There I was , at a Holiday cocktail Party when I had, what a futurist could call an “A-HA !” Moment.
While Checking my newsfeed on my mobile device, I noticed an article from Business Insider which showed Dubai in 1990, and Dubai’s Main strip today. I smile, turned to the beautiful blonde next to me, and Joyously declared “High Point is the Next Dubai !”
She Gaffawed, thinking i was telling a joke, later confiding in me that she wanted to be a “part” of the inside joke. But this was no joke.Or at least it had the potential not to be, especially from a futurist’ point of view.
In the Book “How to think like a futurist” Author Ciscele Sommers states that all futurist predictions can point to four different, yet equally important aspects: Resources, Technology, Governance, and Demographics. I will attempt to point out using these perspectives how one city such as High Point could become the next Dubai with the central thesis point being that given the four perspectives previously mentioned High Point is exactly where Dubai was in 1990.
In 1990 Dubai’s Emirate and Government wanted to diversify from their traditional oil and natural gas based unrenuable resources, seeing that they had 30-50, possible years left with the “gift” before the wells run dry. Seeing the writing on the wall they began to cultivate a diversified strategy.
This presented an interesting challenge that was solved with an army of consultants (futurists) from all diciplines. The plan that was derived was what ultimately is the Dubai of Today.
The Connection to High Point—- Today The city of High Point is mostly (90-95) percent a one industry town: Furniture. Over the past few years High Point’s leadership has hired consultants from around the globe, including Andre Duanne to Re-invision the City of High Point as more than just the hub of the furniture industry. The re-inventing of the City’s core to include year-round businesses including technology companies sets the stage for phase one of the diversification and reinventing of the City of High Point, while staying close to its roots.
In 1990 Dubai’s wealth came mostly from the single source of Oil/Natural Gas. Today in High Point More money than the super Bowl is brought in twice every year, making it the largest economic event in North Carolina. Also worth noting about High Point is the amount of capital in High Point. High Point has more millionaires per capita than any other city in the South East, and Mid-Atlantic Regions. There is an extreme mix of Old Money left over from the Gilded Age, when High Point was a sleepy Hunting Village, as well as money from “Strings and Splinters” meaning the furniture and textile business of which High Point remains strong.
The main and primary challenge with High Point was the exact same that Dubai had in the1990's: convincing that the concept is not only feasible ,but close to reality to the right people.
The 1990's created one of the largest economic growth opportunities with the advent of the world wide web, and Dubai’s government jumped on the opportunity to diversify its assets through the technological field. Multiple technology companies began to re-located the middle east hubs and offices to DubaI, which helped fuel the innovation in the City.
How does that relate to High Point ?
To answer this question one must look at the 17th largest telecommunications company in the world: Northstate Communications. When one looks at fiber optic, High Point, and specifically NorthState was incredibly slow (i.e last) to establish the full fiber optic network that is currently the standard. Why ? Before this question is answered one must look at Google Fiber. Kansas City beat out High Point’s neighbor City Greensboro to get Google Fiber, which is 500 times the speed of standard broadband internet. Why ? Northstate Communications Executive Chairman was late to the fiber optic party because he installed both the current (obsolete) technology as well as the State of the Art Next Generation Fiber optic that makes Google Fiber look like an old 800 baud modem form the 80's. In economic terms Kansas City had fewer than 10 technology companies before Google Fiber…Today they have over 500 startups. Add that to the fact that High Point’s living costs are approximately 35 percent cheaper than Kansas City, and High Point look exactly where Dubai was when Microsoft said hello to them, and opened an office.
Another cool similarity between Dubai in 1990 and High Point today is their Airports. GSO(PTIA), High Point’s international airport used to be the hub of Piedmont Airlines, which was the top rated airline in the World from 1970 to 1989 when USAirways bought them in order to look better. As a unfortunate result USAir chose Charlotte as their hub, making PTIA a small puddle jumper airport. It should be pointed out that PTIA has the longest runway on the east coast. It should also be noted that Virgin America is looking for a Mid Atlantic Hub. Going back to Dubai, two of the top Airlines in the World are headquartered there.
Within 150 miles of the city of High Point there are over 350,000 college students. This perspective is equally comparable to where the entire UAE was at the beginning of the 90's’. We’ve already covered the amount of wealth, and where the money come from.
With the exception of ethnicity, a majority of the demographics, financially, culturally, and age vary lightly between the two cities .
It is the humble opinion of this writer that High Point could potentially be the Next Dubai.Even if only 10 percent of the resources are put into play in High Point Drastic Changes will occur…Now it simply takes convensing the right group of people, including and especially meaning Alpha Influencers.
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