According to a recent census report, Ohio led the nation in county population decreases as home to seven of the 34 counties with the biggest population declines in 2007.
Cuyahoga County (which includes Cleveland) reported the third biggest population decline nationally, losing 13,304 residents in the last year alone. And Mark Salling, director of Cleveland State University’s Northern Ohio Data and Information Service, said that since 2000, Cuyahoga County has lost more population than any other county in the country, approximately 98,000 people.
Other Ohio counties experiencing high population loss were Hamilton (Cincinnati), Montgomery (Dayton), Mahoning (Youngstown), Lucas (Toledo), Trumbull (Warren) and Summit (Akron).
Most commentators take one of two paths in addressing this situation. While some lament irreparable doom and gloom, others claim Northeast Ohio’s economy has finally hit rock bottom, an ironic silver lining to a six percent unemployment rate. However, a few mavericks have tried to analyze the cultural elements that ail troubled economies and offer advice on how a struggling city can turn things around.
As a recent college graduate and returning Akron resident, I was particularly struck by the research of one such non-traditionalist, Next Generation Counseling founder Rebecca Ryan. Nearly three years ago, Ryan offered her services (at a substantial charge) to Akron claiming that by implementing a few small initiatives the city could “broaden and strengthen its economy in the coming 2-4 years.”
Ryan’s argument was simple, though subject to many column inches of debate. She said that while workers of previous generations found a job and moved accordingly, today’s young, well-educated, talented workers chose where to live and then found a job in that community.
Thus, Ryan advocated an approach to economic development that is more rooted in Field of Dreams than in classic business theory. Build a community that talented young folks would like and they will come to live there. Build a city of talented young people and companies will come to where the workers are.
While I could spend many blogs debating the validity of this theory, especially in light of times of higher unemployment, today I merely want to give consideration to Ms. Ryan’s thoughts and ask what the Greater Akron community has done with her research. While some of Ryan’s suggested efforts, including the development of Lock 3 and the completion of the Towpath, have been addressed, others including greater connectivity between parks, al fresco dining areas and a marketing campaign to encourage former Akronites to return home are still awaiting attention.
A $1.2 million effort to make Akron cooler may not top my list of best economic investments, but I can’t dispute the importance of a talented workforce, an engaged government, and a scenic and culturally aware downtown in helping cities succeed.
Our ability to build such a community may be as much the result of young execs as it is the cause. But any steps we can take to improve our community will surely be viewed as efforts of good faith and interest in our future.
View a pdf of Ryan's full report.
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