We think that Memphis Mayor A C Wharton may be the only city mayor with an Office of Talent and Human Capital.
It was a strong first step. Now we need two more.
Talent is the overriding factor in the economic success of a city. The other two factors: opportunity and place.
The creation of the Office of Talent and Human Capital made a statement about the mayor’s understanding that the future of Memphis hinges on its ability to retain, develop, and attract college-educated workers. Its creation also says volumes about the sense of urgency that all of us should feel at the hemorrhaging of talent and our position on the lowest rungs of the largest 51 metros when it comes to the percentage of people with college degrees.
Talent
As our colleague Carol Coletta, as president of CEOs for Cities in Chicago, concluded from the landmark research of her organization, about 60% of a city’s economic success stems directly from how many college-educated people it has in its workforce. She also concluded that cities with more talented people are the ones attracting more talented people. In other words, the rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer.
Memphis is unquestionably poor in talent, and the fight to keep from getting poorer requires all of us to treat it as the overriding priority for our region. Let’s repeat, we are not in the lower rungs of U.S. cities. We are in the lower rungs of U.S. metros. People whose only advice is for Memphis to get its act in order are in denial, because all of us in this region are on the wrong side of a trend in which only slightly more than a dozen cities are soaking up all the talent.
In our region, that sponge is Atlanta, which is Mecca for so many of our best and brightest African-American college graduates. In recent years, Nashville is putting up a good battle with Atlanta for migrating Memphians. These two cities were frequent destinations for the five 25-34 year-olds that left Memphis over a decade.
It was a big driver in the trend from 1998 to 2007 when Memphis MSA gained households – 6,259 – but they tended to have lower incomes than the people who left, leaving us with a net loss of $435 million in income. In the ranking of U.S. metros, that left us at #89 in the increase in households, but #318 among the 363 metros for new income.
Tough Trends
By way of comparison, Nashville was #15, attracting 51,563 households with incomes of $2.3 billion. In fact, we contributed 2,530 households to that number along with $162 million income. To put this into perspective, fewer than 50 households moved from the Nashville region here. Meanwhile, 1,975 Memphis region households moved to Atlanta ($97 million in income).
The loss in income appears to be continuing. In 2008, 840 Shelby Countians with an average salary of $26,500 moved to Nashville/Davidson County, and 562 came from there to here, but they only earned $23,100. Meanwhile, 41 people earning an average of $27,900 moved from DeSoto County to Nashville/Davidson County and 55 people moved from Nashville to DeSoto County but they had an average salary of only $17,700.
In other words, there’s little reason to expect that the income deficit gap doesn’t continue. It should be a wake-up call that our strategies for expanding our economy aren’t working. Then again, we shouldn’t act surprised, because the Memphis region is exactly the one we set out to create – America’s distribution center, real estate development disguised as economic development, cheap land, and cheap labor.
The good news is that the talent message is now widespread. Leadership Memphis has adopted the Talent Dividend – increasing college-educated people here by 1% for a payback of $1 billion – as its priority and MPACT Memphis has created a valuable database of information about what young professionals believe and what they want here. To punctuate all this, Mayor Wharton established the country’s first Office of Talent with the aim of focusing city resources and the mayor’s bully pulpit on the need to increase the talent in our region.
One Down, Two to Go
It’s been a year since the office was created and about a year since Leadership Memphis set the Talent Dividend as its prime goal, and right now, representatives of both are in Chicago at the national Talent Dividend meeting. They are joining a group of cities whose interest was sparked by a $1 million prize to be given to the city that records the greatest increase in college-educated workers between now and 2014.
There are about three dozen cities that have registered to compete for the money, but we have a one year head start on most of them. As a result, it’s a good time for everyone working on the talent issue to report on the progress that’s been made in the past year to move toward an increase in college-educated residents and galvanize us behind a blueprint for success.
Mayor Wharton’s decision to create the Office of Talent received derisive responses from some people, notably those who criticize anything that deviates from old school government work. It goes without saying that old school government thinking got us into the hole that we’re in and it’s why Mayor Wharton is on the right track to shake things up.
So Memphis is working hard on talent, which leaves us to address the two other factors driving economic success: opportunity and place.
