@Doug – actually, we are very close to having WestCAT operational…we have a capital budget and are looking at bids now for a barebones operation that would initially just cover the governmental meetings with minimum work required to administer. But I think ALL forms of media should be used…I have, at times, thought–why do we bother with a Community Access TV station when people could just be uploading to YouTube…but they are not uploading our Selectman meetings…they are not even attending. And not everyone is an internet junkie like me. So ALL forms of media are valuable and can work together if there are people excited about using the particular technology to communicate.

@Beth – I like that idea…I have to say that when I think of “incubator” I think of things like the innovation lab in Cambridge where companies like HubSpot got started…but out here, just 15 miles away, I think the challenge is to help the smaller, main street businesses survive and prosper. See my post at Westwood Blog about a “Westwood Square“

@Brian – we are thinking along the same lines; same deal with Selectmen Paul Reynolds and Sarah MacDonald. (see my post above at WestwoodBlog.) I love this list of 101 things to improve Dedham Square. I think it starts with lists like that…then people say, OK, how do we do this? And then perhaps people like me find work in part of the implementation of the ideas.

It is an interesting line to cross…we are all volunteers and I would never want my ideas and efforts to build community be characterized as just some kind of “marketing” effort to promote my business. But consider how much money is already spent imprecisely on things that don’t work. True marketing is about understanding the needs of a customer–or constituent–and delivering a solution. Non-profit can mean no “margin” but it will never work as “negative profit.”

I noticed that one of your goals is a way to set up a public access TV station. I’ve got another idea that may be a little easier to achieve and less cost. The federal government through the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) developed and implemented Low Power FM (LPFM) in the early part of this decade to make is more affordable and easier for non-profits, including municipalities, churchs, etc. to get the word out on whatever their mission is to the public. These are 100 watt FMs that if placed right would cover most or all of your town. These station typically get out approximated 5 miles omni-directional, if sited correctly. It’s takes a little support from the community with volunteers to man the station. Also, some patience waiting on the FCC to see if you can gain an allotment on the frequency to broadcast. Go to http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/lpfm.pdf for more info and also go to Radio Locator to check out some of these stations across the country, including their coverage maps.

I’ve had a similar idea for the civic life of the town that has never left my head to this point. I’d like to see some sort of Congress of Nonprofits established. We have many excellent organizations doing many great works. I think it would be helpful to put them all in a room on a quarterly or bimonthly basis to discuss projects they are working on and drum up new ones to work on together.

Regarding your question of “what next?” If you are seriously thinking about the non-profit and your local Chamber is forward-thinking, why not try to tie-in your services to theirs?

Our Chamber isn’t able to help business with their start-up or development needs, we refer them to an organization called the Central Valley Business Incubator http://www.cvbi.org. They have classes, training, business plan development, feasibility sessions, and more. CVBI is a member of the Chamber and offer discounts to our members, so we’re happy to refer them as much as possible.

CVBI’s Member Services Director is on Twitter, @TravisSheridan. Maybe he’d be willing to chat with you more about what they do. And their website is very useful, too.

If this is a path you want to go down, let me know if you like an introduction.

Beth