The Creative Economy on the North Shore
The North Shore is home to a concentration of creative economy companies. Over the past four years, the region has made a commitment to understand this sector and develop programs and services to help it grow. Specifically:
- In 2003, the Lawrence Eagle Tribune did a market research study and found that there were 1000 creative economy businesses in Essex County. They reported that these businesses had over 6000 employees at the time and generated sales of $1.258 billion. These numbers did NOT include sole proprietors or part-time employees, who also work in the creative economy, so this sector is larger than reported and is continuing to grow.
- In April 2004 The Salem Partnership and The Enterprise Center at Salem State College invited Mr. Charles Landry, an international expert on growing the creative economy (www.comedia.org.uk), to come and examine the conditions for success of the creative economy. Landry observed that the North Shore demonstrated a commitment to the creative economy and showed an ability to work collectively to grow businesses, jobs and revenues through the creative economy. He is continuing to consult to the region and returned in April 2007 for another 4-day visit/ consultation.
- In 2005, building on the findings of the Lawrence Eagle Tribune, a number of public and private businesses on the North Shore came together and created a first-ever Trade Association to service the needs of these companies. CEANS ( the Creative Economy Association of the North Shore) is:
" An association of creative and knowledge businesses and institutions in a region steeped in history, culture, the arts and international trade. The Association supports economic growth in our industry cluster to grow the firms and their employment, and to promote business between creative economy members and the broader regional, national and global economy."
CEANS has taken on the mission of bringing creative economy companies together, to share business information and opportunities, and create forums for joint business ventures. CEANS currently has over 130 creative economy company members and an active Board of Directors. Over the past two years CEANS has held 17 events, in cities across the region, including Salem, Beverly, Lynn, Marblehead, Gloucester, Rockport and Amesbury, to connect and network these companies together. CEANS, working with the Enterprise Center, offers regular seminars and workshops, which are well attended, and participation in CEANS continues to grow.
In May 2006, with the support of Senator Fred Berry and the John Adams Innovation Institute of the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative, the Salem Partnership, the Enterprise Center and the Massachusetts Cultural Council held the first ever statewide conference on the Creative Economy entitled The Innovation Agenda: Growing the Creative Economy in Massachusetts. The final report from the conference includes an Action Agenda that delineates what the region must do to grow this sector and will be introduced by Rep. Bosley into legislation in 2007. The report can be found here.
Also in 2006, in an effort to understand the size and make up of companies in the North Shore, the Enterprise Center commissioned a study by Prof. Laurence Goss from Salem State College. His study provided some revealing data about sole proprietorships and micro-businesses. CEANS has identified creative economy businesses as a significant component of this sector of the economy.
The Fiscal Year 2008 state budget was passed with two important appropriations: $65,000 to CEANS and $50,000 to the Enterprise Center for its work on the creative economy. In January 2008, we kicked off a very important project with ConsultEcon, Inc and Karl F. Seidman Consulting Services to develop our action plan to nurture and grow the North Shore's Creative Economy as a key economic development strategy.
CEANS is now working with the Enterprise Center to build on its accomplishments to enhance its ability to better serve creative economy companies. 2008 programs will be announced shortly.
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