Authors John C. Austin, Amanda Weinstein, Michael Hicks, and Emily Wornell tell the story of “today’s reality of two Midwests.”
One is vibrant and rebounding headfirst into “global knowledge economy” while the other is languishing and struggling to attract or retain employers. New data published by the authors suggests quality of place investments may contribute more to building a healthy local economy than traditional investments to create a favorable business climate.
Their analysis of Midwestern communities revealed several smaller communities “well positioned for new growth.” Topping the list were Whitewater, Wisconsin, Celina, Ohio and Brainerd, Minnesota.
“Congratulations to our partners in Whitewater and Jefferson County! It’s great to see your hard work recognized by an organization like Brookings,” said MadREP CEO Jason M. Fields. “I, and my team, are looking forward to continuing to work together on the next phase of Whitewater’s chart-topping growth.”
