Teaming Up for Regional Prosperity

We are thrilled today to announce a dynamic partnership for community development! Our Creative Class Strategies division has joined with the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation to create the Knight Creative Communities Initiative (KCCI).

KCCI combines our 30 years of economic research with the inspiration of our mentor, Jane Jacobs, who tells us to "Ask the people that live there." The result is a year long program designed for community members to understand and build their own sustainable regional prosperity.

We have been working on similar programs with vibrant groups in Tacoma, WA and El Paso, TX, and are eager to begin similar endeavors with the citizens of Tallahassee, FL, Charlotte, NC and Duluth-Superior, MN.

Check out these early press clippings:

from Duluth's News Tribune and Superior Daily Telegram
and Tallahassee.com

Do you live in one of these Knight communities? Be a part of KCCI. Fill-in an application here:

Tallahassee, FL
Duluth-Superior, MN
Charlotte, NC (coming soon!)

Are you interested in hosting a similar program in your community? Contact Rod at RodFrantz@CreativeClass.org.

Comments

[Sandy]

I'm delighted to see Tallahassee chosen as one of your venture's first communities. I find the choice ironic, on a personal level, because my own interest in creative communities stems from the experience of living in Tallahassee (in the late 80's and early 90's) and being involved in the music scene.

A recent serendipitous meeting with an old Tally friend while in Asheville, NC, and the subsequent reminiscing, lead to a deep discussion about the dynamics that made the Tally music scene such fertile creative ground. The conversation was a cross between an old Tom Waits song and a Jane Jacobs lecture(though we could not recall whether anyone "did a nickles worth for armed robbery" but who knows with that crowd).

At the crossroads between Athens and Austin, we had a steady flow of all types of music and sources for inspiration: Athens Alternative, Austin Singer-songwriters and Old Missippi blues guys. The talent pool was deep with residents. Great third places- specifically Finales (first time I ever ran sound was for Papa Kinsey- I was terrified. This is the first place Derek Trucks ever played in public. Also home to fantastic food and the most creative songwriter's night ever). Amazing bands: The Casual T's (who got a grammy nomination for their work in "Ruby in Paradise"; The Respectables, The Shatterposts (Errol went on to become a bigwig in R&D for some record label); Coldwater Army, and let's not forget John "Binky" Kurzweg who was named one of Rolling Stones best producers a few years ago (no comment on Creed)...on and on.

I know all that has changed, but Tallahassee has some reference for "creative community building" in their past. The city, during the period I was there, still stands as the best example of a cool, creative community. As our old friend in Asheville remarked, "We've all lived in really cool places since then, like Boulder, Nasheville and Atlanta, but we've yet to find any place that comes close to the authenticity and creativity of Tallahassee during that period."

Glad to see your focus on Tallahassee.

[peter]

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