Setting an intentional economic development strategy and promoting the hell out of your creative industries are best practices other mid-markets can learn from. 

While neither Austin nor Nashville are perfect, both cities took early leaps into investing in talent recruitment and retention— and as a result, got a good start on other cities just now getting serious about the future.

https://www-wsj-com.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/www.wsj.com/amp/articles/austin-nashville-rank-at-top-of-hottest-u-s-job-markets-11582545600