ABSTRACT
This chapter describes a composite overall approach which a community can take when confronted by a major plant closure or local economic dislocation based on the defense adjustment experience. The plant closure crisis provides a unique opportunity for encouraging diverse community groups to work together for the first time and often for solving long-standing community issues. The community leadership should take advantage of the crisis atmosphere for concerted action. The community can help the plant owner advertise and promote the plant facilities. In some instances, the company may be willing to donate the plant facilities to the community for economic development purposes. The state department of economic development can play a key role in identifying new prospects and in helping to organize the community economic development program. Community resources will be constrained and it will usually pay to secure professional economic development advertising advice.
