Quoted: Mark Bugher, director of the University Research Park, agrees things have improved. He credits the business community itself with being more of a force.
“There’s a heightened level of activism and interest that’s drawn the attention of policy makers,” says Bugher, who two years ago resigned in protest as chair of the city’s Economic Development Commission. “In the past, there’s always been this lack of recognition that businesses â?? and small businesses in particular â?? have been important to the community development programs.”