Economic development is a matter of attitude, say experts

By Ray Chandler
Thursday, August 21, 2008

In the globalized game of competing for businesses and jobs, communities need to think outside their boundaries, say economic development experts.

But they should look farther for their competition than right next door.

“Just moving a business from one county to another isn’t economic development,” said Ronnie Bryant, president and CEO of the Charlotte Regional Partnership, a 16-county regional economic development effort spanning the metro Charlotte area in both Carolinas. He was speaking Thursday to an assembly of about 80 Anderson area leaders and residents .

Instead, Bryant said, counties and communities need to think regionally, and market their combined advantages as a package. Elected leaders need to better understand that what benefits a neighboring county or community can also benefit them, he added.

Counties and communities aren’t really competing with their neighbors anymore, he said. They are instead competing with communities around the world offering advantages of their own.

Bryant, together with Hal Johnson, president and CEO of the 10-county Upstate Alliance regional marketing cooperative; and Ray Jones, a partner, banking and capital markets department with the Columbia law firm of Parker, Poe, Adams & Bernstein LLP; were guest speakers at an economic development summit Thursday at Tri-County Tech’s Anderson campus. The summit was sponsored by Imagine Anderson’s economic development committee.

Imagine Anderson is a 20-year vision plan to improve Anderson County’s quality of life between now and the county’s bicentennial in 2026. Economic development is one of seven major focus areas identified in the Imagine Anderson plan. More here.