Comments on: The “Knowledge Economy” and Providence http://www.richardhowe.com/2011/12/21/the-knowledge-economy-and-providence/ Lowell Politics and Lowell History Mon, 17 Jun 2013 21:44:49 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: PaulM http://www.richardhowe.com/2011/12/21/the-knowledge-economy-and-providence/comment-page-1/#comment-11600 PaulM Sat, 24 Dec 2011 15:12:38 +0000 http://www.richardhowe.com/?p=13243#comment-11600 Bob, Yes, book grooup for this one---and maybe we try to get the author herself to Lowelltown for a discussion. This is good Innovative Cities Project follow on to the conference last year. Let's talk. Bob, Yes, book grooup for this one—and maybe we try to get the author herself to Lowelltown for a discussion. This is good Innovative Cities Project follow on to the conference last year. Let’s talk.

]]> By: Bob Forrant http://www.richardhowe.com/2011/12/21/the-knowledge-economy-and-providence/comment-page-1/#comment-11599 Bob Forrant Sat, 24 Dec 2011 13:40:45 +0000 http://www.richardhowe.com/?p=13243#comment-11599 A bit late to the conversation...There is a third way, maybe, to think about this. We need a three-legged stool to rebuild the Merrimack Valley economy: the arts as exemplified by Western Avenue studios and the Revolving Museum; high tech as exemplified by the firms that dot Route 3 that we can see now that the leaves are gone; and good old fashioned industrial production as exemplified by the hundreds of small precision metalworking firms that dot the Commonwealth. An interesting examination of this can be found in a new book by an MIT research affiliate, Catherine Tumber, "Small, Gritty, and Green: The Promise of America's Smaller Industrial Cities in a Low-Carbon World." Book group anyone??? A bit late to the conversation…There is a third way, maybe, to think about this. We need a three-legged stool to rebuild the Merrimack Valley economy: the arts as exemplified by Western Avenue studios and the Revolving Museum; high tech as exemplified by the firms that dot Route 3 that we can see now that the leaves are gone; and good old fashioned industrial production as exemplified by the hundreds of small precision metalworking firms that dot the Commonwealth. An interesting examination of this can be found in a new book by an MIT research affiliate, Catherine Tumber, “Small, Gritty, and Green: The Promise of America’s Smaller Industrial Cities in a Low-Carbon World.” Book group anyone???

]]> By: Brian http://www.richardhowe.com/2011/12/21/the-knowledge-economy-and-providence/comment-page-1/#comment-11591 Brian Fri, 23 Dec 2011 18:06:46 +0000 http://www.richardhowe.com/?p=13243#comment-11591 Timely article in the Sun. http://www.lowellsun.com/ci_19599806 I keep hearing how young tech people want to work in an urban environment yet cutting edge companies set up shot in the boring Westfords of the world. Probably because that's where mgmt lives. They'd be smart to hang a shingle in Downtown Lowell to attract and keep young talent. Timely article in the Sun.
http://www.lowellsun.com/ci_19599806
I keep hearing how young tech people want to work in an urban environment yet cutting edge companies set up shot in the boring Westfords of the world. Probably because that’s where mgmt lives. They’d be smart to hang a shingle in Downtown Lowell to attract and keep young talent.

]]> By: DickH http://www.richardhowe.com/2011/12/21/the-knowledge-economy-and-providence/comment-page-1/#comment-11586 DickH Fri, 23 Dec 2011 02:50:06 +0000 http://www.richardhowe.com/?p=13243#comment-11586 I agree that Lowell's arts economy remains vibrant - just try to park on Western Avenue during Open Studios. But I don't see a creative economy and a knowledge economy as being mutually exclusive. If anything, they're compatible. There'd be no harm in pursuing both simultaneously. I agree that Lowell’s arts economy remains vibrant – just try to park on Western Avenue during Open Studios. But I don’t see a creative economy and a knowledge economy as being mutually exclusive. If anything, they’re compatible. There’d be no harm in pursuing both simultaneously.

]]> By: joe from Lowell http://www.richardhowe.com/2011/12/21/the-knowledge-economy-and-providence/comment-page-1/#comment-11585 joe from Lowell Fri, 23 Dec 2011 02:34:15 +0000 http://www.richardhowe.com/?p=13243#comment-11585 I don't see any evidence that Lowell's arts economy is losing steam. Quite the opposite. I don’t see any evidence that Lowell’s arts economy is losing steam. Quite the opposite.

