In March 2010, Time Magazine featured Austin, Texas as a community that ”is emerging as one of the first pockets of the country where people are getting back to work, showing that even in this dreary economic environment, job creation can happen—and illustrating how it will eventually take root around the country.”
Austin always tops the lists of great places to live for young/creative people. The city markets itself with “Keep Austin Weird” or “Live Music Capital of the World”. What is Minnesota’s brand?
A few weeks ago the Star Tribune published an editorial urging Minnesota to tell our story more effectively. The article was written after national site selectors visited Minneapolis-Saint Paul and praised several civic efforts.
How can we connect our community to Austin, Texas? The Minneapolis Regional and Saint Paul Area Chambers of Commerce intend to find out. They will host the 9th annual InterCity Leadership Visit in November. By invitation only, the civic leadership of Minneapolis and Saint Paul, will travel to Austin with a delegation of 75 community/regional representatives. The first trip was to Denver in 2001 and the ICLV has since traveled to Seattle, Boston, Dallas, San Diego, Toronto, Atlanta and Charlotte to learn about city and regional best practices.
This trip has two objectives. First is to introduce the delegation to Austin’s innovative ideas, programs and initiatives. The second, though initially less tangible, is far reaching. Relationships will develop during this shared educational experience. We will return with a more cohesive team of civic leaders working on behalf of our community. The ICLV enhances the dynamics of community vision and problem solving.
Who knows, come December, you may see some “Texas swagger” right here in Minnesota.
Learn more about Austin’s very cool brand at http://www.downtownaustintv.org. What would be a cool brand for the Twin Cities?
I’ve lived in and loved both Minneapolis and Austin, so I found this article particularly interesting.
I’m not sure about how to brand Minneapolis, but I can tell you some of the things that Minneapolis has that Austin doesn’t.
1) An incredible bike trail system. Austin is the home of Lance Armstrong and people in Austin consider the city to be a biking town. However, the bike trails and amenities in Minneapolis blow away the offerings in Austin!
2) Much better public transportation. A light rail system recently opened in Austin that has 6 runs per day and does not go to the airport. It doesn’t even run during UT football games! The Minneapolis light rail system is actually useful for both residents and visitors and has extra runs for special events. In addition, Minneapolis has a great bus system including commuter runs to the suburbs.
3) Awesome theater. Austin might be a city of music, but they don’t hold a candle to Minneapolis when it comes to the quality, quantity, and diversity of live theater available. I miss the Jungle Theater, the Guthrie, and the Penumbra among many others.
4) Real lakes. Austin says that they have lakes, but really they’re just spaces between dams on a river. The river in Austin might be pretty, but the beauty and related recreation around the lakes in Minneapolis is unique.
5) Fortune 500 companies. Minneapolis has an amazing number of large companies, both public and private, compared to most cities of its size. That means more employment opportunities even when startups might not be hiring. It also makes it easier for a couple to have one person hold a more stable job with benefits while the other person takes a chance with a startup.
6) Music…OK, so Austin beats Minneapolis in music, but First Avenue and the Dakota aren’t exactly slouches. In addition, Minneapolis radio has a wider variety of music thanks in part to The Current.
Both cities are great to live in. I think the most difficult aspect for Minneapolis to overcome is the fear of winter that everyone from the south has. I tell people that due to the cold winters, people have been forced to make Minneapolis the best place to live!
Wendy –
This sounds like a great opportunity. I believe a strong part of what makes Minnesota attractive to business and residents is its large pool of diverse talent. This past spring the Minnesota Interactive Marketing Association hosted a celebration of MN talent during SXSW in Austin. We held that event, in part, to attract national exposure to all the amazing speakers (many of them Minnesotan) appearing at the 2010 MIMA Summit coming up on September 27-28. The Minnesota brand will be on strong display both days! I’m looking forward to hearing what learnings and ideas the delegation brings back.
- Tim Brunelle, President, MIMA
Hey Luke – I did get my hair cut, but I still don’t think I look like Brian!
Keith –
The delegation is assembled by the Minneapolis Regional and Saint Paul Area Chambers of Commerce. The past 8 years we usually have a group of business executives, small business owners, CEOs/board members of the MRCC or SPACC, the mayors of Minneapolis, St. Paul, Edina, Bloomington, and select county commissioners and city council representatives. We also have some non-profit executive directors. Last year the trip to Charlotte was led by Jon Campbell, CEO Wells Fargo MN and this year is hosted by 3M.
As it is a chamber sponsored program – the delegation is usually about 60% business and 40% government & nonprofit participants. I don’t think the list is a secret – in fact last year’s delegation may be posted on either chamber website. DM me on Twitter & we can talk further!
Wendy is talking about a whole cultural and community shift here in Minnesota….do you think it is possible. Now the people I was telling this too in one on one lunch appointments don’t think I am crazy! Thank you Wendy for writing and pushing forward on this agenda.
My question would be can the rest of us know who the 75 people are?
Does the Minnesota community think this is a good represenative cross section?
I so look forward to the follow up on this trip.
Thanks, Brian. I think we have most of the building blocks in place to create our ‘cool brand’ like Austin. We need a little organizational structure/shared table for moving forward…and a theory of change for ourselves that isn’t built solely on attracting new (and sometimes random) businesses.