<p>Reducing the number of city-forming enterprises in single-industry towns leads to a decrease in the standard of living and migration of the population to other cities. From the economic point of view in many cases, the support of such cities is inappropriate, and there is a need to support the most rapid migration of the population to<br />more favorable cities. But on the other hand, the dispersal system in Russia is characterized by sparseness, and in many cases isolated monocities are important for the integrity of the territorial structure of the country. The article identifies the main factors that can<br />influence the increase in the attractiveness of single-industry towns for the population. This approach can be an effective tool for assessing the potential of single-industry urban settlements. Approbation of the proposed campaign in the Republic of Tatarstan<br />and the Kemerovo region made it possible to conclude that the strategic direction in the development of single-industry cities should be connected with the economic diversity of the city. Acceleration of economic growth, as well as sustainability of business can be<br />achieved by the development of small and medium-sized businesses</p>