"Shanna Ratner's new book Wealth Creation provides a road map for those who care about rural viability and who have been frustrated by the limited effectiveness of traditional economic development and social service approaches to improving rural economies and lives. Ratner's book chronicles the journey of wealth creation through the WealthWorks model and her many years of experience as a rural community and economic development practitioner, innovator and thought leader. This is an important book and brings both valuable tools and hope to those committed to revitalizing rural America." --John C. Salo, Executive Director, Rural Health Network of SCNY, USA
"The Wealth Creation Framework has been like a shot of adrenalin for our region! It has helped us focus on the various forms of wealth while empowering non-traditional stakeholders throughout the process. Our success implementing the Wealth Creation Framework has led us to integrate its framework into other systems change initiatives across our county." --Ryan Coffey Hoag, Land Use Educator, Michigan State University Extension, USA
"With decades of practical experience working across the country, experimenting with different approaches to local economic development, Ratner has developed an approach as well as a world-view that succeeds in the transforming of communities and people. This book brings her work together in a readable and no-nonsense way that will allow others to use her work and vast knowledge as a springboard for understanding communities, what animates them, and how real community wealth and equity can be created. " --Mark Lapping, Professor Emeritus of Policy, Planning, and Management, University of Southern Maine, USA
This wonderful book by Shanna Ratner is an antidote to the thinking that our future prosperity depends on chasing smokestacks. Instead Ratner provides a road map for communities anywhere in the world to rebuild their local economies through producing what the market demands. The "multi-solving" approach she promotes helps communities build on the assets they have with a focus on creating and sustaining multiple forms of wealth. A must read for local government officials, community economic development practitioners and policy makers. --Gord Cunningham, Executive Director, Coady Institute and Extension, St. Francis Xavier University
"Ratner has laid out a thoughtful framework that, when the principles are applied, truly works. Not only will it drive performance but it addresses the pressing issue of our time, a growing wealth inequality that threatens prosperity in our nation."--Jim King, President & CEO Fahe
"This resource provides a roadmap for innovative economic development and wealth creation that starts from the ground up. It illustrates the power of collective impact and provides real-life examples of citizen-led, sustainable change. Shanna Ratner is an innovator in providing the "why" behind wealth creation that builds communities in a way that honors the environment, the people and the culture. This is a must-read for those who are looking for a measureable, values-based approach to bring about economic change in their community." --John K. Littles- Executive Director- McIntosh SEED, and Cheryl Peterson- Project Manager- McIntosh SEED
"Rural America is fighting to build economies that are authentic and inclusive. Wealth creation is an applied approach that helps rural communities find their place within greater regional economies. I recommend it for development practitioners seeking a locally driven framework that works in rural." --Heidi Khokhar, Executive Director, Rural Development Initiatives, Inc., Oregon