Negotiating Community-Based Research: A Case Study of the "Life's Work" Project‪.‬

Seven years ago, Hamilton, NY was a struggling rural community. Downtown storefronts were empty. Village buildings' second and third floors had boarded up windows. The village green was in a state of disarray with dilapidated sidewalks and a crumbling fountain. There was a general sense that the community was dying. Over the last seven years, Hamilton has become a vibrant rural community. Storefronts are filled with stable businesses. Facades have received coordinated improvements, including new windows. Businesses and offices now occupy village buildings' second and third floors. The village green has been completely renovated and sits next to a $750,000 public library expansion. Small micro-businesses are growing due to a new technical assistance program. A new business park has three tenants. The community feels alive, as evidenced by a range of new community organizations including a land trust and a community center for teenagers.