“From Coal to Cool”: The Creative Class, Social Capital, and the Revitalization of Scranton

ABSTRACT:

This study examines the processes of revitalization within small cities, using Scranton, a postindustrial city in Northeast Pennsylvania, as a case study. Through qualitative interviews, I examine the motivation factors for key players in the revitalization of Scranton’s downtown, such as business owners, city and nonprofit administrators, and cultural leaders. Revitalizers are heavily influenced by Richard Florida’s creative class theory in that they strongly believe that promoting arts and culture and creating a consumer-based downtown is imperative for urban renewal. However, revitalizers are also motivated because Scranton has a high level of social capital, especially in terms of bonding capital. Strong social ties (including community, family, and institutional) assist revitalizers in their creative endeavors. This study indicates that small cities attempting to achieve economic and population stability should focus on their strengths: city livability and the thick social ties that maintain communities.

Notes

1 This research focuses on public perceptions of Scranton and those factors that influence those perceptions. It does not attempt to measure the existence of a creative class in Scranton.

2 Scranton Tomorrow (with the national organization Artspace Projects, Inc.) has also led the development of Artspace, Scranton, a live/work arts community to be built within the Scranton Laceworks Factory in North Scranton, outside of the central business district.

3 Other organizations that support economic and cultural growth of Scranton generally are: the Scranton Chamber of Commerce, Rediscover Scranton (an organization promoting business and workforce relocation to the Scranton area), Power! Scranton (tied to Rediscover Scranton; it promotes regional networks among Scranton’s professional class), Lackawanna Heritage Valley Authority (designated by Congress in 2000, it works to preserve the Lackawanna River’s watershed region, including its history and culture), Metroaction (a nonprofit development organization for small businesses), and First Friday (a nonprofit that organizes arts walks in the downtown).

4 The names of the teenager and theater have been changed.

5 The type of business is not named to protect his identity.