What is the Creative Economy?

The Creative Economy is about innovation, opportunity and prosperity. People who work in the Creative Economy may be in any type of business. What they have in common is that they create new wealth in the community through creative thinking and innovation.

The Creative Economy was brought to the forefront of community planning through Richard Florida’s research into the growth of the Creative Class. In his work, Florida outlines that the most successful cities in North America today are those that maintain cultural vibrancy and economic strength through the attraction and retention of a talented and creative workforce.

The Creative Economy is the fastest growing economic sector in Ontario. In 2006, almost 40% of all jobs in Ontario fell into this category. In rural Ontario 26% of the labour force were working in creative occupations. These Ontarians were averaging an annual income of $58,625 in 2005.

Haliburton County already has an impressive array of individuals and businesses who are involved in innovative enterprises. A lot of these people are working quietly in ones and two’s from a home office located beside a lake or in a forest grove doing work that reaches across the country or around the world. The expansion of broadband services in some areas of the County has made this possible for more and more people. Others are larger employers using innovation and creative thinking to create products and services that are exported out of the region.

The Haliburton County Development Corporation (HCDC) is excited about the opportunities within Haliburton County to encourage more innovative and creative initiatives that will enhance our local economy.  The HCDC’s goal in this effort is to create new jobs, contribute to the quality of the life and sustain a healthy natural environment.

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