I’ve been reading and learning more about economic development. More than I ever wanted, in fact, due to my research for a current endeavor of ‘going local’ in my community. The website I”m working on can be found here.
I’ve come across this post at: Bloomberg Business Week‘s website.
http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2012-10-18/how-the-experts-would-fix-cities
Create a city where people want to live. Huh… Never made the connection Mr. Obvious. I’ve lived in my small rural community for going on 40 years. I’ve spent a few years in other states, other cities a time or two, but keep coming back to my hometown. It’s comfortable, safe, and dying. In comparison to other flourishing areas, there isn’t a ‘culture’ here. There are despondent, displaced factory workers that always want what they always have had, and prefer to shop at Wal-mart even if it closes every other business in town. It’s somewhat sad to witness. It’s little wonder that the percentage of people known as the ‘creative think tank’ are leaving for more prosperous and flavor-filled waters.