EDGE
Mayor Wharton and Shelby County Mayor Mark Luttrell have created EDGE as a new umbrella organization for most public economic development agencies. It’s our hope that EDGE does not become just a new vehicle for traveling down the same old economic development road.
Rather, we hope that EDGE will be about more than just about getting all the public tools in one toolkit or about streamlining the system to give away more incentives. Rather, we hope that EDGE does what we don’t do enough: think strategically, focusing on the drivers of economic success, thinks like entrepreneurship, minority business development, and talent.
Hopefully, EDGE will take care of the opportunity factor, which only leaves place of the three forces defining city economic success. There are several interesting ideas and programs to improve the quality of place in Memphis, but we continue to believe that we start by creating the model public realm, the highest objective of Sustainable Shelby. It’s our bias that it should be on the riverfront or downtown.
As for government, we like the idea proposed by Leadership Memphis President David Williams that City of Memphis should create a Division of PLACE – Parks, Libraries, Arts, Culture, and Education (Museums). Today, these activities are scattered across several divisions of city government with little connectivity or common purpose.
3 for 3
While a new division could reduce the city’s number of divisions – it has four too many now – and save money, the most important benefit is to get our priorities right and to make sure there is no mistake about what they are.
The Division of PLACE completes and sends the clear message that Memphis has the right three over-arching priorities: talent, opportunity, and place.
so far the drain will continue as long as real smart, self-serving leaders in the Memphis region on stuff like ‘skate parks’, ‘art parks’, high density housing, nature trails, and ‘bike lanes’
making Memphis truly competitive with other metros/cities/msa’s won’t hinge on this cosmetic stuff
those things and pursuits are meaningless in stemming the tide of population/income loss to other cities like Nashville and Atlanta
bureaucrats and bureaucracies in a think-tank approach is smoke and mirrors for Memphis
Memphis has never, ever liked or endorsed divergent or innovative thought or approach- therein is the old school, good ole boy ‘problem’ – too many other areas across the nation have dumped holding on to that stuff, but not Memphis, based on my own long experience. It shall take multiple decades for Memphis to change its methodologies – why ? just look around and listen, just look around at the stupidity, the education system, the ingrained racism, the white flight, the ignorance, the bad history surrounding racial politics, etc etc etc
Even Fred Smith was quoted as saying that Memphis is not competitive – duh, really ?
Memphis spends its time denying its true place comparatively (to other cities) – it won’t or can’t learn from other environments – they are too insular and blind – many resent even looking and examining other successful cities – you hate being forced in to anything, whether on issues like integration of schools, or neighborhoods, or accepting fully black political leadership – it irks the hell out of many in fact – you are bothered by the reality that Memphis is and shall continue to be a mostly NON-white city – you haven’t adjusted and focused on the true priorities, so some of you think that building edifices will shove you into the 21st century of critical thinking, and meeting the needs of the region at large – instead, many Memphians insist on bonehead so-called solutions
Guys like Wharton are beating his head against an iron gate – Memphis is trapped by its own devices – those of resentment, bifurcation, lack of intelligent ‘people planning’.
Memphis seems full of false pride, false ego. People find value in the absolute wrong things, and continue to do so year after year, decade after decade. Memphis is xenophobic, it tends to hate criticism of any sort – it actually angers a few idiots – much unlike what happens in many other cities inside and outside the South. Atlantans don’t become red-faced angry when someone moves to Atlanta and makes critical or analytical comments about the city- Memphis DOES. Atlantans are too busy going forward to be bogged-down in such small-minded silliness and reaction. Instead Memphis becomes actually enraged. This sort of reaction I have not witnessed to such a degree in metros such as Nashville, Charlotte, Austin, Raleigh, or a TampaSTPete for example. Nor have I witnessed such visceral disdain in smaller cities, that seem to be going forward at a brisk pace such as Huntsville/Madison.
Memphis loves to ‘talk the talk’, but those who have lived or live in multiple places already know better- most can’t ‘walk the walk’. Telling everyone that you think you’re a great city won’t make it so – the rest of us simply shake our heads and wonder if you’re sleepwalking, or simply refuse to recognize what is obvious to any resident who has lived anywhere else in the United States.
The substance of a city is not bravado or pretense. You can’t fake it, you can’t employ empty slogans or marketing schemes.
