Data & Research

The Creative Class group provides communities, economic developers and real estate developers with the research and tools needed to implement competitive strategies for sustainable economic prosperity.  CCG specializes in a wide range of research and planning techniques that guide understanding of the creative economy.

Expertise includes

  • Demographic, economic, human capital, and innovation profiles
  • Occupational cluster and talent analysis and forecasts
  • Talent attraction and retention strategies
  • Time-series industry cluster analysis and strategy formation
  • Target industry cluster studies
  • Real estate assessment
  • Economic benchmarking and impact analysis
  • Community engagement

To learn more about CCG’s economic development expertise, contact Steven Pedigo (steven@creativeclass.com).

Specializations

4-T Benchmarking

Working within the 4T (Technology, Talent, Tolerance and Territory Assets) framework described in Richard Florida’s, The Rise of the Creative Class,  CCG provides customized analyses for more than 40 indicators — measuring creativity, economic conditions, entrepreneurship, human capital, innovation, investment, and quality of place — along with 10 benchmark competitors.   The findings provide unparalleled insights into a community’s economic position, comparative advantages, marketing strengths, and challenges.

Talent Locator

CCG’s occupational clustering is a one-of-a kind method that utilizes the latest human capital data to create a time-series study of an area’s talent pools. CCG’s talent locator technique provides an accurate skills assessment of a region’s talent base, as opposed to an often-limiting industry employment assessment.  With the occupational cluster, CCG includes a forecast that serves as an indictor for future job and workforce needs.  For a more comprehensive analysis, CCG can also evaluate a region’s higher education graduates and workforce programs.

Industry Cluster Analysis

The most effective corporate attraction and retention strategies are research-driven. CCG provides a time-series industry cluster evaluation that identifies a community’s target clusters (strengths, emerging and retracting).  The analysis measures industry growth, firm formation, employment, labor availability, wages and venture capital.

Economic Development and Cluster Strategy

As the economy shifts to the global creative age, communities need a comprehensive plan for each of its industry and talent clusters. Working with an area’s economic development team and business community, CCG will develop targeted cluster strategies.  Typical reports include an analysis of the following: labor force, business climate, connectivity, financial incentives, costs and support programs.