Clarksburg Asset Map

An Asset Map is a tool used to identify and showcase the strengths, resources, and relationships that already exist within a community. Instead of focusing on what's missing or broken, Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) focuses on what's strong — and how those strengths can be mobilized for collective benefit.

At the heart of ABCD is a simple idea: every person, place, and group has something to contribute. An asset map helps communities visualize those contributions so they can build on them together.

What Kinds of Assets Are Included?

Asset maps typically include five main categories of community assets:

Individuals
- People with skills, talents, lived experiences, and willingness to help
- Examples: a neighbor who tutors kids in math, a local artist, a veteran with leadership skills
Associations
- Informal groups of people who come together around shared interests or goals
- Examples: book clubs, neighborhood watch groups, youth sports teams, cultural groups
Institutions
- Formal organizations that provide structure and services to the community
- Examples: schools, libraries, health clinics, places of worship, nonprofits
Physical Assets & Spaces
- Tangible places and infrastructure that can support connection and activity
- Examples: parks, community gardens, trails, meeting spaces, murals, bike racks
Local Economy & Businesses
- Businesses that support local needs and build economic resilience
- Examples: grocery stores, repair shops, restaurants, Black- or immigrant-owned businesses