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This article highlights seven small cities that have demonstrated economic dynamism and resilience in the southern United States during the last 20 years. These cities have experienced job and wage growth, have developed a culture and ecosystem that support new businesses, and have formulated strategies allowing them to continue to grow and thrive in light of economic restructuring challenges nationally. This article explores why cities like these are important to cultivating a greater balance in the U.S. economic recovery and seeks to understand how smaller cities and regions are changing their economic development trajectory to create broader-based growth and opportunity. We also explore how these cities are tackling questions of economic inclusion and historic inequities. The insights from this article are intended to inform policymakers, planners, economic developers, and the wider community of practice on ways to create broader and more equitable growth across states and regions.
