CANADA, Waterloo/Kitchener metro

"Lessons from a mid-size manufacturing town" 21-minute video PRESENTATION by Rod Regier Exec director of Economic Development, City of Kitchener. They focus on innovation clusters. 

To highlight a few famous students of the University of Waterloo you will recognize click HERE. Communitech works with 800 start-ups. Thalmic: Student turned entrepreneurs who become city builders. 

Innovation District is a physical place with welcoming borders and good transit with inner city rail.  

Rod said small cities have an advantage over larger metros because all the players are known and more like family. The Millennials (ages 25-32) are actively engaged to help the town fathers build a great city so tell the old dogs not to overlook the young pups.