]]> By: KevinH http://www.richardhowe.com/2011/12/21/the-knowledge-economy-and-providence/comment-page-1/#comment-11579 KevinH Thu, 22 Dec 2011 15:38:47 +0000 http://www.richardhowe.com/?p=13243#comment-11579 So, three things are required. A Compelling Vision, Maniacal Talent and Free Market Capital. PaulM I'd be happy to sit down with you for "une bière" to talk about the reality of making this happen. As the saying goes... "talks cheap, takes money to but a pig". So, three things are required. A Compelling Vision, Maniacal Talent and Free Market Capital. PaulM I’d be happy to sit down with you for “une bière” to talk about the reality of making this happen. As the saying goes… “talks cheap, takes money to but a pig”.

]]> By: DickH http://www.richardhowe.com/2011/12/21/the-knowledge-economy-and-providence/comment-page-1/#comment-11578 DickH Thu, 22 Dec 2011 12:04:15 +0000 http://www.richardhowe.com/?p=13243#comment-11578 I'm skeptical of corporate tax breaks. Didn't Raytheon get a huge break from the state back in the 1990s and, as soon as the financial benefits were realized, the company closed plants and laid off a bunch of people? That's my memory, at least. Too often communities get in a bidding war against themselves in providing ever more lucrative tax breaks to entice companies to locate. If the infrastructure, work force, and delivery of services are all there, a company should find a community to be a fit place to locate without the need for corporate welfare. As for 38 Studios, it's run by a guy who's very vocal about the need for smaller government until it comes to something that benefits him financially, then he's all for it. If it helps the rest of us, it's socialism. If it helps him, it's good government. A knowledge-based economy is good; a hypocrite-based economy is not. I’m skeptical of corporate tax breaks. Didn’t Raytheon get a huge break from the state back in the 1990s and, as soon as the financial benefits were realized, the company closed plants and laid off a bunch of people? That’s my memory, at least.

Too often communities get in a bidding war against themselves in providing ever more lucrative tax breaks to entice companies to locate. If the infrastructure, work force, and delivery of services are all there, a company should find a community to be a fit place to locate without the need for corporate welfare.

As for 38 Studios, it’s run by a guy who’s very vocal about the need for smaller government until it comes to something that benefits him financially, then he’s all for it. If it helps the rest of us, it’s socialism. If it helps him, it’s good government. A knowledge-based economy is good; a hypocrite-based economy is not.

]]> By: Brian http://www.richardhowe.com/2011/12/21/the-knowledge-economy-and-providence/comment-page-1/#comment-11571 Brian Thu, 22 Dec 2011 04:32:39 +0000 http://www.richardhowe.com/?p=13243#comment-11571 I think the area by the arena and ballpark could make a good knowledge district. Difference being it would have to built from the ground up since the mills have been converted to housing. Is the city attempting to woo companies like 38 Studios to Lowell with tax or other incentives? If not we should. Whatever happened to building a hotel next to the arena? I think the area by the arena and ballpark could make a good knowledge district. Difference being it would have to built from the ground up since the mills have been converted to housing. Is the city attempting to woo companies like 38 Studios to Lowell with tax or other incentives? If not we should. Whatever happened to building a hotel next to the arena?

]]> By: PaulM http://www.richardhowe.com/2011/12/21/the-knowledge-economy-and-providence/comment-page-1/#comment-11566 PaulM Wed, 21 Dec 2011 11:59:49 +0000 http://www.richardhowe.com/?p=13243#comment-11566 Yes, Dick, I heard similar observations at a conference on Gateway Cities at Clark University last summer, concerning development strategies for older, smaller to mid-sized cities that have the advantage of being hub cities, like Lowell and Providence. It's all about creativity, innovation, research, "knowledge workers," and such terms that are used to capture the meaning of economic activity driven by imagination, ingenuity, and expertise in technology. Yes, Dick, I heard similar observations at a conference on Gateway Cities at Clark University last summer, concerning development strategies for older, smaller to mid-sized cities that have the advantage of being hub cities, like Lowell and Providence. It’s all about creativity, innovation, research, “knowledge workers,” and such terms that are used to capture the meaning of economic activity driven by imagination, ingenuity, and expertise in technology.

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