Author Ryan to Give Presentation at GCC Wednesday

IRONWOOD TOWNSHIP, MI - Monday, October 27, 2008 - The Gogebic Community College (GCC) and the Grand View Health Systems (GVHS) will be hosting Rebecca Ryan, a nationally known community development consultant and author for and evening discussion on October 29th, beginning at 6:00 PM in the GCC David G. Lindquist Student Center.

Rebecca Ryan is an energetic entrepreneur and the founder of Next Generation Consulting. In 2007, Rebecca became a 2EO, with responsibilities for sales, marketing and positioning. Ryan summarized her firm's research in her 2007 book, Live First, Work Second: Getting Inside the Minds of the Next Generation.

Dr. Richard Florida, author of the best-seller, The Rise of the Creative Clas s and The Flight of the Creative Class wrote the forward to Ms. Ryan's book. He writes, "I am a HUGE Rebecca Ryan fan," and considers "NGC one of the most reliable sources for CEO's, mayors, legislators, economic developers and non-profit leaders who want to attract and retain the next generation of creative workers."

Rebecca was named the 2004 Entrepreneur of the Year by the U.S. Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship and the 2006 Communicator of the Year by Women in Communication.

According to Ryan's book, seventy-five percent of "the Next Generation," people under the age of 28, said that living in the right place is more important than finding a job.

"Next generation economic developers know that if you want to attract the talent... you must have more than good jobs. You must have a city... that captures their sensibilities, matches their values and attracts and engages them."

"Most communities, large or small, have assets that can be leverage to attract the right talent to their community."

"To attract and retain the next generation of knowledge workers to your community, you must see your city through their eyes." Ryan says.

According to Richard Florida, who wrote the forward to Ryan's book, "Human creativity is the ultimate economic resource."

"Creative workers... will even consider taking jobs in certain cities or regions -- a stark contrast to the organizational age, when people moved to chase jobs." Florida writes.

Creative workers "use location as their primary criterion in a proactive sense: They will pick a place they want to live, then focus their job search there."

He continues to say that creative workers "are drawn to places and communities where many outdoor activities are prevalent -- both because they enjoy these activities, and because their presence is seen as a signal that the place is amenable to the broader creative lifestyle."

According to Michigan's Cool Cities Survey conducted by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), seventy-one percent of today's college students agreed with the statement "I can get a job almost any place I choose to live."

Sixty-nine percent agreed that: "I want to live in a place that fits my lifestyle more than a job that pays the most."

Only 48% agreed that "a good paying job is my highest priority."

Top ten factors for college students looking to live a small town or rural area:

  1. Scenic beauty
  2. Safe streets
  3. Affordability
  4. A place for family
  5. Quality public schools
  6. Sense of community
  7. Low traffic
  8. Concern for the environment
  9. Close to friends and family
  10. Walkable streets

Sounds a lot like home!

Jobs and shopping didn't even make the top ten. Warm weather was second to last!