Editorial: Poor image / Minneapolis sells itself badly Published June 2, 2003
Minneapolis has an image problem. People who visit tend to be surprised and delighted. Some even entertain the idea of living here. But those who have never been here -- and that's the great majority -- tend to picture Minneapolis as a boring place with a declining economy. That's because the city does a poor job of marketing itself nationwide. In any case, the negative, misleading perception about Minneapolis seems fine with natives, who aren't all that keen on newcomers anyway. These are among the provocative results of an important new study commissioned by the Greater Minneapolis Convention and Visitors Association. These findings should not be shrugged off. A changing economy has heightened competition among metropolitan regions for keeping and attracting the best new jobs and prosperity. Quality of place has never mattered so much. That's why perceptions of a city are so important. And that's why the Visitors Association was wise to seek a candid, objective assessment of Minneapolis' national image from c onsultants heretofore unfamiliar with this place, New York-based FutureBrand. The study's aim is twofold: to help the city attract conventions and tourists, and to help local corporations recruit talent nationwide. Some findings may surprise locals still living off the vapors of the 1970s, when Minneapolis was seen as an innovative place, despite its cold winters. Climate remains a problem, of course. But Minneapolis is also seen as place with nothing to do, "flat, dull and primitive," "only a mall," "not diverse," "cowboys and dogsleds" and "friendly but not sincere." This last point was emphasized by new arrivals who regard Minneapolis as a clannish place, disinterested in outsiders and outside ideas. New people who decide to stay are those who have made good friends and found a sense of community, but that's not easy. Joanna Seddon, who supervised the study, said she was intrigued and dismayed by a local culture that seems simultaneously modest and smuggly off-putting. "Minnesota nice can be misleading," she said. http://www.startribune.com/stories/1519/3910815.html Shawn Lewis, Field Neighborhood -- _______________________________________________ Sign-up for your own FREE Personalized E-mail at Mail.com http://www.mail.com/?sr=signup TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. 2. If you don't like what's being discussed here, don't complain - change the subject (Mpls-specific, of course.) ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
