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September 25, 2006
Tacoma and creativity -- an analysis
Flight of the creative class : the new global competition for talent was one of those books I breezed through and really enjoyed a year back, but didn't think it really made much of an impression on me at the time. I have found myself talking about the book several times since then and now think it has made more of an impression on me than I realized. A few weeks ago, I stumbled onto Richard Florida's blog...somehow. His team recently spent time in Tacoma, which is the Tac in Sea-Tac Airport, analyzing their creative prospect. The first thing I thought of was the Neko Case song "Thrice All American" lyrics
People they laugh when they hear you're from my townDan Voelpel, business columnist for The News Tribune, has given an overview of the findings in his piece I have some good news, and I have some bad news.
They say it's a sour and used up all place
I defended its honor, shrugged off the put downs
You know that you're poor, from Tacoma
"Successful cities of the future, Florida’s research has shown, must rank high in creative appeal."
That means those cities must grow their own pool of highly educated talent, keep that talent and attract new talent from around the world. It means they must spawn and grow businesses with a technology bent. It means they must embrace – not just tolerate – a mosaic of lifestyles, religions, cultures. And they must sit smack dab in a place with such fantastic territorial assets that people naturally want to live there.
Posted by michael at September 25, 2006 01:13 AM