Every city is not destined for ‘greatness’. Salvation was not meant for everybody-you have to choose it. Some cities will choose to maximize its potential, others shall languish, falter, and forever be mired in muck.
Two CAPITAL CITIES come to mind in this category : Montgomery AL, and Jackson MS. These two cities are hardly destination cities in my opinion.
Memphis’ potential is not the same potential of other cities. Others cities may have more, or far less. Memphis can’t be evaluated in a vacuum- but it thinks it should for some crazy, parochial reason. Many don’t wan’t to even hear about what other regions are doing successfully- it leaves many ‘cold’ to hear real differences and success stories. It sometimes bugs the hell out of some to even listen to other approaches.
Memphis doesn’t seem to accept that perhaps Memphis should ‘play within its self’, within its own means, focus on what’s truly achievable in the short term, FIRST, and stop placing the cart before the horse- build on smaller successes and do them well over and over again….but that’s not likely to happen. Why ? easy…many many Memphians can’t understand and take criticism, and others are foolish in their inability to also understand that all ‘criticism’ need not be ‘constructive criticism’…that too is naive. Many times, criticism about cities needs to be direct, specific, or even harsh.
Memphis should play to its strengths, and focus for the foreseeable future on those alone.
Try stepping out of a dream. Memphis is not a ‘miracle city’ – never has been, and I’ll bet it might take a long long while…..er, when farily compared to other cities in the nation AND the south in particular.
Additionally:
Memphis might want to keep something in mind as well : Other cities, metros etc aren’t standing still, some of them are evolving,changing, growing intelligently at a very quick pace.
Competition for talent, family, population/income/tax revenue is only going to get far more pervasive and stiff.
Frankly, many metros already have a HUGE lead over Memphis. Memphis is unlikely to overtake a number of them in the near future- perhaps however in 40-50 years….If you have that kind of time to wait in order to experience a thoughtful, dynamic, effective and progressive city, then god bless you. I too would advise my kids not to wear blinders betting on Memphis at the expense of other plentiful, viable options.
You may be right. It may be 40-50 years. Forty years was about how long it took Portland.
That’s why we need to start now and to focus on talent, opportunity, and quality of place.
“Every city is not destined for ‘greatness’. Salvation was not meant for everybody-you have to choose it”.
This is so true. Economic growth these days is a zero-sum game. When cities like Nashville and Atlanta are winning, someone is losing. It’s us.
I have lived in both places (Atl and Memphis). The most frustrating part of being here is that so many people don’t want to change. So many decisions are made by the same people who were making them 30 years ago.
Let’s put some money into basic transportation: A bus network or light rail that middle-class people will want to use. No more trolleys, Beale St. Landing docks, Pyramids, or other investments that generate little or no income.
Let’s stop building magnificent, overpriced schools in declining areas. The new school on Broad St. in Binghampton wasted millions of dollars. White Station hasn’t seen an upgrade in 25 years. Put money into schools in growth areas that will succeed.
I agree…let’s get back to basics!
I will try and see if I can remember reading a rant with so many contradictions but for now, none come to mind. The same narrow minded comments and generalizations lacking in any citable relations to facts or reality. Anyone who has read the posts at SCM or actually take the time to browse the archives will see that both this site, and Memphians in general are quick to notice and enlarge the faults inherent within this community and region in order to provide a more thorough analysis of the why and how’s of their occurrence and then brainstorm as to possible approaches and solutions. The site then goes on to do what few in Memphis take the time to do- acknowledge there are individuals, groups and initiatives that are working toward improving the quality of life locally often in new and interesting ways.
Memphians cannot take criticism? Laughable. This city has been much critiqued for decades. I also call foul on this author’s supposed experience in the other communities they mention. It is certain they have not ventured, much less lived, in said areas otherwise they would know all too well the way in which residents of Charlotte, Atlanta, Dallas and Tampa bristle at any true comments that might be perceived as criticism of their own communities. New Yorkers have a pride in their city which is next to none. They will admit their issues- much like Memphians, but a strong critique of the city from someone who has not lived there to any justifiable length of time can quickly devolve into a physical confrontation.
