By Kris Michell | Downtown Partnership News

It’s good to get an endorsement from people who have a reputation for greatness.

National Geographic is one of the most highly respected publications and TV networks in the media industry, so it’s deeply satisfying to see their esteemed documentary series “World’s Smartest Cities” recognize San Diego.

Only four cities were recognized as the smartest by National Geographic, and the hour-long documentary did a revelatory job showing off San Diego’s innovative core and forward-thinking spirit.

San Diego made the cut above all other urban U.S. regions for reasons multi-fold and easily understood. Our diverse contributions to medicine, biotechnology, science, engineering and marketing are chronicled in convincing fashion. When the show is over, you understand why San Diego earned its “smart” spot — we are a great and growing city that attracts intelligent, progressive thinkers.

Throughout the documentary, one thing in particular remained consistent — our Downtown; the Downtown Central Library, Petco Park and the Ballpark District, the Gaslamp Quarter’s historic streets — San Diego’s Downtown appeared again and again.

It’s a heart beating at the center of our magnificent city, as well as the heart of much of the innovation that’s taking place in the region.

Decades ago, technology business was operated on the outskirts of town, in industrial parks and generic glass high-rises. Conversations were held in closed offices and cubicles. Long commutes ended in a vast sea of anonymous parking lots. Not so much anymore.

Innovation today is returning to the urban center. It is happening in gritty recycled warehouses and new buildings that boast hip furniture, graffiti and decorative art, massage rooms, game rooms and even craft beer. Downtowns offer employees a proximity to engaging nightlife, trendy restaurants, luxury apartments — and other engaging, smart people.

Urban centers, like our Downtown, are where the workforce of the future wants to be. And the move is underway now.

In fact, world-renowned economist Bruce Katz of the Brookings Institute walked the streets of Downtown’s East Village neighborhood earlier this year to see firsthand the kind of paradigm-shift of activity that’s happening. Katz believes Downtown San Diego is among some of the world’s most acclaimed cities — London, Berlin, Brooklyn, San Francisco — that demonstrate the distinct characteristics of a thriving “Innovation District.” According to Katz, the proximity between our schools, transit, development and human capital is creating the type of ecosystem that allows ideas to form, grow and thrive.

It’s clear Katz has defined the zeitgeist of our times. He’s on to something, and he’s not alone. There are more than 70 digital technology and startup companies Downtown and more on the way.

So with so much promising activity happening, how to do we continue to forge an innovation ecosystem? The first logical step is understanding why innovators and technology companies are choosing to be here in the first place.

I asked two of our fastest-growing digital tech companies recently and here’s what they had to say:

Jarrod Russell, Underground Elephant:

As a fast-growing marketing technology company, we’re about to embark on our fourth local office relocation since our founding in 2008. This time, our 100-person team is headed to the bustling East Village.

It’s safe to say that the build out of our new space in the historic TR Produce building, right across from Petco Park, is as much about the Downtown San Diego community as it is about Underground Elephant. Jason Kulpa, our CEO, views this project as a way to embrace San Diego’s history while simultaneously investing in its future.

It’s encouraging to know that amidst the groundswell of local innovation, we are definitely not alone in this effort. From life-changing biotech to cutting-edge digital marketing software, San Diego is in the midst of actively reinventing itself. And as we all get better at sharing that message, we are crafting a must-read economic story that will attract the interest of founders and innovators across the country, and around the world.

Stephan Goss, Zeeto Media:

When choosing San Diego to start our business, we used an extremely complicated formula, [asking ourselves] “What city is sunny 365 days out of the year?” After four and a half years in Downtown, Zeeto has thrived. San Diego doesn’t just offer great weather, it offers a place millennials are attracted to and can afford.

With the efforts of the Partnership, Downtown has become a work, play, live destination — a huge advantage when enticing tech talent to relocate to San Diego. Technology companies like Zeeto need this talent to thrive in today’s digital age.

Underground Elephant and Zeeto Media are by no means alone and are harbingers of a rolling success story that shows the virtuous circle of one set of forward-thinking winners attracting more. Downtown’s success will be a mirror of the new American urban economic and lifestyle model, and, with experts’ opinions on our side, it will likely become the paragon example.

We’re glad you’re here to join us on the journey.

You can watch the San Diego episode of “World’s Smart Cities” here: tinyurl.com/p3jnpv3.

—Kris Michell is the president and CEO of the Downtown San Diego Partnership, a nonprofit, member-based organization that serves as the leading advocate for the revitalization and economic health of Downtown. To learn more about the Downtown Partnership, visit downtownsandiego.org.