Four counties to benefit from regional economic development assessment effort
BYLINE: The Times and Democrat, Orangeburg, S.C.
Apr. 19--Allendale, Bamberg, Barnwell and Hampton counties, which comprise the Southern Carolina region of South Carolina, will benefit from an intense, six-month-long regional economic development assessment and planning effort initiated by SouthernCarolina Regional Development Alliance.
The project, made possible with financial assistance from the South Carolina Power Team, Santee Cooper and the state's 20 electric cooperatives, will include county and regional economic development strategic planning, target industry studies and development of an economic development marketing plan.
"Thanks to the foresight of these utility partners, we have the opportunity to work with some of the country's leading economic development experts in evaluating our area's assets and planning for future economic development and industrial recruitment," SouthernCarolina Alliance CEO Danny Black said.
Black said that the nationally renowned consulting team of Wadley-Donovan Group, Garnet Consulting and Development Counsellors International has been selected to conduct the three-phase project.
"This team includes some of the premier consultants in economic development, marketing and industrial site location," Black said. "They will be working with our local industrial leaders as well as statewide leaders such as the S.C. Secretary of Commerce and our state's utility and industry executives to evaluate and assist in planning for future development of our four-county area."
Black added that while SouthernCarolina Alliance continues to focus on industrial recruitment, such as the Kronotex and Grant facilities landed over the last few years, economic development is dependent upon product and community development and marketing.
"More importantly, about 80 percent of new jobs are generated by existing industry in any community," Black said, "so it's critical that we have the input of our local industries in planning for the future."
The project will include public meetings to receive input from the community as well as individual interviews with local industry leaders. Industry surveys and interviews related to the strategic planning and target industry phases begin this month. The study should be completed in September.
For more information on the project, the South Carolina Power Team, regional economic development, the consultants or SouthernCarolina Alliance, visit the Web site, www.southerncarolina.org or contact Kay Maxwell at 803-541-0023.
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