Laura Burtner

New Jersey Economic Development Authority Aspire Tax Credit Program

June 13, 2023 / Comments Off on New Jersey Economic Development Authority Aspire Tax Credit Program

Established within New Jersey’s Economic Recovery Act of 2020, and operated by the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA), the Aspire Program is a gap financing tax credit program that supports strategic commercial, mixed use, and residential real estate development projects. ESI provides analytical and advisory services assistance to clients who are interested in seeking […]

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The State of North Broad 2023

June 1, 2023 / Comments Off on The State of North Broad 2023

North Broad Renaissance is the business improvement district for one of Philadelphia’s most prominent corridors, anchoring adjacent neighborhoods, supporting businesses, and community mainstays. To improve the quality of life, North Broad Renaissance has multifaceted goals for the revitalization of North Broad Street and adjoining neighborhoods. The organization fosters business development with an aim to provide […]

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Retail, Data & Disruption

February 11, 2022 / Comments Off on Retail, Data & Disruption

Becoming Trader Joe, by the firm’s founder Joe Coulombe, is one of the better books I have read in recent years. It clarified much of what I understand about their retail site and expansion decisions. For me, this included Coulombe’s initial objective of providing products for the over-educated and underpaid, products these customers could feel […]

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Return on Environment: The Economic Impact of Protected Open Space in Mercer County, New Jersey

January 31, 2022 / Comments Off on Return on Environment: The Economic Impact of Protected Open Space in Mercer County, New Jersey

Mercer County New Jersey’s emphasis on land preservation began over 30 years ago, resulting in a multitude of preserved parks and open spaces that reflect the diversity of Mercer County’s natural features. Protected open space provides substantial economic, environmental, and health benefits to surrounding communities, but these benefits are often overlooked or undervalued in policy debates and investment decisions. […]

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The Future of Cities Requires Refining What it Means to be a Smart City

January 28, 2022 / Comments Off on The Future of Cities Requires Refining What it Means to be a Smart City

Over the past five years, Econsult Solutions, through its former joint venture, completed cutting edge research on smart cities around the world, exploring how leading global cities begin their smart city journey, what they were investing in, and what those investments meant in terms of return on investment. We have learned that the use of […]

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The Future of Cities is Accessible Quality of Place

January 21, 2022 / Comments Off on The Future of Cities is Accessible Quality of Place

Technological disruption, public health scares, and pushback against systemic disparities have all elevated the importance of and demand for quality places in urban settings. At a time when technology and infrastructure have enabled people and businesses to locate anywhere and collaborate virtually, city and regional leaders increasingly need to evaluate, refine, and in some cases […]

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