Can Tacoma reinvent itself?

It's not quite as devastating as Russell Investments moving its headquarters from Tacoma to Seattle. But one week after that historic announcement, a small Tacoma technology company has decided to relocate to Seattle as well.

The Blue Box Group, a 6-year-old Web hosting company with 11 employees, announced today that they have relocated their HQ to Seattle's Pioneer Square neighborhood.

"We are now at a point in our evolution that Seattle gives us better access to the resources and talent we need to keep growing at this exhilarating rate," said Blue Box Chief Executive Jesse Proudman in a release.

I doubt that's the sort of statement that Tacoma's economic development officials want to hear, especially after Russell -- with about 1,100 employees in Tacoma -- said it planned to move its workforce to downtown Seattle next year.

Over the years, Tacoma (about 25 miles south of Seattle) has emerged as a place that could foster an emerging tech scene with access to a city-owned broadband network, cheaper rent and a new University of Washington branch campus. But, for whatever reason, most of the entrepreneurial activity, talent and money has stayed in pockets closer to Seattle. (Redmond, Bellevue, Pioneer Square, Fremont, etc.)

It would be interesting to hear from some Tacoma entrepreneurs about the advantages and disadvantages of doing business there.

[Flickr photo via Seattleye]