Hunting YPs
USA Today had a piece today about how un-hip cities are trying to lure young professionals (available on Yahoo). I'm at the upper-end of the demographic they are talking about (25-34), but I can understand the problem because I have seen both sides. I live in a distinctly non-hip city that has an aging population. I used to live in a very hip city with lots of young people. Although I think that the size of the cities has something to do with it, Seattle has a lot more creative energy per capita. Starting businesses and being active is contagious.
The funny thing about the article was the description of the things that cities are trying to do something about it. I can understand the desire, but that is a very uphill fight. Proably the best things that could be done are indirect. Don't go out and solicit young people to move to your city, but get it on their radar screen by providing something unique and interesting. Strive to become the best city for cycling in the East or something. If nothing else, it gives the city something to rally around or at least argue about.
Above all, you have to provide an innovative economic base. If you can create interesting and challenging jobs, they will come. But I guess that is a chicken-and-egg problem: without young professionals, where are the new businesses going to come from? Without new businesses, where are the young professionals going to come from? If I could solve that problem, I should run for mayor.