Durham just got another big media boost: a feature article in the Economist magazine, a highly respected publication, cites Durham as an example of one of America’s most successful cities. Does all this publicity do any good? We asked several who are at the forefront of Durham’s growth what they think.

This is only the latest in a string of such kudos for Bull city, which included ranking number one or in the top 10 as a best place to live and work, or for college students to stay after graduation, and as an innovative foodie city with unique restaurants and most recently as a best place to do business. The Economist, however, has worldwide credibility.

The article points out that Durham’s GDP per person grew by 28 percent since 2001, while the state as a whole grew by just 3 percent the same period. It attributes that Sterling growth to the cluster of high tech firms in the city.

The point of the article as a whole, is that some cities are far outstripping their states, Durham being a prime example. It says that Durham, whose population grew about 7 percent since 2001, “provides some hints as to what makes a place flourish.”

Those it says include the three nearby major universities, the farsighted planning that led to the Research Triangle Park, infrastructure investments, and the American tobacco camp.us, and even the Performing Arts Center, which is among thew nation’s top ten. It notes that the city has successfully plugged the gap that occurred when textiles and tobacco not only went into decline, they virtually disappeared.

What good does it do?

Does publicity like this actually do any good for Durham?

Shelly Green, president and CEO of the Durham Convention and Visitors Bureau, tells WRAL Techwire, speaking of the multiple accolades the city has received, “I think it does help. Think about human behavior. If you hear something once it doesn’t stick. If you keep hearing it’s a great place to live and do business, it does.”

She points out one factor that has a lot to do with Durham’s growth: “it’s also a relatively inexpensive place to live, especially compared to other tech hubs in Boston, New York or Silicon Valley.”

She said the multiple tech company incubators which don’t require small companies to commit to a seven-year lease, are another big factor. “Look at the companies at the American underground that started with one person and a laptop and now employ 10. It’s a great success story.”

Early projects got the ball rolling.

While progress in Durham has been rapid in recent years, Green thinks it all started as a “pebble rolling down a hill in the mid-1980s.”

She points to such things as the opening of the Bulls Athletic Park in 1995, the convention center renovation in the 80s and the renovation of the Carolina theater. “These early projects got the ball rolling,” she said.

Durham is unusual

Joan Siefert Rose, president and CEO of the Council for Entrepreneurial Development, known as the CED, said “Stories like that in The Economist are positive for the region, as they draw attention to all our great companies and the exciting things that are happening here.

“As we are able to raise our profile we become visible to investors, companies, and others who may not have considered this region a hotbed of entrepreneurial activity. Most people wouldn’t think companies from Durham, Raleigh, Charlotte and elsewhere in North Carolina capable of raising $1.2 billion in funding last year and we need to get that story out. “

She added, “Durham is unusual in that it has had a strong startup sector emerge over the past few years that has grown steadily but has not experienced the explosive growth we’ve seen in some other hubs. This may work to our advantage, as the community can ensure the right infrastructure and support systems are in place to nurture our growth and avoid the typical boom-to-bust arc.”

Venture capitalists get the message

The American Underground’s Adam Klein also thinks coverage such as that in the Economist “is definitely helpful. It’s an important recognition of the quality of the ecosystem here.”

But he adds, “but I also think we still have a lot of things left to do.”

We asked if all this publicity is getting the attention of venture capitalists.

“I definitely think it is. We’ve seen a dramatic rise in inbound questions from VCs.” He notes that the American Underground has a strategy for taking advantage of all this publicity. “We make sure this lands in their (venture capitalists’) inbox.