No anon, instead your history of posts at this site portray an individual that chooses to project their inadequacies onto a community. The only individual or group that has displayed a much overblown sense of their position as it relates to the world around them is staring back at you in the mirror. By the way anon- the internet is free realm where anyone can post a comment or opinion regarding any issue regardless of it relation to the topic at hand. Any bristling of your own at my comments will simply display an inability to take criticism without becoming red faced and thus displaying your small-town mentality and methodology.
We can’t simply “get back to the basics.” The basics of what makes cities successful has changed. As we posted, it’s about talent, opportunity, and quality of place.
Those are the “basics.”
Thanks, Urbanut, for saying it well.
SCM – great post.
To achieve our goals, our local government needs to place more emphasis on the built environment and, more specifically, our historic properties and districts in midtown and downtown. These areas, which contribute to our city’s history and sense of place, are our gems – they’re sustainable, they follow good urban design principles, and they attract young talent.
The creation of a Division of PLACE is an excellent idea, and I’d like to see it additionally focus on preservation and revitalization of these areas.
Of course, all that to say that if it took 40- 50 years to correct this ship’s course, then so be it. I’m certain for a limited few, that serves as some sort of discouragement but there are others who find joy and fulfillment in challenging and overcoming those issues and tasks that others are either unwilling or unable to pursue. I find myself standing alongside other qualified and educated individuals who are willing to roll up their sleeves and contribute to the effort. I will be proud to have contributed to something larger than myself in such a way. Perhaps that is what some here lack regarding their knowledge of generations younger than themselves. Numerous surveys, analysis and studies have shown the under 35 crowd has a strong desire to be active within the community in ways they perceive as having an impact. I know many here that are willing to commit themselves towards improving this community and will be proud if after 40 years we find our city serving as shining example of livability much as cities such as Portland do today. Living in a perfect community is fun for a while, but real satisfaction and fulfillment is found after becoming involved and seeing a project achieve its goals. Meanwhile, I have a wonderful neighborhood for myself and my family so I find that I am not depriving them of anything while I pursue my passion to build a better Memphis.
Urbanut – well said. We all have an excellent opportunity here to make a real difference in our city and encourage civic pride along the way.
“Memphians cannot take criticism? Laughable. This city has been much critiqued for decades”
Exactly. In my experience, no one is more critical of Memphis than Memphians. Shekel makes some valid points, but on this one, he’s not even in the ballpark.
I have noticed that much discussed differences of opinion here on this site invariably devolves into obvious efforts to discredit another resident’s (of Memphis) personal opinion. I wonder why that is desirable and tolerated.
Any occassional reader of this forum can see for themselves it is unfortunately dominated and controlled by a very few individuals and posters who can’t seem to stomach posters who aptly point out the basic ills and problems of Memphis, TN.
I have re-read many personal attacks from posters such as Urbanut that are totally unnecessary. If some resident doesn’t agree with Urbanut, then Urbanut becomes a mouthpiece for the Chamber of Commerce or the planning profession.
Any person who has lived in Memphis or even travels to Memphis for years can see immense problems and bad attitudes such as aired by Urbanut and others on occassion. It’s clear to most of my associates who have also read many of your posts on Smart City (who have not commented at all) that Memphis does have a long way to go in style and in substance. Some of you probably don’t like that comment either, and maybe Urbanut will immediately logon here to offer up another angry and unnecessary response to my comment as well.
I have quite a few friends who live in Nashville (some transplants, some native to the region), and they too state some rather negative things about the attitudes found in Memphis. Most have said they would “never” choose to live in Memphis, TN (versus Nashville or several other cities, like Tampa or Atlanta). For some of you who post here, that may be incredible to you. Some of you may find that hard to believe and want to argue about it, which would be sad as well.
There is no need to be a fanatic. The reality is that there are great places to live, good places to live, bad places to live, and terrible places to live as well. Some people think an obvious bad place to live is a great place to live. Other people believe that a good place to live is a terrible place to live. Still a few others may be indifferent.
Even in stereotypes there exists elements of truth. The same thing might be said about generalizations. Generally speaking, most professionals, academics, students, travelers that I have met and know, who have lived or spent a great deal of time in Memphis, TN don’t like Memphis, don’t believe it’s a progressive environment, and would not consider making it a permanent home. These same people have stated misgivings about rearing children in Memphis TN as well. Some of you may find that strange ? so what ? it is what it is. Some of you may think Lots of people love their hometown, so what ? Even hometowns have problems, right ?
