A couple of weeks ago, Sanjeev, the owner of Diwan Grill stopped by our office. He wanted to know if I could introduce him to May, the owner of Hong Kong Gourmet. He was looking for a supplier of the white paper rice boxes (you know the one) and thought she might be able to help. Hong Kong Gourmet was just a block away, so rather than exchange phone numbers or promise to make an introduction later, I asked if he had a few minutes – he did – and we took a walk.

Quick backstory: one of our summer interns, Kaelin, is the daughter of May. Kaelin met Sanjeev through that internship, and although Kaelin was back in school, he assumed I must also know her mother.

They spent a few minutes discussing the containers she used, where she ordered them, and how he might be able to get some for his restaurant. She offered to let him know when her next delivery arrived so he could purchase some at the same time.

This was a very small interaction, but two owner/operators a block away from each other had established a new relationship. Sanjeev had found what he was looking for: an affordable alternative container for his jasmine rice and biryani. May did not immediately get anything out of the interaction, but she met someone that might have something she needs one day, and Sanjeev will remember her.

This is something that happens often at the office. Someone comes in or calls or emails about needing to get connected to the right person. It’s the sort of thing that happens in healthy communities. People know people. Information travels. One connection creates another.

I’ve learned that this story is an example of building social capital. We all need a little more capital in our pockets right now, right? I’m not arguing against that happening, but I will argue that we all need more social capital too.

Social capital is the real value of relationships between people. It’s the trust, familiarity, shared knowledge, and willingness to help each other that develops when people are connected. Like the other forms of capital, it can be accumulated, invested, and put to use. Unlike financial capital, I don’t think we talk about it enough in conversations about economic security. Human connection was an essential for prosperous living before currency entered the equation.

I think there’s an overlooked economic value to what happened when those two owner/operators met. When business owners know one another, they have access to more than just another phone number. They have access to varied knowledge and experiences of running a business in Downtown that could be useful. At the very least, it’s one less stranger on your side of the street. 

I have a friend who drives a tow truck.  Anyone with a friend with a tow truck knows how valuable that connection is in a way that can’t be put into dollars. A district like Downtown Vineland is built on thousands of those kinds of connections. Just like your sister who’s a nurse or your friend who’s a super-couponer, these connections help remove some friction in life. 

Downtown has a root system beneath the surface. Most people see the buildings, shops, offices, and people above ground, but underneath them is an interconnected network of relationships. Some connections are strong, others are just beginning, and some haven’t been made yet. Each will inevitably create another. 

I am an introverted person but my favorite part of my job is those spur of the moment happenings with people like Sanjeev and May. Or the planned, service-based moments like with Sanjeev and the interns. Spending a couple hours in Sanjeev’s restaurant while he makes food for me and Kaelin and her fellow interns, shooting content about the food and his restaurant. That is a great moment of connection that I’ve had with four people. Those four will go on to make connections of their own, like roots underground.

How important is that in a small business ecosystem? I can only speak for Downtown Vineland. Having more personal connections removes more friction from your life. That’s everything to a business owner. 

This is why I think building social capital deserves a place in the economic development conversation. We spend considerable time thinking about how to attract investment, support businesses, and develop our physical assets. We should also be thinking about how to connect the people and resources we already have at home. I’m not saying we should talk less about financial capital, physical capital, or even human capital when talking about the economy. I am saying we should be talking about social capital more when we talk about the economy.

Both Sanjeev and May contributed food to our Taste of Vineland sampling dinner last month. Neither could stay to mingle – Sanjeev had a ten top coming at 6:00 and May had to run her restaurant. They both donated food – and delivered it themselves- because the event introduces their cuisine to hundreds of potential new customers (connections). They also donate because they appreciate the way our office keeps people like them connected. Their trays were practically licked clean before the dinner was over. 

How much is that worth in dollars? No one can say exactly, but the value is evident nonetheless, and that’s what this job is all about at the end of the day

Andre Rivera

Associate Director, Business Development

Contact me at aarivera@vinelandcity.org