Industry and living used to go hand-in-hand in city life. Unfortunately, a lot of this industry was heavy, noisy, and polluting to neighborhoods. So a lot of factories had to move out of neighborhoods of the past, which had some very good outcomes (better air, less noise), but also caused major problems (job loss, longer commutes). In Blendini City, the neighborhood-factory dynamic returns, but in the form of light, sustainable industry!

The sheer amount of light industry is staggering, but what’s also great is that the neighborhood is still very mixed.

There’s work, there’s housing, and there’s amenities all in one place. One building that I like in Factory Village is the Milgram Light Industry Collective (MLIC). The MLIC contains a lot of businesses operating their light manufacturing all in one space. It’s a great community and gateway for entrepreneurs.

I’d like to also highlight some of the other businesses you see here and the light industry they provide! H.H. Biggums specializes in baby goods. M.M. McJaynes is textiles. Meruco is clean energy tech. Bo Bo makes telephones. What I think works so well about this neighborhood is the sheer variety of light industry jobs operated by small businesses it has while still being a nice place to live.

There’s so many industries that have been created that have allowed for prosperity without harming the planet and each other. It’s a joy to see a lot of these companies born out of my light industrial collective. Everyone needs a place to start, grow, and have access to the resources they need. Jobs can be a real communal force when done with care and purpose.

Beau Beau Milgram, Founder of MLIC