Creative Regional Strategies

March 21, 2011

A recent survey of 4,000 people who graduated from college within the past six years found that three of four of them identified location

as more important than the availability of a job when selecting

a place to live.

“Pick a Place to Live, Then Find a Job”

January 27, 2002

Authenticity & Quality of Place

• Both found to be highly desirable

• What does that mean?

• What is the “recipe”?

Dimensions of Quality of Place

• What’s there? The combination of the built environment and the natural environment.• Who’s there? The diverse kinds of people, interacting and providing cues that anyone can plug into and make a life in that community.• What’s going on? The vibrancy of street life, cafe culture, arts, music and people engaging in outdoor activities – altogether a lot of active, exciting, creative endeavors.

“Our” Model (Hracs & Stolarick)

Other Measures

• Housing• Economy• Housing• Environment• Health• Education• Transportation

• Population• Recreation• Arts• Tolerance• Crime• Amenities• Other

Upstate New York Super-Region

Territory Assets Measures

Territory Asset Benchmarks

Other Territory Strengths

• Commute Time• Road System and Central Location• Crime Rate• General Quality of Place/Education• Water and Recreational Opportunities• Access to Canada• Links to Federal & State Legislators• Griffiss Air Force Base

Territory Weaknesses

• Air Transportation System• Fragmented Economic Development Community• Universities are Isolated (No Gown in the Town or Bods on the Quad)• Taxes (State, Utility, etc.)• Energy Expended on Destiny–"Las Vegasization of CNY"• Perceptions of Climate

Toronto