When it comes to the “pace of progress” in our community, almost 3 of 4 respondents said it’s “too slow” in the latest Baton Rouge CityStats annual report.
“This is the highest level in the 10 years the survey has been done. Why is that?” writes Business Report Publisher Rolfe McCollister in his latest column.
The sad reality, McCollister says, is that most of the 72% have been too slow to realize progress is “too slow.”
“Lack of progress may be due to a fear of change, aversion to risk, ‘small town thinking,’ lack of vision or love for the status quo by so many natives who grew up here,” he adds. “Regardless, it has all held us back.”
In 1980, the Baton Rouge metro population was about 500,000, McCollister notes, while the Austin area had roughly 580,000 people. Today, the Austin metro population is 2 million and Baton Rouge is at 830,000. That is 245% growth, McCollister compared to our 68% over 38 years.
“That is 245% growth compared to our 68% over 38 years,” McCollister writes. “That suggests a pace of progress more than 3.5 times faster than us. They left us in the dust. Do we know why? Do you care?”
McCollister says cities like Austin are successful because they understand entrepreneurs are the human capital, talent and resources needed to create companies and jobs for graduates, resulting in a strong economy that supports an excellent quality of life for all.
“Wake up BR,” he writes. “We are no longer ‘a big, ol’ sleepy country town.’ And if we fail to act now, in a world of rapid change, that slow progress could become ‘no progress.’”
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