Ilana Preuss | An Island Press Author

Ilana Preuss

Ilana is the Founder & CEO of Recast City. She is the co-author of Discovering Your Maker Economy and Made in PLACE: Small-scale manufacturing & neighborhood revitalization, and a chapter author for Creative Placemaking and Sustainable Nation. She is a TEDx speaker on, “The Economic Power of Great Places,” and a featured keynote speaker.
 
Preuss’ passion for great places grew out of her experience working with big and small cities all over the country when she led the technical assistance program at the U.S. EPA Smart Growth Program, and as the Vice President & Chief of Staff at Smart Growth America. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Urban and Regional Studies from Cornell University and a Masters of City Planning from the University of Maryland.
 
When Preuss is not working with a city or coaching a community leader, she can be found cooking up a storm with her two amazing teens. She lives in Maryland, always hunts down the local chocolate production business when onsite for a project, and still sings along to all 80’s music with her husband and two kids.
 
 

Equitable Local Economic Recovery: How to Rebuild Thriving Downtowns

Wednesday, October 20, 2021 - 1:00pm EDT
Most local economic development strategies do not specifically focus on how to build a more racially inclusive community of business owners, address our urban-rural divide of access to resources, or engage in the detailed elements about how to invest in the infrastructure these business owners need to survive and grow. As we rebuild from the pandemic, while millions of dollars in American Rescue Plan Act funds flow to our cities and towns, this moment holds a unique opportunity to make sure that more people benefit moving forward.

Recast Your City: How to Save Your Downtown with Small-Scale Manufacturing

Friday, October 15, 2021 - 1:00pm EDT
Many cities and towns have used a model of economic development that relies on recruiting large companies, a single industry or other narrow fixes to create jobs and stimulate development. Recently, another model based on investing in place and supporting small-scale, local operations has emerged and is creating success across the country.

Author’s Forum—Recast Your City: How to Save Your Downtown With Small-Scale Manufacturing

Tuesday, September 14, 2021 - 12:00pm EDT
Community development expert Ilana Preuss offers an important book for our times, explaining how local leaders can revitalize their downtowns or main streets by bringing in and supporting small-scale manufacturing. These businesses offer well-paying jobs and support thriving places with local business ownership. Preuss will be interviewed by attorney and urbanist Dan Slone about her new book, Recast Your City.