“The City of North Port is open for business.” The words are strewn across a flyer that hangs in the elevator doors of North Port City Hall touting slashed impact fees and business incentives designed to help drive new construction and kick-start a local economy that has stalled. In addition to adopting a business-friendly perspective, the  community developed a city brand, launched an aggressive marketing plan, and built what is known as the Small Business Assistance Program. The program consists of three parts: the Entrepreneurial Academy, the Lunch and Learn program, and the Revolving Loan Guarantee Fund. The programs were designed by community leaders and local business owners, not just City staff. The programs were organized so that they would run in cooperation, not in competition, with partner programs as well as provide support to entrepreneurs in consecutive phases.