Micropolitan. It’s a statistical word but the opportunity is to bring it alive and have it equate to prosperity right here in Peterborough!
- Edge Cities. The New Economic Frontier in North America.
Through my Peterborough Economic Development lens here’s my take on this. Micropolitan means small city and rural blend, an edge city, an edgy city with a rural fringe. Edge as in on the edge of a larger city, in my case Toronto. An edgy city as in a small city has to fight for its right to exist in many ways, perhaps clinging on to an industrial past with all the rust belt fall out that comes with that.
A survival city, one that’s not going to give up. A revival city because what other choice is there than to “git ‘er done”, get at it and get on with the business of rebuilding prosperity. An edge city with rural and agricultural roots which brings credence to the notion of being, buying and living local, not because it is de rigueur but because that’s the way it is, it just makes sense.
In our case we’ve got edge, tats & piercings, real music, gritty venues, local brews, real people, organic farmers, farmers’ markets, committed chefs, arts, culture, urban & rural and much, much more.
Via my friend Jamey Coughlin who has Peterborough family connections I was introduced to the Micropolitan Manifesto. It’s a highly visual and visceral slide show. It won’t take time to view and I believe it’s worth every minute of your attention if you are in an edge city like us and looking for ideas, solutions and inspiration on the way forward.
Enjoy and click here. Comments and feedback are welcome and encouraged!
This blog originally appeared on my personal Blog in this posting.
Written by Dan Taylor, President and CEO of The Greater Peterborough Area Economic Development Corporation and the Greater Peterborough Innovation Cluster.
