The results of this study are worth considering for Northfield and its economic development.
What makes a community a desirable place to live? What draws people to stake their future in it? Are communities with more attached residents better off? Gallup and the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation launched the Knight Soul of the Community project in 2008 with these questions in mind…
While the economy is obviously the subject of much attention, the study has found that perceptions of the local economy do not have a very strong relationship to resident attachment. Instead, attachment is most closely related to how accepting a community is of diversity, its wealth of social offerings, and its aesthetics. This is not to say that jobs and housing aren’t important. Residents must be able to meet their basic needs in a community in order to stay. However, when it comes to forming an emotional connection with the community, there are other community factors which often are not considered when thinking about economic development. These community factors seem to matter more when it comes to attaching residents to their community.
Other links:
New Urban Network: Passion for community related to economic growth
Neal Peirce column: Money’s Not Everything: Surprise City Poll Results
People might not remember but in 2007, Division St. in downtown Northfield was featured by the Project for Public Spaces in a piece titled: Five of the Best Neighborhoods in North America. Category: Best small town neighborhood. Full piece: Division St. Downtown Northfield.
While downtown is just one element of people’s emotional attachment to Northfield, it just might be the most significant. And that’s why my buddy Ross and the NDDC are so important to Northfield’s overall economic development. See Norman Butler’s list of 2010 accomplishments/activities.