Richard Longworth has spent a lot of time examining the Midwest's efforts to change economically.
The former Chicago Tribune reporter is the author of Caught in the Middle, America's Heartland in the Age of Globalism. He is now a senior fellow at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs and writes regularly on his blog The Midwesterner. Longworth will be part of a panel discussion on Thursday at Albion College, discussing the role that liberal arts colleges can play in helping to revitalize Midwestern cities. Albion is holding a series of events in conjunction with the inauguration of new college president Mauri Ditzler.
Longworth has urged more regional thinking among local governments. He says the global economy requires leveraging the strengths they have. "The old days of a strong back and an alarm clock would get you a job and a lifetime career, that has gone forever." Longworth says the knowledge economy requires more skill, education and ideas to start, run and work in new companies.
"The old days of a strong back and an alarm clock would get you a job and a lifetime career, that has gone forever."
The city of Albion and Albion College can look at its new president, according to Longworth, to see what is possible. Longworth says Ditzler made great strides at Monmouth College to make it an asset for the region of Western Illinois. Longworth says that includes getting students into the community, working in the town. He says a college that has good a relationship with the town it's in can be a central meeting place. But Longworth says that requires overcoming barriers that often exist between "town and gown."
Asked if the economic ripple effect from a liberal arts college would be less than a large research university, Longworth says it doesn't have to be. He says a small number of businesses can provide an economic jolt in a town the size of Albion. Longworth says colleges can work with people to help set up businesses in the community. He says they can bring together bankers and people who work in finance with entrepreneurs who have ideas for launching a new business.
Longworth says there's a wide range of collaboration between small colleges and their communities. He says in some cases, respected schools don't like to associate with a town experiencing hard times. But Longworth says other schools see themselves as a hub, bringing different communities together.
But creating a successful partnership can take a lot of work, according to Longworth. He says in some cases there have been years of bad relations between the college and people who live in the town. Longworth says sometimes a "coach" is hired to work with the two sides.
There are limits to what a city can get from a college or university in its region. Longworth says many towns have become too reliant on "eds and meds," short hand for higher education and health care. He says a town should make use of a college, but he says it takes more than that to have a strong economy.
"The real competition is 10,000 miles away on the other side of the world, and is eating our lunch."
Longworth says part of the key to modernizing the economy in the Midwest is approaching problems as a region. He says cities and states believe they are in competition for jobs. But Longworth says "the real competition is 10,000 miles away on the other side of the world, and is eating our lunch." He says it's not in the nature of the Midwest to work cooperatively for greater economic prosperity. Longworth says that will have to change if the Midwest is going to compete in the global economy.
