The Yeast of These: Rise of Tacoma's Creative Class

32 invitees from all sectors of the Pierce County community joined a team led by author and George Mason University public policy professor Richard Florida last week for the world's first Creative Cities Leadership Seminar, an event designed to supercharge the region's economic development efforts.

Accounts offered by Florida and The News Tribune columnist Dan Voelpel agree that the event was a successful one. Sponsored by the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber, the seminar brought together a truly diverse group of local leaders and emerging leaders, encouraging them to find common causes. This group will spend the next year developing and pushing a series of initiatives designed to boost the appeal of Tacoma-Pierce County as a center for creativity.

They plan to do this via a series of projects, which include the following:

• Events aimed at catalyzing nightlife and social centers in Tacoma-Pierce County;
• An initiative to leverage local green-technology and building companies to cultivate a niche green-technology sector;
• Stimulating economic growth and diversity by encouraging an ethnic eateries district;
• Forming a committee that will encourage local community and business organizations to adopt proactive acceptance policies for people from all walks of life;
• Creating an arts and culture center aimed at facilitating people seeking professional careers in the arts; and
• Establishing a communications team that will keep the public informed of efforts as they move forward, encourage central focus and stimulate community input.

Florida's contends that attracting and retaining high-quality talent, technology and broad tolerance--rather than massive infrastructure projects such as sports stadiums, convention centers and shopping developments--has become the key to urban prosperity.