Fresno Famous

This morning at City Hall the Mayor's Creative Economy Council released its final report: Making the Grass Greener: Recommendations to Retain, Attract, Develop, and Support Knowledge Workers (pdf, 3.3MB). The council (of which I am a member) outlines recommendations for making Fresno more attractive to knowledge workers- those motivated, educated, and creative people that will drive our economy over the next 50 years. Highlights from the executive summary:

MINDSET
Mindset is a sphere of change that addresses how the community views itself and how public policy can change and reinvent those views.

Strategic Goal: "Stay the Course"
Adhere to and fully integrate the goals of the 2025 Fresno General Plan.
Strategic Goal: "Location, Location, Location"
Creatively market Fresno-area attributes both internally and externally.
Strategic Goal: "Take the Lead"
As the geographic center of California, the Fresno Metropolitan Area should work to provide leadership and support to the entire Central Valley.
Strategic Goal: "Celebrate, Leverage and Capitalize on our Diversity"
Ensure that Fresno is a place that celebrates its cultural and ethnic diversity.

SMART GROWTH
Smart Growth is a sphere of change that addresses Fresno's growing population through smart planning and long-range vision.

Strategic Goal: "More than Standard"
Commit to excellence in design standards.
Strategic Goal: "Think Green"
Establish the Fresno region as a national leader in clean technology development and entrepreneurial startups.
Strategic Goal: "Prioritize Parks, not Parking"
Foster and promote green spaces and outdoor recreation throughout the city.

URBAN Living
Urban Living is a sphere of change that makes the connection between the health of the city's urban core and the attractiveness of the community as a whole.

Strategic Goal: "Everything Downtown"
Create and promote a vibrant and livable Downtown.
Strategic Goal: "Be Authentic"
Prioritize the older, unique areas of Fresno.
Strategic Goal: "One City, Many Neighborhoods"
Commit to developing individual districts.
Strategic Goal: "Move to the Center"
Improve transportation to and in the urban core.

QUALITY OF PLACE
This sphere of change addresses the importance of Quality of Place to knowledge workers.

Strategic Goal: "Third Spaces"
Foster and promote those places that are neither home nor work, yet where community is built.
Strategic Goal: "Step Across the Digital Divide"
Focus resources on access to and investment in technology.
Strategic Goal: "Listen to the Music"
Promote and foster loud, lively stroll districts.
Strategic Goal: "From an ArtHop to an Art Revolution"
Foster and promote art and culture.

Some of the recommendations in the report are specific (free WiFi downtown), and some are more general (Fresno should promote the clean energy sector). This is meant to be a living document- able to adapt to the changing needs of the city- and not just a prescription for City Hall. There are many nonprofits, businesses, and individuals who are already working on or willing to take up recommendations in the report. Take a look at the 65-page document (don't worry, it's got lots of pretty, pretty pictures) and let me know what you think. Is this doable? Can we make Fresno more attractive to knowledge workers? Hear more details of the report on the new Flowing with Famous.

Photo: the mayor chats with CEC members Prof. Tim Stearns, Craig Scharton, and Robert Wood after the press conference this morning.

More parks, better arts scene could help make Fresno more hip Associated Press

Downtown vision down to business Fresno Bee