In watching a marketing video for a Midwestern city this week, I was struck by how all such videos – with a few exceptions – are as predictable as a local evening newscast:
“Now let’s check that weather forecast. Bob, tell me you’re bringing us the sunshine and warm temperatures this weekend!”
I’m pretty sure you could transcribe the first 90 seconds of most economic development videos—and the first 10 slides of a PowerPoint—without even seeing the content. It usually starts off with a word about how much “opportunity” exists in said city, then quickly mentions “quality of life” as the number one reason to do business there.
