Introduction

The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, in partnership with community civic leaders and forward-thinking social theorist Richard Florida, has launched the Knight Creative Communities Initiative, a venture that aims to enhance three community's (Tallahassee, Fla., Charlotte, N.C., and Duluth, Minn.) overall prosperity and build upon its quality of life assets. The year long effort builds upon the research and writings by Richard Florida, which spotlight human creativity as the primary engine of economic growth.

Florida, the Hirst Professor of Public Policy at George Mason University, is author of the national bestseller The Rise of the Creative Class. The initiative combines research, training and community dialogue to develop community vision and an accompanying set of initiatives to foster the growth of the area's creative economy. The Creative Communities approach is based on identifying and attracting the kind of creative talent communities need to thrive and grow. The Creative Communities Initiative is led by a local committee of top civic leaders, who enlist the involvement of 30 additional volunteers called "community catalysts", and will be charged with understanding and applying effective methods of developing sustainable economic prosperity. The catalysts initially participate in a two-day training seminar and, over the course of the year, work together to build local consensus and engage the broader community in a range of economic development efforts.

Prof. Florida's work is considered a breakthrough analysis of the importance of creativity and innovation in cities' economic growth.
At the heart of his theory are what he calls the "four T's" of economic development — technology, talent, tolerance and territory assets. Healthy communities have a balanced quotient of all four, he says. "My team and I are excited to be part of this program. This up-to-date approach is testament to Knight Foundation's dedication to advancing communities," said Florida.