Hicks: "Efforts to lure a new factory in hopes it will spur economic growth is like filling the bath tub during a house fire. "

The author looks at long-term economic changes, and comes to a conclusion of vibrancy. Has New Albany's economic development team read this article?

OPINION: Fantastic towns have a vibrancy that makes them grow, not just factories, in the Indiana Economic Digest

Michael J. Hicks, PhD, is the director of the Center for Business and Economic Research and a professor of economics in the Miller College of Business at Ball State University. His column appears in Indiana newspapers.

 ... Well, in 1940 the only vibrant cities had big factories, rail yards and lots of associated workers. In 2010 the only vibrant cities had lots of people in many occupations whose product is mostly consumed locally. This doesn’t mean there aren’t a few fantastic towns with factories, but it is the vibrant town that ultimately makes the difference.

This begs the question, "If this is so, why is our community so dead-set on luring the next factory to town instead of making our town a good place to live?" The answer here is simply that too many folks simply don't know what else to do.