S5:E18 - Being a Developer with a Heart with Dylan Cinti

Housing development is a key focus for many small towns, and for good reason: we need places for people to live! But, sometimes development can bring gentrification and sameness, which is not what we want for our small towns. Dylan Cinti combines construction with stewardship to restore and update small-town properties while keeping their heart and charm.

Dylan Cinti is co-founder and Head of Operations at Yarrow, a real estate firm dedicated to creating a better renting experience in Ypsilanti, Michigan. Working with local tradespeople, Yarrow buys, remodels, and manages historic homes and mixed-use properties — delivering condo-quality units at an attainable price point. Yarrow is also deeply involved in elevating the community of Ypsilanti more broadly, and dedicates significant time and marketing spend to creating promotional materials for local small businesses. Dylan also serves on Ypsilanti's DDA, where he works at the intersection of business and government to improve the downtown space. As Yarrow's Head of Operations, Dylan oversees the processes, resources, and people that will drive Yarrow to its next phase of growth.

• What it looks like to marry development with heart and community stewardship

• The power of placemaking in small towns

• How a crisis of purpose led to purpose-driven work

• Supporting small businesses as a strategy for community growth

Yarrow website: www.liveyarrow.com

Yarrow Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/liveyarrow 

In small towns, coffee is more than caffeine. It’s community! Market on the Plaza roasts beans locally in Aberdeen, in small batches for the freshest, richest cup to start your day or for an afternoon pick-me-up. Stop in to grab a bag for home or linger over a cup with neighbors. Proudly local, always welcoming. Want to be a podcast sponsor? Get in touch with Rebecca: [email protected]

Stephenson, Michigan! Faith says the thing she loves the most about her small town is her connection to the entire town, not just personally but professionally, too. The connected nature of small towns is one of our favorite things, so we love to hear it. Snaps for Stephenson! 

Some of the best parts about radio shows and podcasts are listener call-ins, so we’ve decided to make those a part of the Growing Small Towns Podcast. We really, really want to hear from you! We’re have two “participation dance” elements of the show: 

1. “Small town humblebrags”: Call in and tell us about something amazing you did in your small town so we can celebrate with you. No win is too small—we want to hear it all, and we will be excessively enthusiastic about whatever it is! You can call in for your friends, too, because giving shout-outs is one of our favorite things. 

2. “Solving Your Small-Town People Challenges”: Have a tough issue in your community? We want to help. Call in and tell us about your problem, and we’ll solve it on an episode of the podcast. Want to remain anonymous? Totally cool, we can be all secretive and stuff. We’re suave like that. 

If you’ve got a humblebrag or a tricky people problem, call 701-203-3337 and leave a message with the deets. We really can’t wait to hear from you! 

Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Growing Small Towns Show! If the information in our conversations and interviews has helped you in your small town, please click on the images below for Apple Podcasts, Stitcher or Spotify, subscribe to the show, and leave us an honest review. Your reviews and feedback will not only help us continue to deliver relevant, helpful content, but it will also help us reach even more small-town trailblazers just like you!