USA Today tells us about the 100 best communities for young people. Kalamazoo, Mich., gives scholarships to every high school graduate (jeepers!). Louisville, Ky., is also on the list.

Then there's a story about how cities are worried that crime will stifle their attempts to make that list. Louisville gets a nod for having the energy and skill to be proactive about it.

I got to wondering about Louisvilleand how it has enjoyed success where other cities are still challenged. I chatted with people in the Economic Development Department about the city's improvement, and they offered several reasons for Louisville's resurgence.

The mayor is very determined and has a real vision. Louisville has refurbished its downtown over the last decade, and people are moving in. The city and county merged governments to streamline services. Law enforcement is dedicated to outreach and proactive solutions. Louisville recently signed a deal with two other cities to pool emergency resources in the event one or all three faced a disaster. Taking advance action, in other words, instead of waiting around for federal assistance.

Louisville is home to several leading-edge industries, including pharmaceuticals ("health enterprises") and transportation (or "logistics"). This might very well be the difference between success and failure for cities. One can have a vision and rebuild the crumbling downtown, but if there is no work for people to move to ... Well, the gleaming skyline is just a gleaming ghost town.

So there's an element of luck. But luck is one of those intangible things that has real impact. Another is attitude. The Louisvillians I spoke with were adamant that the city has a real vibe, a positive sense of itself that began at the time the city rebuilt. Business that contributed to growth and created jobs in the process were as attracted to the vibe as they were to tax breaks.

If you're superstitious and believe in luck, you can also believe in vibe. Call me crazy if you want—you can reach me in The Ville.