Welcome to RichmondBrainstorm.com!

This site is for collecting ideas about how we can make Richmond, Indiana a better place to live, work and play. Users like you submit ideas that everyone else can read, discuss and vote on. A random selection of ideas is below, and you can use the menu at the top to see other ideas on the site. Enjoy!

3 votes

Create a local BALLE network

Submitted by Chris Hardie

The Business Alliance for Local Living Economies brings small business leaders together to help answer these questions: "How can my business use less energy and produce less waste? How can I help my customers understand that locally owned businesses are important to the strength of our community? What new business opportunities exist for our region in the emerging green economy?"

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7 votes

Use Freecycling to find treasures and save money

Submitted by Chris Hardie in Neighborhoods and Families

Freecycling is a tool that allows us to make better use of the items we don't need any more - instead of throwing them away or worrying about how best to donate them, we can "freecycle them:" offer them up to the folks who might want or need them most.  You can learn more about Freecycling in general, or visit the local group that's already been started.

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9 votes

Create a community pride campaign

Submitted by Chris Hardie

Sometimes, Richmond suffers from a lack of self-esteem that is self-perpetuating.  By showing each other that we are proud to live here and do business here, we can help counter the effects of that esteem problem.

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7 votes

Improve funding for WayNet.org

Submitted by Chris Hardie in Tourism and Marketing

WayNet.org is one of the most widely visited and comprehensive web resources related to Richmond and Wayne County.  It showcases all sides of our community through news, history, photos, calendar of events, helpful resource directories, and much more.  It serves as a public face to those wishing to learn more about the area and visit.

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7 votes

Designated Bike Paths

Submitted by armahillo in Transportation

 Richmond is a small enough community that it is feasible to use a bike for cross-town transportation. 

The problem I find, when trying to bike commute, is that it is often a bit dangerous, since I either have to ride on sidewalks or on busy streets / thoroughfares. I often have to take back-roads and go through parking lots and alleyways to get where I need to go.

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5 votes

Establish a local speakers bureau

Submitted by Chris Hardie in Education

Businesses, schools, social clubs, non-profits and communities of faith are always on the lookout for people who can come speak to their group knowledgably about a given topic or theme.  Richmond has a rich and diverse collection of people who are experts on a wide variety of topics - between our educational institutions, consultants, hobbyists and others, there's surely a great wealth of knowledge that we can help each other share more effectively.

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9 votes

"Hire a Local Artist" Month

Submitted by Michele Walker in Arts, Culture and Fun

I belong to an art group called the Wayne County Artists Guild. We were thinking that a certain month (we were thinking March) be proclaimed as "Hire your local artists" month, and encourage businesses to use artwork from local artists on their billboards and other advertising media.

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9 votes

New Media Summit

Submitted by Chris Hardie in Technology

There are so many new technologies available to us to share information, collaborate on projects, and build connections.  Many people don't have time to explore these fully, while others may be intimidated by them.  We should have a "new media summit" with presentations, workshops, panel discussions and networking events to let interested local residents explore and understand these technologies and opportunities better.  From blogging to Facebook, Twitter to YouTube, there's a lot to learn and share!

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7 votes

Create a Freegeek Richmond location

Submitted by Chris Hardie

The Richmond Church of the Brethren is currently running a small hardware recycling cooperative, where they take in computer hardware that people are ready to get rid of, and either dispose of it properly and in the most environmentally friendly way possible, OR they breathe new life into it by reconfiguring it, using different software on it, etc.  As coordinator Mark Stosberg notes, it's resulted in some great successes, with bei

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4 votes

Fruit for Everyone Fundraising Event: Edible Cityscapes

Submitted by iowa_connection in Food and Agriculture
Create an Annual Richmond, IN  Edible Cityscape Event:  Plant Apple, Peach or other fruit trees!!!
Have a local non-profit such as Trees Forever or Sierra Club host a one hour workshop on "How to Plant and Care for Fruit Trees."   Have the non-profit purchase Fruit Trees at wholesale (approximately $7 each for good sized trees).  Sell the trees as a fundraiser in conjunction with the planting workshop for $15 each.
 
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