I am often asked about Moxietowns. What we are about and what makes us different.

We are helping you find the perfect small town for you - to visit, to live, to work and invest in.

We are building a curated atlas of the worlds most remarkable small towns. Along the way we are telling the stories of those who live there, who are building businesses and futures there. We are getting to know folks who grew up there and newcomers alike. We are exploring the best eateries and shopping, the most wonderful theaters and markets, along with festivals and celebrations. It is a big job, but we are up for the task. There is so much you must see!

Through this journey you will meet towns you may never have heard of, and take a deeper look at who lives there. We will inspire you, challenge you, and entertain you along the way.

Small towns are the next big thing.

So, let me introduce myself and why we are set on finding these small towns…..

The Idealist Meets Reality

Like many of you, I’m an idealist—ridiculously visual and experiential. My surroundings matter. They always have. It should come as no surprise that I began my career as a landscape architect and planner. Studying places, materials, people, and their relationships was something I did in my sleep. I lived and breathed design, pouring myself into creating spaces that felt intentional, places where people could truly connect with their environment. As a student, I could not wait to get out in the world and create.

But idealism and reality don’t always see eye to eye. Slowly and then suddenly my idealism collided head-on with the economic realities of the world. Market dynamics, cap rates, capital availability—the metrics and numbers seemed to have a much bigger seat at the table than I had previously understood. The dream of creating beautifully designed spaces had to fit within the framework of economic feasibility, and I decided I must learn an entirely new language—one of returns on investment, market trends, and financial constraints.

So, I set out to understand and master these elements. And I did. Markets and their dynamics, trends and their lifecycles, demographic shifts, risk, and risk mitigation; these concepts began to speak to me in the same way color theory once did. I learned to see the world through this dual lens: as both a creative dreamer and a pragmatic economist. I moved into years of advising, underwriting, and crafting strategies for real estate developments, always delighting where creativity and economics could coexist. I am directing this experience to small towns.

The Shift in Perspective

Throughout this period, I had the privilege of traveling extensively across the U.S., much of Europe, and a peek into Asia. What I saw along the way, as I was drawn again and again off the beaten path, was that certain places, often small, intimate enclaves and towns, held a kind of magic that larger cities rarely capture. They felt timeless, almost suspended outside of the relentless pace of modern life. These places didn’t just retain their value; they retained their soul, their draw, their sense of belonging – and definitely their sense of place. I was pulled like a magnet to be in these places as much as I could.

As I soaked in these small towns and communities, I took in what made their magic. I began to study what made some small places thrive and why some languished. I began to study what made some small places vibrant—their ability to maintain a sense of community, to stay economically viable, and to offer a quality of life that was both simple and deeply fulfilling. It was both a complicated equation and a simple one at the same time.

A Season Devoted to a Downtown

As the market adjusted after the 2008 debacle, I had the opportunity to serve on my town’s Downtown Development Authority. It has outgrown being a “small-town” but in its heart, it really is. This role allowed me to explore, a bit more deeply and more personally, what makes a small town truly remarkable. What are the catalysts for growth? What investments stimulate the desired growth? What are the most common obstacles, and how can they be identified and overcome? I learned about the balancing act of retaining charm while promoting growth. I saw firsthand the tremendous draw of people wanting to be a part of something vibrant and meaningful happening in their town. I learned what to look for in a small town, the art of deciphering the clues to its personality. It was an experience full of lessons that shaped my understanding of what small towns need to thrive.

Why Small Towns? Why Now?

What struck me most during my work, my volunteering, and my travels was this: people are craving connection. They want to be part of a story, one where they know their neighbors, where their surroundings feel like home, and where the chaos and anonymity of big cities doesn’t overrun daily life. These qualities, a sense of place, belonging, and community, can be found naturally in small towns. Up until recently, the challenge has been how sustain employment and access goods and services with the ease of suburban living. That has all changed.

The pandemic made this clear. The shift toward remote work, the expansion of broadband, the longing for space, and the desire for a deeper sense of community, all pointed to small towns as a solution for many. People want what the most remarkable small towns have always had: authentic connection, a slower pace, and an opportunity to truly belong.

Celebrating the Power of Small Towns

Working with a remarkable small town as an advisor, revealed to me how often people don’t know what or how much a small town offer. Even when the town is nearby!

Many people don’t realize these small towns' breadth of opportunities. Small towns often offer many of the elements you find in larger cities, without the congestion or high cost of living, from arts and culture to vibrant local businesses and essential services. Sometimes, their offerings are hiding in plain sight. They have rich stories, deep-rooted community bonds, and a pace of life that allows for genuine connection. Raising awareness of what small towns offer is one of the keys to their growth and continued vitality.

This realization planted the seed for what has become MoxieTowns: your curated atlas of the most remarkable small towns. We see it as a way to celebrate these remarkable places and shine a light on the small towns that offer connection, opportunity, and a gentler way of living – even if for a weekend getaway. My journey has been one of discovery, and I’m excited to share that journey with you

MoxieTowns is about exploring why small towns are the model for growth, stories of people who live the dream, businesses that are launching, and how to find your personal favorite, as well as fabulous destinations to visit. From cost of living to launching a business, from healthcare access to incentives for growth—small towns have so much to offer, and I want to highlight why now is the time for them to thrive and you can be a part of the story.

The Future: Trends, Challenges, and Opportunities

In the coming posts, we’ll dive deeper into the trends, challenges, and opportunities that are putting small towns back on the map. We’ll explore how small-town living is becoming more accessible, how these communities are adapting to modern needs while retaining their charm, and why more people than ever are choosing to make the move. I will bring my years of market research to bear - and share with you the key things to look for, to avoid, and what you need to know.

This is your guide to thriving where community, opportunity, and possibility meet. Stay tuned for stories, practical advice, and a closer look at the small-town lifestyle capturing the world’s attention. Maybe you will find your dream.