Legacy Business Programs

Who creates a legacy business program?

The quick answer is anyone who has the interest and capacity. Although establishing a legacy business program is time-consuming and complex, any organization can initiate the program. Regardless of who initiates the process, a legacy business program requires collaboration across multiple areas of expertise, including funding, zoning, policy, and community engagement. Because of the complexity behind these programs, most official legacy business programs are managed by local governments. However, nonprofits and community groups can and do play a significant role in many areas of these programs, such as initiating programs, identifying businesses, generating community support, securing private funding, and advocating for municipal adoption. Both the San Francisco and Long Beach, California, legacy business programs were initiated by local nonprofits, SF Heritage and Long Beach Heritage, respectively, and then passed on to their city governments for further expansion and management.​​​