Nurturing Creative Economy Key to Growth in Vermont

This past fall, Vermont released what may be the nation's first statewide effort to lay out an economic development strategy based on the creative economy theories advanced most prominently by George Mason professor Richard Florida. Advancing Vermont's Creative Economy, prepared by the Vermont Council on Culture and Innovation (VCCI), offers recommendations that include collaboration among government entities, cultural organizations, and the private sector that utilizes cultural resources.

Developers, venture capitalists, policymakers, and educators recognize the tremendous growth potential in the emerging creative economy, according to VCCI, and Vermont can capitalize on its strengths and systematic support in this sector. The report offers examples of social and economic benefits to investing in the arts and culture, and makes specific recommendations on how to grow the state's creative economy.

In tracking the creative economy and assessing its value to the state, VCCI held six public forums around the state, participated in panel discussions and workshops, and administered written surveys. According to VCCI's findings, communities with thriving cultural centers are more likely to attract businesses and entrepreneurs than those that do not. The following recommendations are offered for the governor's administration, the legislature, and private and public partners:

• Provide technical support and access to capital for culturally based businesses and creative entrepreneurs to support the growth of creative enterprises;
• Promote and document the roles that creativity, culture and innovation play in Vermont's economic future by tracking and reporting creative economic sectors, reinforcing arts and heritage education and instituting a statewide public information campaign;
• Invest in communities by expanding cultural facilities funding and encouraging entrepreneurial development in vacant industrial space; and
• Develop the creative economy through community-based planning and improved statewide collaboration by facilitating locally designed creative economy projects and establish a nonpartisan commission to provide leadership.

Just as Vermont was once a leader in the manufacturing of things, it is now poised to be a leader in the production of ideas, the report contends. The state lost 8,100 manufacturing jobs between 2001 and 2003, while between 1997 and 2001, the state had the fastest growth rate in creative cluster employment in the New England region. A key observation of the report's findings is strengthening the creative sector will take a long-term and incremental effort, but pressing needs must be addressed in order to assure its future competitiveness.

Advancing Vermont's Creative Economy is produced by the Vermont Council on Rural Development and is available from the Vermont Arts Council at: http://www.vermontartscouncil.org