Culture is identity

Spokane, like Tacoma, is working to earn a seat as a prosperous second city. 

our business dudes and ladies are trying to crack that problem, working tirelessly to incubate sectors here that, once they reach a certain mass, will begin drawing talent to them like neutron stars, becoming hubs of self-reinforcing industry.

It's not about Tacoma, but it could be. Except for one difference - the author, Luke Baumgarten, sees Tacoma's investment in the arts and culture as a key differentiating factor between attracting and retaining talent, and losing it.

... Tacoma has financed, with public and private money, a ton of art and cultural initiatives in the past decade that have transformed Seattle's scary little brother into an attractive and affordable alternative. 

As we look ahead to address gaps in Tacoma's City budget for the next biennium, no area of spending will go unexamined, but areas like the arts are often easy targets for spending cuts. Baumgarten's article makes an economic argument for their value.

Your $10,000 of corporate giving helps my arts organization(s) do the cool shit that make our town a more attractive place to recruit to.