The creative economy is fueled not by coal and oil, capital and machinery, but primarily by ideas. Its driver is often the entrepreneur who has come up with a new way of thinking and whose primary resource is his or her creativity--although a corporation can lead in the creative economy too, if its work is mainly based on ideas and information. In creative economy sectors, in which the Twin Cities abound, the greatest asset a corporation can have isn't something physical like coal mines or even software, but it employees. It's their talent and smarts that make enterprises go, and cities flourish.
Bill Kelley, Jon Spayde
Wednesday, February 01, 2012
In one magical zone in the Twin Cities, there's a loon made of junk, a chimney covered in shattered glass and ceramic shards, and a place to buy tarantulas. It's called the Central Corridor. Here's a second look at what photographer Bill Kelley and managing editor Jon Spayde picked out last year as they traveled down University Avenue and Washington Avenue, seeking out their favorite offbeat, oddball, one-of-a-kind things.
Camille LeFevre
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
It's a hip hybrid of retail poster shop, design studio, and coworking space where some of Saint Paul's most entrepreneurial artists gather around--yes!--a big table. And it's a bold move to help build up downtown, too.
Jon Spayde
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
One of the major influences on Big Table Studio (see feature above) has been Jenni Undis' Lunalux print shop and paper-goods store in Minneapolis. So we thought it would be opportune to re-run our Lunalux feature from 2011, in which we describe how Undis combines charm and cool, tradition and innovation. (By the way, the other major influence on Big Table is the CoCo coworking space--check out our Big Picture feature below for more on that.)
Jon Spayde
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
In a season of economic gloom and doom, the veteran business developer and partner in the CoCo coworking spaces sees a hopeful future in the bright eyes and collaborative ethics of young entrepreneurs.
Jon Spayde
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
"Coopetition"--cooperation among competitors or potential competitors--was a force to be reckoned with in the Twin Cities during 2011. Our politics may be gridlocked in partisanship, but the smartest entrepreneurs and civic officials locally are embracing a wider vision than the zero-sum game.
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