Towns begin to die when a large local company moves away or goes out of business. Many times, the town counted on their employer for the majority of work. People leave in search of employment, and those who are left often struggle to make a living. The only way to save this type of town is to find a new large employer or several small employers. Attracting new companies is not easy, and towns often find they must revitalize their community to attract new businesses.
Life is an endless series of days, and people often miss the fact their world is not as nice as it could be. Roads may have a few pot holds or dips, but people get used to driving around them. Parks and common areas might need new sidewalks and grass. People stop visiting them, and they forget after a while why this happened. It takes a strong will for a town to revitalize itself, but it can be done.