Guest Blogger: Matt Clayson

Creativity. Talent. Prosperity. Over the past few years, these terms have been tossed around as concepts that we, leaders and engaged citizens in and around Detroit, must embrace. And, like mom and apple pie, they have an appealing ring. Who can deny that creativity is bad; or that talent is not needed; or that prosperity is something that can wait.

Many efforts are underway to create some substance behind these terms. The goal of these efforts: to ensure creativity, talent and prosperity are not simply buzz words used at conferences and conventions to gloss over our problems or competative disadvangates, but that they are real outcomes which, if supported by targeted objectives and sensible policies, will lead the city and region to a new century of economic success.

The Detroit Creative Corridor Initiative is one of the efforts underway to achieve this goal. Its vision: a Detroit that is home to a globally recognized and prosperous creative economy.

Some history: for the past 3 years, Detroit Renaissance (now Business Leaders For Michigan) has been working to implement a strategy called Road to Renaissance. The strategy identified six major initiatives that would help transform Southeast Michigan's economy – one of those being "growing Greater Detroit's Creative Economy." The core focus of the initiative to "grow Greater Detroit's Creative Economy:" to attract and retain creative sector businesses and workers and to help change the global image of our region. One of the outcomes: the Detroit Creative Corridor Initiative.

With Business Leaders for Michigan's support, in early 2010 the College for Creative Studies provided home for the Initaitive in its state-of-the-art, globally recognized A. Alfred Taubman Center for Design Education. It's an amazing, inspiring facility that enables design practice to thrive, from early education to professional development and production. I was hired as the Director for the Initiative in January 2010. Previously, I was an attorney with ePrize, LLC – an interactive promotion firm with a global portfolio of mainly Fortune 500 clients. I look forward to bring many corporate best practices and results driven management to the Initiative.

While the Initiative's leadership is deep in a strategic planning phase, leadership recognizes the following as important deliverables:

• Providing resources and support for emerging creative sector businesses (think marketing, advertising, public relations, interactive media, industrial design and architecture);
• Strategically positioning Detroit and the region's assets to attract and support design labs, strategy departments and creative presences from businesses around the country and world;
• Identifying, proposing and advocating for thoughtful policies that ensure creative sector industries in Detroit and the region are and remain globally competative; and
• Ensuring Southeast Michigan's creative talent is virtually networked, connected to corporate leaders and stakeholders, and promoted on a global level.

As an aside: the creative sector economy already employees 30,000 individuals in Detroit and Southeast Michigan. Detroit creative sector industry jobs pay over 50% more than 2006 U.S. average wage: $64,768 vs. $42,535. Hence the urgency in ensuring the aforementioned deliverables are effectively and strategically advanced by the Inititiave, its many partners, community leaders and engaged citizens.

Over the next few months, the Initiative, its leadership and its partners will continue to build a strong infrastructure for measurable results. Look forward to us sharing our resources, our ideas and our successes while honestly and candidly confronting our shortcomings and areas for improvement – as an Initiative and as a region.

Matt Clayson is the Director of the Detroit Creative Corridor Initiative