Russ Steele
The Union has a AP Review of Richard Florida's latest book "Who's is Your City." My copy is in the mail according to Amazon, and should arrive real soon now. As Nevada County struggles to find our next economic engine, or cluster of engines, it is important to know how we will fit into the global economy, now and in the future. Thomas Friedman's view, outlined in his bestselling book “ The World Is Flat,” is the Internet and low cost air transportation has flattened the global economy. Florida on the other hand sees a more spiky world, with clusters of creative people creating and designing the products that the flat earth folks are manufacturing and distributing.
In our economic past Western Nevada County is known around the world for our cluster of video products. Grass Valley, because of Grass Valley Group, has instant recognition in the video industry world wide. But, over time that video cluster is becoming more spread out. Telecommunication integrated circuit chip design is another cluster that developed in western end of the County. Industrial glass blowing is another, that garners recognition from it's location in Nevada County. But, these clusters are aging out, and we need to start thinking about future clusters.
This is where reading and understanding Florida's point of view becomes important. He has some insights that can help us shape our current economic development efforts. I found it interesting the Nevada County was one of the creative clusters in Florida's "Cities and the Creative Class," and earlier book on economic development. If you have not done so already, I recommend that we all read "The World is Flat." We live in a global economy, be it flat or spiky, and we need to find a prosperous niche. Recognition of were we fit in the real world is a vital first step.
I will have more on Florida's latest book, when "Who is Your City" arrives on my doorstep.
