What's cooler than being cool?

Those with a vested interest in the city of East Lansing are working to make sure the answer, as well as the city's future success, isn't "ice cold."

Last week, an East Lansing "Cool Cities" partnership met for the first time. The group, which includes city staff, developers and local business owners, is part of a statewide initiative to spur economic growth.

Gov. Jennifer Granholm launched the project last year, which she hopes will attract young professionals into Michigan cities. About 80 cities already have committed to the project, which pushes them to improve "cool" components, such as population diversity and housing options.

"All of the new jobs in the country are being created by high-tech companies and young entrepreneurs," said Jean Golden, the East Lansing deputy city manager. "It is incredibly important for our city to be attractive for these people."

The Cool Cities initiative is based on economist Richard Florida's book "The Rise of the Creative Class." Florida describes the creative class as mostly young people who "create" for a living. Included in the class are artists, business owners, scientists and those in communications.

Golden was part of a group of 17 East Lansing staff members and elected officials who attended a December conference in Lansing called "Creating Cool: Linking Culture, Community and the Economy."

The conference focused on attracting the young "creative class" to Michigan cities.

But attracting these people is exactly what Michigan has failed to do in past years, especially in large cities. From 2000 to 2002, Detroit's population decreased by about 2.8 percent. Wayne County, with Detroit as its nucleus, saw a five percent decrease in its 20- to 34-year-old population.

East Lansing's population decreased by 0.7 percent in the same time.

"Theater, art space, interesting politics, opportunities to express their individuality - we've got work to do in all of those areas," Golden said. "We need to be talking to the people who we are trying to attract about what they want to be here."

Perhaps the most alarming rate is the 1.4 percent Michigan population increase since 2000. The state ranks 38th in growth, as many people move to the nation's South and West.

Ellen Bassett, an associate professor in MSU's Urban and Regional Planning Program, said Michigan cities aren't as appealing as cities such as Boston, Seattle and San Francisco.

"We have extreme concentrations of poverty in our core cities and economic support has moved to the suburbs," she said, adding that crime and racially segregated neighborhoods abound in areas like Detroit.

But Bassett said there is still hope for Michigan cities, especially East Lansing.

"East Lansing is perfectly poised to become cool," she said. "We already have the young people - it's about getting them to stay."

In rankings devised by Richard Florida, the Lansing and East Lansing area ranks 54th among 332 U.S. regions.

Interior design senior Katrina Daniels would fit into Florida's creative class. She said she plans on going to Chicago to find a job after she graduates.

"There are a lot more design firms there than there are here," she said. "They have a better nightlife, more museums, more culture and more opportunities."

Lori VanOmmeren, an East Lansing community development analyst and urban designer, helped to prepare East Lansing's Cool Cities report to the state and is facilitating the Cool Cities partnership.

"Anything that is going to make our city more active and lively is a positive step," she said.

VanOmmeren said utilizing mixed-use development concepts, providing for walkable communities and encouraging mass transit are just some of the "cool" ideas that could help the city grow.

"The city offers a great downtown and very livable, friendly neighborhoods," she said.

Psychology senior Megan Harmon, who also would fit into Florida's creative class, said she's had enough of Michigan. The Los Angeles native said she plans on attending law school in a warmer location after she graduates.

"California is so much more diverse," she said. "In Michigan, everything seems so black and white.

"It seems so separated."

Don Jordan can be reached at jordand3@msu.edu.