Background
What makes a city "cool?" Is it a leafy, green park and an inviting public square? Or is it a sidewalk bistro and an internet café? Maybe it's a jazz club or a coffee house that invites office workers to linger in your downtown well past 5:00 p.m. Maybe it's nothing more extravagant – or more important – than a quality neighborhood school, a job within walking distance and a safe path for getting to both. Whatever your vision of a cool city, we are working to make that vision a reality.
Building vibrant, energetic cities that attract jobs, people and opportunity to our state is a key component of Michigan Governor Jennifer M. Granholm's economic vision for Michigan. Governor Granholm kicked-off the "Cool Cities" initiative in June, 2003 throughout the state, in part as an urban strategy to revitalize communities, build community spirit, and most importantly, retain our "knowledge workers" who are leaving Michigan in alarming numbers. One of the first steps was to send letters to mayors in 274 cities across the state asking them to participate by creating Local Cool City Advisory Groups (LCCAGs). An overwhelming response followed from nearly 130 cities and we anticipate additional cities requesting participation as the Cool City Movement continues to grow. They were also asked to participate in a survey that serves as a foundation for recommendations to the state on how to help cities with their own Cool City Initiatives.
On November 20, 2003, the first meeting of the Cool Cities State Advisory Group was held. Cities from around the state attended, along with Governor Granholm and state officials, including representatives from History Arts and Libraries and the newly formed Department of Labor & Economic Growth (DLEG), which encompasses both the Michigan State Housing Development Authority and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. An overview of the themes extracted from the survey sent to cities was discussed. The information was compiled in a Michigan Cool Cities Initial Report and reflected responses from nearly 60 percent of the participating cities.
In December, 2003, the Michigan Council for Arts & Cultural Affairs' 9th Annual Conference, titled "Creating Cool," attracted a sold-out crowd of more than 1,300 to hear Dr. Richard Florida, author of The Rise of the Creative Class, articulate the merits of an economic development strategy that puts "creative" people first, acknowledging the link between economic prosperity and the "Creative Class."
DLEG, together with the Governor's office, completed a web-based survey in January 2004, which drew responses from more than 14,000 recent college graduates and students, as well as others, on what type of lifestyle they are looking for in a community. This survey provided extremely useful data that supports Cool Cities efforts.
Cool Cities is about creating hot jobs in cool neighborhoods throughout Michigan. It's about attracting and encouraging people – especially young people – to live, work and shop in the cool cities we are working hard to create together. Cities and regions with large numbers of urban pioneers, or what author Dr. Richard Florida describes as the "Creative Class," are thriving.
Build a cool city and they – young knowledge workers and other creative class members – will come.
