Great neighborhoods set us apart — but don't take our word for it

Everyone who lives in the Greater MSP region knows that our quality of life including walk-able neighborhoods, transit and beautiful parks and trails are what set us apart from other regions. Places like this are part of what makes this region unique, and why so many of us love living here.

These vibrant, dynamic places are a great place to spend an evening or an afternoon. They are also a crucial part of our region’s economy, and an increasingly important way our region competes in today’s global marketplace. A new national report explains why places like this are so important, and how the City of Minneapolis is leading the nation in creating them.

Amazing Place: Six Cities Using the New Recipe for Economic Development is a new report out today from national non-profit Smart Growth America. It looks at how Minneapolis as well as Boise, Denver, Greenville, Nashville, and Pittsburgh are using place-based strategies to attract new residents, new jobs, and new investment, as well as support existing businesses and nurture entrepreneurs.

All of this has helped Minneapolis become a place where people want to live, work, start a business, and invest, the report says.

This trend, according to the report, represents a marked shift in the broader field of economic development. Where cities once relied principally on subsidies or low tax rates in hopes of luring big employers, now they are doing everything they can to create great places. Smart growth strategies like zoning changes, incentives for infill development, policies to make a range of housing available, street improvements, investments in transit, support for public parks and gathering spaces, and creative reuse of historic buildings are among the new, innovative ways cities are creating the places people and companies want to be, the report says. This new approach to economic development can help communities create diverse and durable local economies that last beyond the life cycle of any one employer.

We’re incredibly proud of the diverse, energetic place Minneapolis and the entire Greater MSP region is today, Smart Growth America’s new report showcases that to other cities across the country. We’re excited to be recognized as a model for other places to follow, and to continue to make our region an even better place to live and work in years to come.

Visit www.smartgrowthamerica.org/amazing-place to see the full report.