Called the “City of Oaks” by many, the Raleigh is working to become the City of Innovation.
To jump-start an economic transformation, N.C . State, along with economic leaders and citizens of the city, holds the first ever Raleigh Innovation Summit today at the Raleigh Convention Center.
The event features two keynote speakers. The first is Tom Murphy, senior resident fellow of the Urban Land Institute.
Murphy’s track record is outstanding, serving three terms as the mayor of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Following the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, he coordinated rebuilding efforts in Louisiana and the surrounding Gulf Coast area.
Following Murphy is Mitchell Silver, Raleigh’s city planner, a position he has held since 2005. In the past, Silver has promoted sustainable and economically smart planning for Raleigh’s fast-growing urban sprawl.
Both men undoubtedly have a strong vision of how to make the Raleigh area both financially and structurally successful for decades to come.
The committee behind the Raleigh Innovation Summit sees their city’s success in the hands of its own citizens. To tap into the minds of its people, the committee will hold four “break out sessions.” Their purpose is to discuss the four most important topics deemed by the Summit’s Planning Committee and to receive as much feedback from citizens as they can.
The first pillar of the Summit was to create an actual hub for innovation in the downtown area, appropriately titled the Innovation Center. The center would cater to entrepreneurs, investors and others who would take advantage of the programs and services offered by the center.
The second pillar is to transform Raleigh from the City of Oaks into the City of Innovation. An aspect of rebranding Raleigh is to retain the University’s brightest and most creative graduates and to stop them from starting their careers in other cities.
Silicon Valley’s rapid rise, thanks to companies like Apple, Google and Hewlett Packard, is the envy of cities all across the United States. Thanks to these technological giants, the city of San Jose, located with Silicon Valley, has flourished and grown at a great rate.
The third pillar of the Innovation Summit is to find the same success in Raleigh. To do this, the city is looking for ways to make Raleigh more attractive to entrepreneurs than cities like San Jose and New York.
The last pillar is directly associated with the University. Raleigh is looking to create a strong relationship with Centennial Campus and work together to better both parties. The committee is looking upon the students of the University for ways to make a partnership effective and financially fruitful.
With a weak national economy, many city officials are looking for ways to gain a financial boost. The Raleigh Innovation Summit is creating partnerships with the city government, its citizens, and the University. This strong bond will no doubt be extremely beneficial to all.
