The Economic Case For New Urbanism

Fast Company lists the six criteria that are likely to attract qualified workers and top businesses. "In the battle for talent, Richard Florida, [founder and director of the Software Industry Center at Pittsburgh's Carnegie Mellon University and professor of regional economic development] argues that location is supplanting the corporation. "We've shifted from a company-centric economy to a people-driven one," he says. "People are turning to community rather than to corporations to define themselves." When smart, skilled job candidates visit a company, they don't just take in the work space and the culture. Increasingly, they check out the surrounding streets, the parks, and the night spots. They look for audial and visual cues, such as active outdoor recreation, a thriving music scene, lots of amenities, and high energy, which signal that this is a place where they can live as well as work."