Hal Johnson argues that the idea that it can be beneficial to a city or region to inspire the growth of industry clusters is still an effective way to go, and creating a sense of place to inspire clustering is essential.
Location, location, location - despite the growing sense that industries can be located anywhere in the internet age, evidence supports the opposite conclusion: that clustering alike businesses together works:
"Sixty percent of the respondents to Area Development's 2010 Corporate Survey said the presence of activities similar to theirs was a consideration when selecting a site. More recently, a 2011 Brookings Institution report showed that 'strong clusters foster innovation through dense knowledge flows and spillovers; strengthen entrepreneurship by boosting new enterprise formation and start-up survival; enhance productivity, income levels, and employment growth in industries; and positively influence regional economic performance.'"
FULL STORY: Industry Clusters: Importance of Place still Relevant to Business Success
How Remote Work Could Reshape American Cities
If projections about remote work hold true, the resulting migration could shift economic centers, disperse housing market pressures, and transform the politics of small communities.
Prolonging the Pandemic: A Public Health Expert Faults the Biden Administration
Over 100 million eligible Americans have chosen not to be inoculated against COVID-19, posing a risk to vaccinated and unvaccinated alike. A July 4th White House celebration was a "missed opportunity" to model health policies, opines one expert.
Coronavirus Shuts Down Food Processing Plant as President Pushes Reopening Economy
As President Donald Trump eyes May 1 for "opening up states," he might want to look at states that never shut down businesses to understand his public health advisor's warning that "the virus makes the timeline."
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Canada vs. Kamala: Whose Liberal Housing Platform Comes Out on Top?
As Canada votes for a new Prime Minister, what can America learn from the leading liberal candidate of its neighbor to the north?
The Five Most-Changed American Cities
A ranking of population change, home values, and jobs highlights the nation’s most dynamic and most stagnant regions.
San Diego Adopts First Mobility Master Plan
The plan provides a comprehensive framework for making San Diego’s transportation network more multimodal, accessible, and sustainable.
Housing, Supportive Service Providers Brace for Federal Cuts
Organizations that provide housing assistance are tightening their purse strings and making plans for maintaining operations if federal funding dries up.
Op-Ed: Why an Effective Passenger Rail Network Needs Government Involvement
An outdated rail network that privileges freight won’t be fixed by privatizing Amtrak.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
New York City School Construction Authority
Village of Glen Ellyn
Central Transportation Planning Staff/Boston Region MPO
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions