Empowerment and Helplessness

With the combination of economic downturn, financial bailouts, and rampant bankruptcies one begins to wonder, "What can individual communities do to regain control of their own destiny?"

As more and more cities, towns, and neighborhoods struggle with a sense of helplessness, are their any innovative tactics worth pursuing that may allow these places better control of their own futures? What can be done locally to ensure prosperity (or even survival) for these respective areas? More importantly, what actions can be made to empower citizens to be involved? Or are we simply stranded on a broken escalator... waiting for someone to come fix it? Share your ideas.