If any of you think Memphis TN is a pocket of excellence in the Nation, maybe some of you should get out of West TN more and talk to some of your other residents of your own state of TN, or within the southeast, southwest, midwest, and especialy in the coastal south. Your perception of yourselves is not remotely shared by many of these neighbors. Unfortunately sometimes perceptions are realities.
Anyone who is the about stating negative opinions about Memphis TN, should understand that they have no more importance or authority than any other poster, or they are fooling themselves. If many posters believe that professionals or young families are clammering or eager to live or move to Memphis, TN you are living in Fantasyland. That is simply not true based on what I hear and know. That may change in the future, it may not change in the future
Anon-
It’s more than obvious the only posts of mine you have bothered to read are those directed at the rants you have posted here yourself. I have disagreed with numerous posts at SCM. The key difference between those individuals and yourself is they could support the points they were making. At times they may only be employing half-truths, a fault I have been guilty of numerous times, but at least they bothered to base their ideas on some notion of reality. Once the rest of the picture is illuminated is provides the opportunity for all to grow.
The other obvious difference is the fact that they did not feel the need to invent numerous pennames or cite “friends” that agree with them as if that validated their points. Apparently your credibility relies on the shared opinion with whom you choose to associate (being yourself or friends, real or otherwise). Individuals of similar critical thinking skills have been found throughout history- repeating the accepted opinion that the world was flat, burning witches in Salem and believing those of different ethnicities were somehow inferior. My “attitude” displayed towards you is very personal in nature because individuals such as yourself- who choose to base their actions and comments not on reality and fact but on opinion, hearsay and preconceived notions- act as stumbling blocks that prevent addressing the issues that plague this city, our region and the world at large. Let me make it plain for you: you not only speak and act without thinking but the idea of thinking appears to be a tiresome burden with which you cannot be bothered. Easier to remain within that narrow universe where there is no room for rational thought.
You and your “friends” apparently are handicapped in your ability to use this site because if you could, one would read the many posts that include regular criticism and critique of the many aspects of life here in Memphis. SCM hardly lavishes the world with stories of an incredible urban utopia high atop a bluff. Many of these posts are far more harsh than anything you have offered to date simply because they are grounded in reality and offer support and proof- not shallow sentiment and groundless perception. Here we see that while you relish in these issues, you cannot grasp that the point of raising these issue here is so that those who are interested may openly discuss and debate ideas and solutions to these issues. What is amusing is that within your rambling, time and again, you both make and miss a basic premise of this site and the conversations that occur here. That foundation being that we do not necessarily like certain aspects of life here in Memphis either. We all well aware of this community’s faults, more so than yourself seeing as you cannot be bothered to dabble in the realities of this city. Otherwise we would simply be saying that life is grand here all the time and in every way. I thought that aspect of SCM was so obvious it need not be mentioned.
All in all I suppose I should thank you for proving my point yet again.
you must really think you are in some sort of web-contest dontcha ?
Mr. In-Charge, eh ? LOL
Get real, your influence and self-aggrandizing, almost pedantic instructional tone has no bearing on my own opinions based on my own experiences in Memphis or anywhere else.
You’re in a bit too deep ! you take things like a personal affront, which is laughable in the scheme of things.
People DO have differrent assessments of Memphis ya know !
You keep believing what you wish, and will continue doing the same, but without personal attacks upon you. You’re just one, solitary voice, and you don’t speak for anyone else but yourself. YOUR reality is not shared by a bunch of people in and OUTSIDE of Memphis, TN. That should be easily realized ….LOL
unbelievably a bit stupid…lol…really it is.. allowing any other poster to make you soooo upset and visceral !…lol
who cares ? it’s opinion fella
God help us if you were in charge. You dish out things as personal insults and then you play the victim. As the old saying goes, you are either part of the solution or part of the problem. There’s little doubt which category you fall in.
