Why I love the Micropolitan Manifesto

ByBecky McCray

Katie McCaskey has lived a rural pattern that you’ll recognize. She grew up in a small town, left for education and opportunity, moved back to a different small town later, and started a business. 

She’s come to see small towns as a center of opportunity, as a place where entrepreneurs can step up and make a difference. She thinks dense, urban-style living can and does happen in small towns with compact downtowns, and she loves it. 

Katie wrapped up her experiences and her thinking in her Micropolitan Manifesto: How to Radically Revitalize America. Take 4 minutes now to read it. (Take an extra minute to savor the photos by Pat Jarrett.) 

More of Katie’s Micropolitan views
I loved the Micropolitan Manifesto. Katie’s talking about a lot of issues that you and I care about. 

So, after I read the Manifesto, I chased Katie down for a phone interview. We talked about a lot of small town issues:

  • moving away and moving home,
  • walkability in small towns
  • hobby businesses that become more
  • the coolest small town grocery store anywhere (beer garden??)
  • what makes a micropolitan cool?
  • what are our small town strengths?
  • rebounders coming back to small towns

You can download or listen to the 21 minute interview here. 

Cheers,

Becky