CAVEAT EMPTOR ON THE CREATIVE CLASS
Richard Florida has made a fortune, a big one in fact, touting the need for communities to focus on attracting diverse populations to achieve economic development.  Population estimates released by the Census Bureau in March demonstrate that virtually all communities, of whatever size, are becoming, through international migration, much more diverse-- without any attention or promotion from local political and business leaders.    Here are the facts:

1. 6.5 million immigrants came to the US between 2000 and the end of 2005.  This equals 42 percent of the population growth in the US during the period.
2. Immigrants came to virtually every one of the 3000+ counties in the USA, even the smallest (under 10,000 people).
3. The number of international immigrants exceeded the natural increase in population in half of America’s counties.  In other words, half of the communities in the US are growing more diverse without any concerted efforts to promote diversity.

Joel Kotkin observed in a Wall Street Journal column on May 15 that Florida’s poster cities for the “creative class”, such as San Francisco, Minneapolis and Boston, are among the urban areas losing population.  Kotkin has been bold enough to question the logic of Florida’s simplistic formula. 

Taimerica recommends that developers avoid fads that reduce economic development to a single variable such as being a cool and hip place for the creative class.  We see new “sound-bite” programs like this every few years.  It’s easy to embrace a simple formula like increased diversity or clusters.  The problem is that economic development is a complex system that doesn’t respond to simple solutions.  Dietrich Doerner, a clinical psychologist from Bamberg, Germany looked at decision making in complex systems like economic development (his simulations centered on economic growth and development) and concluded that focusing your resources on a single variable decreases growth and development—just the opposite of what leaders expected.   Ideas like the creative class, taken as an antidote to all economic problems, are doomed to failure. 

TRAINING—FROM RUSSIA TO OKLAHOMA
Many developers are looking for ways to enhance their professional skills without the expense and inconvenience of cross country travel.  Our Taimerica team has been hired to provide a growing cadre of customized training for professional developers and volunteers.  Taimerica is training South Carolina Economic Developers on four topics: economic development finance; negotiation; communication; and time and project management.  We just finished a series of 4 training sessions in Oklahoma called ED 101, a course designed to give volunteers and new developers an understanding of the key concepts and trends they need to handle their jobs.  Ed Bee of Taimerica was selected by IEDC, because of his outstanding reviews as an IEDC instructor, to teach “Strategic Planning in US Economic Development” to ASSET, the recently formed economic development association in Russia. 

Taimerica has a series of courses developed specifically for economic development professionals.  Call us at our new office in Slidell to see what we can do for your professional group: (985) 643-2141.

NEW OFFICE AND ASSOCIATE
Changes are underway at Taimerica.  To further develop our client services, we’ve recently opened an office in Slidell, LA.  On the third floor of the Whitney Bank at 1338 Gause Blvd. (US 190), we’re conveniently located just off  I-10.   

And this is just part of our progress:  Charlotte Batson has joined us as a full-time Associate.  With over 20 years experience in data collection and analysis, survey design, and project management, she comes to us from the USM Center for Community and Economic Development with experience not only in economic development, but also in petroleum exploration, higher education, and health care.  She earned a BS in Petroleum Engineering from LSU and an MS in Management from Georgia Tech, and holds a Real Estate broker’s license in the state of Mississippi.  Among her credentials are completion of training with Stephen Covey and Dr. W. Edwards Deming. 

Charlotte extends the range of services that Taimerica offers it clients.  Expect to see us launch new products and services over the next year.

Contact Information