

Many Extension professionals working in similar cities, as I do, are finding new ways to leverage the many assets that these cities have. One important point that the article makes is that investing in existing infrastructure (including parks, libraries, and other resources) is a worthwhile strategy that can be more beneficial than trying to lure big companies and sports teams.

Bottom line: These older cities still have important assets and dedicated residents who want to make their city great!

Michael Di Pasquale, UMass Amherst Extension                                                              Chair, Northeast Region, NUEL