And you’re right – it is just opinion. It is shaped by no known facts or any prevailing thinking about cities, etc. And since it’s opinions, why do you feel compelled to express it over and over and over? We pretty well know what you think at this point.
who cares? obviously you do Shek. It’s patently obvious that you’re obsessed. Found that Marine Corp Service record yet? Or was it with Seal Team 6? I forget…
Don’t waste your time Urbanut. Move on and ignore those posts.
He can’t ignore them, or move on obviously.
And you’re a rabbi of what congregation? Temple Beth-el Prevarication?
You may not be wrong about everything, Shekel, but you’re definitely wrong-headed. Now, that was an opinion, just so you understand….
Anon 9:08
you are exactly correct, but several Grande Dames of this website can’t seem to understand whay you just stated ! I still suggest that is part of the Memphis mentality of being disingenuous about asking for comments, feedback and/or opinion. Posters provide opinion, then get condemned for providing opinion because those opinions may fly in the face of what they deem as “correct”, “informed” or otherwise “supported” by what they themselves “require” as evidence or facts.
Yep, your assessment is spot on, most can’t take criticism.
That however is highly indicative of most Memphis thinking in my years of experience in Memphis. I have never lived in a city that has this sort of defensiveness to this degree. It is truly unusual and anathema to many other cities.
Ugh..
Perhaps some of the anons need to rethink their posts concerning comments. Just as you are free to post your opinion regarding the article, that opinion is open to critique by others. If an author is unwilling or unable to defend their comments that is their own right and they are free to simply not respond. There are those that believe that all opinions are valid. That in itself is a false premise. While everyone is entitled to their own opinion and viewpoint, there are those that are simply incorrect or are based on falsehoods. Just because someone has the opinion that the world is flat, does that make it correct? An individual has the right to make such a comment, but others have the right to point out that such an opinion is wrong or ask the individual to provide proof or reasoning.
There are those that desire a one way street, but that is not how this site operates. It’s usually the individuals who are unaccustomed to having their “opinions” challenged or those who realize they are making unsupportable statements.
who says a poster has to make you happy by providing what YOU consider ‘support’ ?
that’s too crazy for me, in that you think you’re in charge of anything (other than your own posts)
you sound like a pipe-smoking, frustrated community college professor.
ROFLMAO
If you find that funny, what you will really find entertaining is the fact my requests for facts or actually support is apparently enough to warrant a response. Apparently the issue that some of the “opinions” being posted here are not rooted in reality but are instead built upon misinformation bothers certain authors more than they let on. If it was simply about posting an opinion, they would feel no need to defend their statements one way or the other.
Shekel. Answer the question: why do you feel it necessary to invent personas, such as that of a rabbi, or Marine Corp veteran to give weight to your viewpoints? Sounds like a frustrated white wine sprtizer swilling dilletante. (no ROTFLMAO needed).
sounds like some posters on this site are too easily rattled by someone – some of you are being made to run around and put out fires instead of just not letting yourselves get besides yourselves, which is interesting to watch because it has not changed a thing but a few posters don’t get it / maybe you should not be so caught up in someone else’s opinion ? I’ve seen hypersensitivity on websites and blogs but some of your efforts to argue, silence or discredit bridges on the ineffective absurd. If you don’t like what is said by someone else, it’s unlikely you’re going to change another’s observations about Memphis Tenn or any other location. Their perceptions and experiences/opinions are their own, which some of you don’t seem to understand. If a poster’s opinions frustrate you that much maybe you should try stepping away from your computer a while and get some fresh air, and not be omnipresent on any particular website, including this one. Arguing over another person’s opinion expressed on a blog is beyond ineffective, it’s silly.
Anon-
You state at one point that opinions are just that- viewpoints that require no substantiation or facts that can be freely expressed on a website and should not be hampered by critique, criticism or requests for support. You then ridicule other opinions that differ from your own as being “silly”. As you have stated before, this is a site that encourages conversation and debate. Are you stating that individuals are not permitted to have opinions of others statements? You have done as much yourself so now I am confused. Please clarify your desired rules of engagement on this site. I will volunteer this: if I read statements that are contrary to fact- even if they are hidden behind the false façade of “opinion”- I will continue in my efforts to pull back the curtain. You are coming off as a hypocrite, so please clarify this for us in order to avoid any misunderstandings.
Look in the mirror, Shekel.
what happened to Gianinni