When looking at the Quad Cities through the eyes of young professionals, the area really stacks up to the competition. By measuring seven indexes, we learned that the Quad Cities excels in two areas - Cost of Lifestyle and After Hours. We're on par with the national average for the remaining - Earning, Learning, Vitality, Around Town, and Social Capital.

Although it's the entire Quad Cities that makes the community attractive to young professionals, certain aspects of Rock Island peak the scale. The District set the bar for nightlife in the region, with over 16 bars and nightclubs in a 4-block area. In addition, the coffee shops, theatre and comedy club, art galleries, and restaurants in The District make it a place young people want to go.

Another thing that sets Rock Island apart is the number of young entrepreneurs that have opened businesses, especially in The District. These individuals are setting the trend in our community.

Rock Island's downtown lofts fit the bill for young professionals looking to live in an urban setting. Over 150 new units of loft living have been added downtown in recent years, and it's not cookie-cutter housing. The lofts have unique elements including exposed brick and ductwork, high ceilings, large windows, and some have great Mississippi River views.

Brief descriptions of these indexes are provided below:

• Vitality: How "well" is your community? This index measures local commitment to the physical environment - air and water quality and greenspace -and includes factors like fruit and vegetable consumption and cancer rates.
• Earning: Time Magazine reported that by the time they're 32, Gen X'ers (b. 1961-1981) have had 9 jobs. When choosing a community, young talent looks for a breadth and depth of occupational options.
• Learning: Today's young talent are lifelong learners. 60.6 percent of them have had some training beyond high school, and they intend to continue their education - formally and informally - for life. This index measures the key indicators that define education, continuing education, and re-education opportunities.
• Social Capital: It takes many voices to create the chorus we call a Cool Community. This index tallies a community's commitment to diversity and its citizen's participation.
• Cost of Lifestyle: Young talent are in the early years of their earning potential, so affordability in a community is key. This index includes all the variables in the national cost of living index, which includes a roof over the head, food on the table, and a ride to work, plus a few others.
• After Hours: There's more to life than work. This index identifies the cool "stuff" to do after 5. Young talent want places to go, things to do, and ways to recharge their intellectual battery.
• Around Town: This index identifies the key indicators of accessibility, the physical connectedness of a community - How easy is it to get to where you want to go? And how close are you to an urban hub?

Source: Next Generation Consulting

The Network: Young Professionals of the Quad Cities focuses on the needs of young professionals in the community. The need to attract and retain diverse young talent, the need to redefine the way the region markets and showcases itself, the need to identify and grow emerging leaders, and the need to engage young talent in issues facing the region has risen as a community-wide priority and strategy. Fundamentally, the Network believes that the more informed, involved, and networked young professionals are the more likely they will stay, and the more influence they can have on what the region becomes. It's simple...engage those you wish to attract and retain. For more information visit www.ypnqc.org.