Helping cities unleash their creative economies
Etsy joined forces with the National League of Cities, Recast City, and the Urban Manufacturing Alliance to publish a new roadmap for city leaders to understand, engage, and support the makers in their communities. The report, “Discovering Your City’s Maker Economy,” features some of our learnings from working hand-in-hand with Etsy sellers and city leaders through our Maker Cities program, answers common questions about the maker economy, and provides plenty of case studies for local policymakers to learn from.
With more than 1.9 million active Etsy sellers* globally, including in nearly every county in the United States, we know that creative microbusinesses are an important and growing part of the economy. Throughout this fall, I had the pleasure of meeting hundreds of Mayors, Council Members, Economic Development Officers, and City Managers from across the United States to share the stories of our creative community, and bring to light some local challenges that Etsy sellers face. Each policymaker I met was excited to learn about the impact of the many Etsy sellers in their cities. Policymakers from rural villages to big metro areas were equally eager to learn how they can better support their makers, and build an environment where Etsy sellers thrive.
We’re hopeful that this guidebook will encourage even more policymakers to explore opportunities to engage their local microbusinesses in making their cities Maker Cities together.
*As of September 30, 2017.
