MESH how do you deploy and finance in a city?

We have started to create a mesh in our city.  Some significant issues.  The terrain (especially with tall buildings) means we need lots of nodes for infrastructure. I am getting a strong 'have you build it yet' from the local ham population.

How have other areas financed (or convinced the local hams) to be involved (AKA donate kit) ?

Unlike a repeater which only needs 2 or 3 guys to do EVERYTHING, a mesh needs to be a community project.  What if the community is not ready? Do we cancel and use the existing kit for other purposes or keep pushing slowwwwwly forward? Even when we setup the packet nodes & PBBS 25 years ago, it was only a few hams that really got involved.

Any words of wisdom are welcomed.  Even doom and gloom are welcomed. Will the mesh catch on with the general ham population or is this going to be the pet project of a select few?