There is considerable evidence that College Station has a comparative advantage in recruiting firms the employ knowledge workers, as well as attracting retirees to the community.
What do you think are the features of a community that promote location decisions by skilled workers and firms?
6 comments:
Great question, here are a couple of relevant resources.
Economic Development and
Smart Growth
8 Case Studies on the Connections between Smart Growth Development and Jobs, Wealth, and Quality of Life in Communities
http://www.iedconline.org/downloads/smart_growth.pdf
Washington post article from 2003 based largely on a comparison between Cleveland and Seattle.
Brain-Gain Cities Attract Educated Young
http://www.interesting-people.org/archives/interesting-people/200311/msg00041.html
This seems ambiguous. What do you want, young urban knowledge/tech workers or retirees? I don't see how they are not mutually exclusive.
Seattle has a lot more stuff to do for young professionals. CS isn't even the size of a Seattle suburb.
We have a LOT more growing to do before we will have the kind of cultural mass and market that will attract and support the kinds of firms and jobs the likes of Seattle and Austin have. That kind of growth doesn't come without crime, traffic, and a cycle or two of urban decay and revitalization. Heck, they even have big box retail there.
How do we expect to grow the kind of market and culture to attract and keep young professionals interested if our community finds that kind of growth sooo distasteful?
Does size matter? Downtown Bryan is already beginning to attract young, hip techie companies to it's revitalized office spaces wired for super-high-speed internet. Its expanding bar scene (from 1-4 by June)and new independant art-house cafe (also June)all point to more than just talk. Smaller start-ups just can't afford Austin any more. DTB is a great example of smart growth over mindless sprawl.
Good point Chris. In Austin there has long been the refrain “I remember back when Austin was cool.” I heard that from the old timers when I lived there in the late 70’s. Here on the Brazos Valley we are living in the future’s good old days.
Austin is a known cool urban setting today because back in their good old days they had inspired entrepreneurs investing creative energy in the community. We have that happening here now. If we can maintain a sense of our own identity others will want to be a part of that effort. More so than anywhere else that is happening in downtown.
People in College Station only care about issues that are in their own back yard. There are a lot of important issues that don't go on in anyone's back yard. College Station will never be a cool place unless citizens become involved. How many people, other than Hugh, involved in the Wal-Mart issue were not from the East side? And how many of those east side people have been involved in development issues that were not in their back yard. This is a NIMBY town.
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