Defining Eligibility

Determining which metrics define a legacy business in your program is one of the most critical steps to complete early in the process. These metrics not only outline the eligibility criteria for businesses, but they also express to your community which businesses your process values or finds significant. Getting them wrong can cause confusion for businesses seeking to benefit from the program or policymakers attempting to create the necessary program infrastructure. Additionally, if civic organizations and community members cannot understand how the program will benefit their local businesses or do not see the metrics they value, you may lose their support or trust, which is essential for the program's long-term sustainability.

 

Here are some steps you can take to determine which legacy business metrics are right in your community:

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Research Existing Program Metrics

 

Review how other programs like the ones listed here have established their metrics. Compare those programs to your program scope and scale, the size of your community, its culture and history, and the goals of your organization and community.

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Collect Community Input

 

This can be part of the community workshops or surveys mentioned in the Learning from Community section, or it can be a separate effort. Collect input from community and legacy business stakeholders to determine what qualities and values they think determine a legacy business in their community, and why. It may ultimately become a collection that encompasses themes such as economics, cultural significance, and character. Be sure to review and collect feedback from your internal and partner stakeholders as well. Tailor your metrics to ensure that you meet these outlined qualities and values.  

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Balance Qualitative and Quantitative Metrics: 

 

Remember that all current legacy business programs utilize a mix of quantitative and qualitative eligibility metrics. Your goal should be to include measurable metrics with those that place value on the cultural, social, community, or historical significance of the business. 

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Scale Your Eligibility Process Appropriately

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Remember that the effort of your program’s eligibility process should not exceed the resources available to implement it. In other words, if your process requires extensive review and documentation due to your eligibility metrics, but you lack the staff to complete the work, your program is likely to fail. Start by matching the most important internally and community-defined metrics with the capacity of your team. You can always scale up and expand the program later. Keep in mind that many of the existing programs took years to implement.

 

Consider Accessibility for Business Owners

 

Always consider what will be required of business owners to become eligible for your program. Do they have the necessary time, resources, and skills to complete the tasks? Should the process be offered in multiple languages to make it more accessible to immigrant and ethnic communities? Will additional staff or resources be required, on their end or yours, to help business owners or building owners through the eligibility process? Your project goal should be to make the eligibility process (and the metrics) as approachable and straightforward as possible to the broadest audience possible.