Can the Creative Class Rise in Roanoke?

Almost two years ago, this column referenced Richard Florida and his book The Rise of the Creative Class. Since then, he has published another bestseller, Who’s Your City?.  He has also developed a robust consultancy called the Creative Class Group.

Roanoke Valley Alleghany Regional Commission

In 1968, the Commonwealth passed the Regional Cooperation Act. The bill divided Virginia into 21 official planning districts and encouraged the local governments in each one to form a Planning District Commission.

The answer is buzzing in the neon on the mountain.

What if we put an observatory on top of Mill Mountain? There’s already a big neon star up there. You’ve got the zoo and a discovery center already there. An observatory would be the perfect complement to the natural enjoyment of the mountain.

Exporting your talent is importing cash to the valley

How many people do you know who live in the Roanoke Valley and spend more than half their time working in other markets? It’s a lot more common than you might think.

You can’t just walk into a room and tell people you’re cool.

It seems pretty obvious when you hear it. Just imagine someone you’ve recently met showing up at a dinner party and breaking that simple rule. The scene plays out pretty much the same way no matter how you slice it. That person is suddenly anything but cool.

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