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Should We Stay?

Springfield and young professionals: Why they stay, why they go, and how we might keep more of them.

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To stem the brain drain and, help attract more young professionals, the Springfield Chamber of Commerce recently contracted Wisconsin-based Next Generation Consultation to conduct a survey to find out what young professionals (YP’s) are looking for in a home city, and how our YP’s feel about Springfield’s performance in those areas.

The genesis of the study was the Chamber’s The Network, a group for young professionals age 21-40. Begun in June 2007, it now has more than 350 members, says Greg Williams, the Chamber’s senior vice president of economic development. “We needed to perform the survey just to get a feel for attitudes and perceptions on livability and employment,” Williams says. “It’s pretty clear that people in [this] age group thinks this is a very attractive place to live and work.”

Seven key criteria were identified (listed in order of importance as ranked by survey respondents):

• Cost of lifestyle: 98 percent value it, 78 percent say it is satisfactory in Springfield.
• Earning: 96 percent value it, 52 percent say it is satisfactory.
• Vitality (out-and-about activities, etc.): 93 value it, 63 percent say it is satisfactory.
• After Hours (dining, recreation, music, nightlife): 87 value it, 63 percent say it is satisfactory.
• Learning (intellectual activities and resources): 91 percent value it, 73 percent say it is satisfactory.
• Around Town (commute times and transportation): 91 percent value it, 75 percent say it is satisfactory.
• Social capital (diversity and getting involved): 87 percent value it, 48 percent say it is satisfactory.

Williams says leaders acknowledge and accept the dissatisfaction with wages and pay levels, and are taking gradual steps to make such changes happen, with some of the city’s most influential leaders, including city manager Greg Burris and MSU president Dr. Michael Nietzel, at the helm. The full effect, Williams says, may not be felt for a generation, but “there is some real tangible potential for moving the bar.”

Curious to explore, we decided to take a closer look at each of these criteria; why they’re important, what Springfield does right, what it does wrong, and how the local situation might be improved. Handy infographics, which come courtesy of our amazing journalistic kin at 417 Magazine, help illustrate the differences between Springfield and surrounding markets. Because we always try to be handy, a handful of local experts share their knowledge with some tips on how Springfield might become a “stay” kind of place for you.

Where applicable in this feature, the following cities are represented in the following colors

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