When we talk about economic development, it’s natural to focus on what’s next — the next employer, the next investment, the next grant, the next loan.

But building a strong county requires us to ask a bigger question: Are we taking care of what we already have?

The Carbon Chamber & Economic Development Corporation recently brought together planners, conservation professionals, municipal leaders and businesses to talk about land use and Carbon County’s future. One thing became very clear: We value our home.

We value the beauty of our county — the fact that hiking trails run through our backyards, that the Lehigh River offers a clean and safe place to paddle, that agriculture thrives and open space is preserved, and that we can “get away” without going away.

But another idea went hand in hand with this: Preservation isn’t only about protecting our natural resources. It’s also about reinvesting in the communities we’ve already built.

Take a drive with me.

We meander through the county and find ourselves in one of our downtown districts.

There’s an empty storefront on the corner, with an apartment or two above it that could become housing. Next door, there’s a business owner who’s been there for decades.

Across the street, another storefront sits ready for someone with an idea to set up shop. A few buildings down, a property is deteriorating and overgrown, and its facade needs a little love.

That block is economic development.

When people hear “economic development,” they typically think big business — recruitment, site selection, job creation, tax revenue. But from the view on “Main Street,” economic development can look much smaller and be just as meaningful.

Carbon County has an incredible culture of entrepreneurship. One of the best parts of my job is having a front-row seat as people’s dreams come to fruition — and I get to see it every day!

We work with the Small Business Development Center to help entrepreneurs develop a game plan. We help businesses access funding through the CCIDA for equipment and other needs.

We celebrate with them at the Chamber when they open their doors, supporting them as they look to expand, grow and thrive.

But first, those entrepreneurs need places to put down roots, and the condition of the communities we’re asking them to invest in matters.

If we want vibrant Main Streets, we all have a role in creating them. At the CCEDC, part of ours is connecting people and communities with resources that can make what we already have even better.

Carbon County Planning & Development offers programs addressing blight remediation and whole home repairs, open to municipalities and residents. We also work alongside local legislators to promote grant opportunities that can support facade improvements, accessibility and other reinvestment.

That said, programs and funding are only part of the equation.

Businesses that take a chance and invest in our downtowns. Grassroots efforts like the Panther Valley Blueprint Communities bring residents and volunteers together to improve quality of life and create stronger communities.

And then there’s the role all of us can play: choosing to support local. We complete the circle when we choose to patronize the businesses that chose our communities in the first place.

We spend a lot of time asking, “What’s coming next?” What’s going into that empty storefront? What new restaurants are coming? What businesses can we attract? And, believe me, we should be excited about the opportunities ahead.

But maybe, just maybe, we should spend just as much time asking what we can do with what’s already here.

Because the next great Carbon County business success story may not need us to build them a place to succeed — they may just need us to take care of the place that’s already waiting for them.

Kylie Adams-Weiss is senior vice president of the Carbon Chamber & Economic Development Corporation.