Brief Prosperity Profile Of Sault Ste. Marie

November 13, 2008

A Brief Prosperity Profile ofSault Ste. Marie, Ontario

Kevin Stolarick, PhDResearch Director

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1. Present Benchmark Peers2. Describe Selected Measures

a. Some “Lagging”b. Some “Leading”

3. Get Your ThinkingWhere does Sault Ste. Marie

rank?4. Discussion

Outline / Approach

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Benchmark Peers

Peer Selection

14 peer states/provinces forOntario based onpopulation.

10 cities/regionsselected withpopulationsapproximately thesame as Sault Ste.Marie.

• Rimouski, QC• Val-d'Or, QC• Belleville, ON• Sarnia, ON• Owen Sound, ON• Orillia, ON• North Bay, ON• Timmins, ON• Kamloops, BC• Chilliwack, BC

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Technology

Technology“A high technology base is both anecessary condition for and a result ofa region having a strong creativeeconomy.

Being known as a "high-tech" regionhelps to attract the creative workforce,which, in turn, generates newtechnologies making the region evenmore high-tech.”

Technology

• “Tech Pole” Index (based on Milken Institute)– Share of total US/Canada “high technology”– Regional concentration of “high tech” among all industries

• Combination allows smaller, tech-intensiveregions to score well

• US & Canada, based on total employment

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Tech-Pole Index: Where does Sault Ste. Marierank?

• Ranking out of 11 (Sault Ste. Marie + 10 peers)

• Peer Average: 0.009• Lowest peer score: 0.002 (Orillia, ON)• Highest peer score: 0.030 (Rimouski, QC)

•Where does Sault Ste.Marie rank?–Top 3?–Bottom 3?–Middle 5?

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Tech-Pole Index: Sault Ste. Marie “Bottom 3”

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Source:MPIAnalysis(2008).Sta:s:csCanadaCatalogueno.97‐559‐XCB2006009.

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Talent

Talent“The concentration of people in theCreative and Super Creative Classes,has a stronger relationship witheconomic growth.

Creative people don't just clusterwhere the jobs are. They cluster inplaces that are centers of creativityand also where they like to live.

Places need a people climate -- or acreativity climate -- as well as abusiness climate.”

Talent

• “BA and above”

• Percent of population 25 and older with abachelor’s (4-year) university degree or higher(masters, graduate, PhD)

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Talent Index: Where does Sault Ste. Marierank?


• Peer Average: 11.1%• Lowest peer score: 7.7% (Timmins, ON)• Highest peer score: 17.2% (Rimouski, QC)


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Talent Index: Sault Ste. Marie “Top 3”

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Source:MPIAnalysis(2008).Sta:s:csCanadaCatalogueno.94‐581‐XCB2006007andAUCCEnrollmentnumbers2007.

Talent

• Now, a “Creative Economy”– Innovation, Thinking, Creativity

• “Paid to think”–Everyone has the potential to be creative

• Percent of workforce in the “Creative Class”T = Technology and R&D InnovationA = Arts and CultureP = Professional and ManagerialE = Educating and Training

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Creative Class: Where does Sault Ste. Marierank?


• Peer Average: 24.4%• Lowest peer score: 19.8 (Orillia, ON)• Highest peer score: 31.9% (Rimouski, QC)


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Creative Class: Sault Ste. Marie “Top 3”

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Source:MPIAnalysis(2008).Sta:s:csCanadaCatalogueno.94‐581‐XCB2006007.

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Tolerance / Inclusiveness

Tolerance / Inclusiveness“Diversity has become a politicallycharged buzzword. To some it is anideal and rallying cry, to others aTrojan-horse concept that hasbrought us affirmative action andother liberal abominations.

Creative Class people use the wordoften, but not to press any political hotbuttons. Diversity is simply somethingthey value in all its manifestations.”

Tolerance / Inclusiveness

• Mosaic Index

• Percent of population foreign born

• Immigrants generate growth and are a sign orregional “openness”

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Mosaic Index: Where does Sault Ste. Marierank?


• Peer Average7.8%• Lowest peer score: 2.2% (Canton, OH)• Highest peer score: 23.6% (Santa Barbara, CA)


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Mosaic Index: Sault Ste. Marie “Middle 5”

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Source: MPI Analysis (2008) . Statistics Canada Catalogueno. 97-559-XCB2006011 and 97-F0012-XCB-01049.

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Population Growth

Population Growth

• Percent growth/decline in total population

• Between 2001 and 2006

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Population Growth: Where does Sault Ste. Marierank?


• Peer Average: 2.7%• Lowest peer score: -1.6%% (Timmins, ON)• Highest peer score: 9.3% (Chilliwack, BC)


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Population Growth: Sault Ste. Marie “Middle 5”

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Discussion /Summary

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For More Information

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For More Information

•Richard Florida’s books– “The Rise of the Creative Class”– “The Flight of the Creative Class”– “Who’s Your City?”

•www.martinprosperity.org

•www.creativeclass.com

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Thank YouKevin [email protected]