Next Cities presents report at council luncheon

A group of young professionals from Springfield called The Network has created the Next Cities Task Force, which has examined ways to keep young business minds living and working in Springfield. That group will present its findings today at a City Council luncheon.

In 2009, Next Generation Consulting, a market research firm that studies trends of young professionals, ranked Springfield 17th out of 49 cities between 100,000 and 200,000 people in terms of its overall attractiveness.

The task force has reviewed the data provided by Next Generation Consulting and concluded that its findings were accurate, according to the Next Cities Task Force Report. At today’s luncheon, NCTF chairman, Ryan DeBoef, an attorney with Husch Blackwell LLP, will summarize its report and make recommendation to council on ways the city can retain the next generation of business men and women.

DeBeof said in an e-mail that the presentation will focus primarily on four topics that the task force found especially compelling:

• Earning and cost of lifestyle;
• trails and bike routes;
• smoking ordinances and policies; and
• diversity.

The report found that Springfield scored high in the categories focused on cost of living and commute times. It also commended the city on maintaining low student to teacher ratios and its many higher education opportunities, though it expressed some concern about educational funding.

Springfield ranked low in the task force’s evaluation for a lack of cultural diversity. According to a survey administered by Next Generation Consulting in 2008, 87 percent of Springfield’s young  professionals said they value living in a diverse community, but only 48 percent said they believe they live in a diverse community.

For more coverage of the report, look to the Jan. 10 print edition.[[In-content Ad]]