Next Cities™ Dashboard Report

How does your city stack up in the eyes of the next generation workforce, versus all cities in the United States or Canada? If your city population is 100K or larger you can obtain a dashboard report that provides at-a-glance scores for your city vs. the competition in each of the seven indexes. In addition, you receive tips and best practices based on real-world experience with our clients. [Format: PDF. $895] Download a sample report by clicking here. Contact Molly Foley to order your report today.

Is your city a Next City™, a hotspot for the next generation workforce?

It used to be that cities with jobs attracted and kept their workforce. That might have worked for your dad, but it’s not going to work for your kids.

Today, young up-and-comers pick their cities - those with the amenities and “vibe” they value - and then look for jobs. (Sometimes to their parents’ chagrin.)

We’ve surveyed the places that 20-40 year olds choose to call home - and talked with over 40,000 of them about why they live and work where they do. Turns out that the Next Cities™ (the places they love) have seven things in common. They all have great scores in these areas:Vitality, Earning, Learning, Social Capital, Cost of Living, After Hours, and Around Town.

Madison’s “Handprint” (above) shows their scores in each of the seven indexes, and demonstrates why it’s the #1 mid-sized city for young professionals on the U.S. Next Cities List: it scores very well in most of the indexes the next generation values.

What’s your city’s “Handprint?”

Once you understand how you score in the minds of a young, mobile workforce, you can take the right steps to attract, engage, and keep them.

Best part? Being a Next City is more than being a cool place for the young and talented. Next Cities™ have serious economic horsepower:

The world’s 40 largest mega-regions, which are home to some 18% of the world’s population, produce two-thirds of global economic output and nearly nine in ten new patented innovations. (Richard Florida, “How the Crash Will Reshape America,” The Atlantic, March 2009.)

Let’s talk.

NGC has worked with urban communities like Nashville and Milwaukee and rural states like Vermont and Iowa. Sometimes, the things young talent want in their communities are really simple. Like dog parks (Canton, OH). Other times, they require larger investments, like a seat at the decision making table (Birmingham, AL).

No matter what your challenges are, we can help. Who knows, you might be so inspired you’ll write a testimonial for us like the Honorable Michael B. Coleman, Mayor of the City of Columbus did: 
“Rebecca Ryan and her NGC team worked hands-on at every level in Columbus to help us understand what was and wasn’t working in being a better YP talent magnet. Ryan and her NGC team are great partners, helping us drive forward the community conversation on attracting and retaining the young and talented.”

Next Cities Clients

• Brevard County, FL
• City of Akron, OH
• City of Birmingham, AL
• City of Canton, OH
• City of Charlotte, NC
• City of Cincinnati, OH
• City of Columbus, OH
• City of Grand Forks, ND
• City of Halifax, Nova Scotia Canada
• City of Indianapolis, IN
• City of Johnstown, PA
• City of Milwaukee, WI
• City of Nashville, TN
• City of Rockford, IL
• City of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Canada
• City of Tulsa, OK
• City of Wichita, KS
• Region of Central Texas
• Region of Greater Louisville, KY (WIRED65)
• Region of Quad Cities, IA-IL
• Region of West Central Wisconsin
• State of Vermont
• Technology Corrdior Business Alliance Iowa City, Iowa