Attracting Young Professionals with Hip & Happening Cities

There is a timeless story in community development -- an area that is economically challenged has bright and talented youths, the perfect base for a fresh start, but loses them to the allure of big cities.  Some cities, long overshadowed by the elan and panache of cities like New York or Los Angeles, are starting to strike back with their own hip initiatives.  According to the New York Times, cities like Portland or  Atlanta are taking steps towards reversing the brain drain and attracting young professionals by touting offerings like a music scene, easy access to airports, hip young culture, and redesigned downtown areas.

The state of Michigan has a particular commitment to this concept with its Cool Cities program.  Cool Cities is a statewide initiative aimed at making innovative communities that attract talented youths (defined by the Cool Cities group as those having a bachelor's degree or more in education or those working in creative class occupations.)  The folks at Cool Cities have pushed individual locales to create their own advisory groups and report back with recommendations.  As part of its 2004 pilot program the Cool Cities group compiled "more than 100 of the state's community improvement grants, tax credits, loans, and assistance programs into a single resource toolbox that can be used by cities and communities for revitalization projects."  In 2006, cities looking to start their own Cool Cities project can take part in one of four programs that have their own funding sources associated with them.

Cool Cities sounds like a truly "smart" initiative and we'll try and find some time to blog some more on these communities in the near future.  Of course, for ideas on how to make your city more "hip", CoolTown Studios has a list of some great ideas.

Comments

[Will Farmer]

Great information. We are currently working on a similar concept with a new young professionals organization in Roanoke VA called NewVaConnects. Any suggestions you might have to further our cause would be greatly appreciated. www.newvaconnects.org

[Stu]

Suzanne, thanks for this post. Please keep blogging about this topic...

[Suzanne]

Sorry not to have commented earlier but both of you sent along some nice websites about Roanoke. I'll be blogging on them next week.

Again, apologies for the delay in responding -- we love to hear from people but the past few weeks have been hectic as we work on the Learning to Finish Campaign. Hopefully we'll have more time in the coming year.

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