I have started reading a book called Who’s Your City by Dr. Richard Florida. I am finding it interesting how one could match the personality of a city with their own personality. My take early on: Dr. Florida’s argument is that technology and communication may make it possible to live any place, but with some research, we can live in the right place. “Must” reading if one were thinking about making a move. However, economic and community development professionals should ask ‘who is their city?’ and is the ‘who’ that is their city, the who they want to attract? It may be difficult or impossible to change who your city is, but it would be helpful to know who it isn’t. Anyway, I think that it will be an interesting book and I might even learn something useful.
By the way, Dr. Florida will be the plenary speaker on Tuesday at the IEDC Annual Conference in Atlanta.
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About Daryl Phillips, CEcD
I am a professional economic developer. I presently work for communities and companies in developing and implementing workforce and economic development solutions as CEO of Phillips Economic Development Solutions (Phi EDS).
Prior to September 2017, I was the economic development professional who served a community team of elected officials, business people, community leaders and dedicated stakeholders for economic development in Cheatham County, Tennessee (pop. 39,880) and its four towns. During my five-year tenure, I served the team as Cheatham County grew over 1,700 jobs, turned around population declines at the start of this decade into healthy population growth, increased tourism expenditures 20.3% and local tax revenue from tourism 25.4%, grew sales tax revenue 36%, focused on developing the local workforce and was recognized by SmartAsset as having the 9th highest Incoming Investment Index of all the 95 counties in Tennessee.
I am a member of International Economic Development Council, Southern Economic Development Council, Tennessee Economic Development Council and International Council of Shopping Centers.
I have earned the designation of Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) from International Economic Development Council (IEDC), the Economic Development Finance Professional (EDFP) certification from National Development Council and hold a Master of Business Administration from Tennessee Technological University.
