CALLING AREA MAKERS
What is Small Scale/Artisan Manufacturing and Why is Bellflower Seeking Makers?
Small-scale manufacturing businesses produce tangible goods (for example - hot sauce, handbags, or hardware) and have from 1 to 50 employees. This is a great size that fits into the fabric of a downtown or main street and these businesses provide a number of benefits to a city and the neighborhood:
Downtown Bellflower, like many a small town downtown district or main street, has seen its fair share of ups and downs over the decades. In the past 10 years however, huge strides have been made to encourage new development, add rooftops, and improve the pedestrian environment. As traditional retail continues to struggle, Bellflower is making a concerted effort to find additional ways to maintain its recent positive momentum. Artisan Manufacturing is part of this effort, and this is just the beginning.
To foster this group of businesses, the City is in the process of: updating its zoning to make it easier for Makers to locate downtown; providing training resources for entrepreneurs and microbusinesses; and stepping up the promotion and branding of Downtown Bellflower. With the help of Recast City, City leaders and staff have a plan (see it here) and are implementing it. Stay informed by checking our News page regularly and sign up for updates.
- Business ownership is open to anyone with an entrepreneurial spirit and the ability to make something - college and advanced degree not required.
- The skill to create comes from every population in the city - allowing us to build an inclusive community of business owners and have more people build wealth for their families.
- Employees at these businesses make, on average, 50-100% more than their service or retail counterparts, allow for more upward mobility.
- Locally owned businesses typically invest their revenue back into the community and hire from within it.
- These businesses are often native to e-commerce, which means that they bring revenue into the city from the rest of the country (and possibly internationally) from online sales.
- They help a city or neighborhood stand out and remain unique even as a place is built up and changes.
Downtown Bellflower, like many a small town downtown district or main street, has seen its fair share of ups and downs over the decades. In the past 10 years however, huge strides have been made to encourage new development, add rooftops, and improve the pedestrian environment. As traditional retail continues to struggle, Bellflower is making a concerted effort to find additional ways to maintain its recent positive momentum. Artisan Manufacturing is part of this effort, and this is just the beginning.
To foster this group of businesses, the City is in the process of: updating its zoning to make it easier for Makers to locate downtown; providing training resources for entrepreneurs and microbusinesses; and stepping up the promotion and branding of Downtown Bellflower. With the help of Recast City, City leaders and staff have a plan (see it here) and are implementing it. Stay informed by checking our News page regularly and sign up for updates.
David Van Patten Mural at The Nest Tambien
Applying Buttercream Frosting at Fantasy Cakes
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Stormy Weather Designs
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Let's Start Working Together!Bellflower Economic Development
16600 Civic Center Dr., Bellflower, CA 90706 Telephone: (562) 804-1424 ext. 2010
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