Dubuque residents and stakeholders interested in community improvement through small-scale, neighborhood-led development are invited to attend, “Catalyzing Change: Small-Scale Development for Big Impact,” to learn more about developing real estate in their own neighborhoods. The event will offer practical tools, frameworks, success stories, and inspiration to help people reinvest in their neighborhoods and transform ideas into real projects.

The Catalyzing Change: Small-Scale Development for Big Impact event begins with a luncheon and presentation on small-scale development at 12 noon on Wednesday, Oct. 8, at Voices Studios, 1585 Central Ave. Focused project discussions will follow from 1:45 to 3 p.m. and a roundtable on capital and collaboration will follow from 3:15 to 4:15 p.m. There is no cost to attend the luncheon or sessions, but space is limited and registration is required. To register, visit www.cityofdubuque.org/catalyst or call 563.589.4105.

The goal of the event is to inspire, engage, and assist those seeking to develop a property or neighborhood. The event is open to all who are interested, but is designed for realtors and small-scale developers, architects, builders and subcontractors, commercial property owners, planners, economic development professionals, artists and musicians, and community advocates.

The luncheon presentation will be led by Monte Anderson, vice president of Neighborhood Evolution, a development consulting group staffed by experienced small-scale real estate developers, designers, community advocates, and urban planners intent on expanding local knowledge and confidence to translate plans into reality. Anderson is also president of Options Real Estate Investments Inc., a multi-service real estate firm specializing in developing sustainable neighborhoods in the Dallas, Texas, area. He is both an advocate and practitioner of incremental development and presents across the country on the cultivating of local neighborhoods.

“Community development is a complex process, and it can be easy to get stuck when unanticipated challenges arise. Our goal is to ‘un-stick’ community developers and help them take the next step towards success,” said Anderson. “The secret to a great city, town, or neighborhood is that it is shaped by many hands. We work with communities to help develop a healthy incremental development ecosystem where locals own, implement, and benefit from reinvestment in their community.”

The event is sponsored by the City of Dubuque in partnership with Dubuque Initiatives with support from Greater Dubuque Development Corporation, Dubuque Main Street, and the Dubuque Area Chamber of Commerce.