Looking at Columbus on the issue of Brain Drain…
Since we have talked locally about the issue of brain drain, it could be important to take a look at what Columbus is doing about this issue, to both avoid mistakes and to get some valid suggestions. I first read about this over on Columbuser which linked a post on Columbusing, entitled, The Prophet speaks and we Listen!.
This demonstrates to me that the issue of brain drain is not just one in our area, and it also shows that Columbus is ahead of us in trying to work on solving this. I do however agree with both bloggers that video testimonials are a horrid idea and that concentrating on only Young Professionals would not create a solution for either Columbus or Toledo. This point made on Columbusing is in my opinion very accurate:
The young non professional talent is what gives a city its buzz. When a city is known to have an amazing music scene or art scene it makes the 30 and under professionals and hipsters flock. Remember this generation of YP’s grew up listening to Public Enemy and Fugazi!
The report made to Columbus by Next Generation Consulting can be found here.
I also think that this as stated on Columbuser is worth discussing for our area:
But attracting Bohemians in order to attract YPs is a long-term plan. It’s like terraforming Mars. The lichens have to do their thing before you can introduce the grasses. The city can’t market people into thinking the city is cool. It’s got to be cool. The ecosystem of coolness, like any ecosytem, is chaotic. A government will find it very hard to control it. But it can go some way to provide a conducive environment, and then wait.
I read with interest the story the Blade published on April 8, 2007 on Toledo’s bleak dating scene for educated singles and the possible indirect effect it may have on the city’s economy.As a single young professional who has recently relocated from Toledo (which ranked at the bottom of Men’s Health best places to meet single women) to the DC area (ranked the best place to meet single women) I can attest to this making a measurable difference on the abstract aura of excitement in the area. The DC/Arlington area has this strange collegiate atmosphere to it from the constant revolving door of young professionals that move into the vicinity to work, gain experience, make connections and possibly find romance. As a result, nothing is permanent and there is a sense of endless possibilities with both work and love. The closest experience that I have to this is your first day of college or the beginning of a new semester when everything/everyone is new and anything seems possible. I think this is what the Toledo area is missing that causes young people to seek greener pastures and not the number of bars, lack of bike paths, cultural experiences etc., those are a result of a lively youth population not the cause of one. For many young Toledoans they see, by staying, that their lives won’t be measurably different then their parents or grandparents; not always a bad thing but not what many young pros are seeking. How does Toledo change this perception? I’m not really sure. Because of cultural make-up of the area (large quantity of blue collar manufacturing jobs and labor unions) it has a deep resentment to change that is in bedded within the community. However, maybe all of that is just BS because if Mr. Kolinski’s letter to the editor (see below) is any indication of the level of intelligence among Toledo males, than no wonder single educated women are leaving in droves. Maybe Toledoans only do dinner dates I read with interest the article bemoaning the lack of dating opportunities in Toledo. I am not too surprised. When I go to Franklin Park Mall I walk past – or should I say get out of the way of – one obese person after another. When I drive along the major streets I pass a seemingly never-ending strip of barbecue joints, pizza places, ice cream stores, buffets, and every fast-food chain imaginable. Does Toledo have even one Vegan restaurant? It says something when the signature Toledo restaurant – Tony Packo’s – doesn’t have any items on its menu with lettuce. I asked them last time I was there and they confirmed that they don’t have a single head of lettuce in the entire place! Name one other eating establishment, fast food or sit-down, that does not include lettuce on any dish it serves. How can the good people of Toledo think about dating when it seems like the most pressing thing on their mind is what they are going to be eating next? Who needs romance when Doritos just announced two brand new flavors? Michael Kolinski Washington Streethttp://toledotattler.blogspot.com/
April 23rd, 2007 at 9:42 amDo my comments ever actually post?
April 23rd, 2007 at 9:44 amI recently blogged on the brain drain on my blog
As a brain drainer myself I think I have an interesting perspective.
April 23rd, 2007 at 9:46 amYes, your comments actually do post. I was experiencing some problems related to a server where at times people trying to comment would get a page displaying the message that the server was too busy with a 408/409 error code. It was sporadic, one time it would work then it would not. I have been moved to a new server but, it is still happening from time to time and they are looking at solving this on a permanent basis.
I’m sorry for any frustration that might have caused. I think you do offer an interesting perspective on this issue and I recommend people head over to visit you on The Toledo Tattler.
April 23rd, 2007 at 9:53 amAfter skimming a lot of the information it seems to me that it all boils down to one thing…simple economics and the law of supply and demand.
It’s very telling when you look at the number of baby boomers (70 million plus) compared to that of gen x/y (50 million or so). If you have more leaving the workforce than you have people to replace them, then you, as a community will be forced to compete for these YPs. These numbers are probably even worse if you look at the amount of those 50 million who have college degrees when stacked next to the number of jobs now, and in the future, that will require advanced education.
This leads me to believe that this isn’t just a Toledo problem as much it is a US problem. We already know this to be true when it comes to social security. If I’m not mistaken, healthcare is now the number one industry in Toledo now, not auto manufacturing, with government jobs taking a close third. This all makes sense if Toledo has an aging population; a greater demand for medical care and social services.
If the law of supply and demand holds true, this is a good time to be young because every community in the US will be competing for you. High demand plus a low supply equals a high price and it will be the young dictating that price.
However, the higher price we young folks will be able to demand may be negated by the looming storm cloud that is social security but that’s a blog for another day.
Toledo won’t attract YP’s by putting forth wasteful government socialism like artist in residence programs, bike paths or ridicules “Pride” signs all over town. It will essentially boil down to jobs and economic opportunity; if that is there, then the rest should follow on their own and without government intervention.
The one suggestion that I can think of for Toledo would be to position itself, as a place for YP’s to settle after they’ve done the early experience, education and love getting. I don’t know many people who plan to stay in the hustle and bustle of DC forever.
April 23rd, 2007 at 9:19 pm