Public Input sought on economic development strategy | Business | Summerville Journal Scene

Printer friendly version |

E-mail to a friend

Public Input sought on economic development strategy

Published Tuesday, August 10, 2010 2:43 PM

Summerville Journal Scene ®

The Charleston Regional Development Alliance (CRDA) kicks off a nine-month planning initiative that will create a multi-year economic development strategy for the three-county Charleston region (Berkeley, Charleston and Dorchester counties).

The strategy, called Opportunity Next, is meant to guide the regional efforts needed to strengthen the economy, improve wages and fuel job growth in a global economy increasingly defined by knowledge and innovation.

One component of the effort is an online survey that encourages tri-county residents to provide their opinions about life in the Lowcountry. The online survey can be accessed through the project website, www.Opportunity-Next.com. All residents are encouraged to log in and share their thoughts.

The CRDA has retained Avalanche Consulting and McCallum Sweeney Consulting to facilitate the strategic planning process. The two firms have extensive national experience and have conducted similar studies in more than 100 U.S. communities.

To begin the project, Avalanche and McCallum Sweeney are conducting a detailed analysis of the region’s economy, assets and opportunities. The consulting team is on the ground this week to conduct focus groups and interviews with leaders from across the region.

“Citizen participation is critical to the success of Opportunity Next,” said Amy Holloway, president of Avalanche Consulting. “We invite everyone living and working in Berkeley, Charleston and Dorchester counties to share their ideas with us through an online survey. The more input we receive, the more tailored the strategy will be.”

“The local landscape has changed quite a bit since our last regional study in 2005, so it’s time to take a fresh look at the region’s competitive position and economic opportunities,” said David Ginn, CRDA president and CEO. “Plus, with the global economy beginning to recover, we need to be sure our regional efforts align with what today’s businesses need to be successful.”

The strategic planning process will be guided by a 48-member advisory board comprising leaders from a diverse range of public sector, private sector, non-profit and educational organizations. Co-chairing the advisory board are Jim Hill, vice president of MWV Community Development Land Management, and Thom Penney, president and CEO of LS3P Associates, Ltd.

The multi-year strategy is being funded by companies directly engaged in advancing Charleston’s regional economy: the South Carolina Power Team, MWV (MeadWestvaco), First Federal and SCANA Corporation.

Comments

Notice about comments:

Journalscene.com ® is pleased to offer readers the enhanced ability to comment on stories. We expect our readers to engage in lively, yet civil discourse. Journalscene.com ® does not edit user submitted statements and we cannot promise that readers will not occasionally find offensive or inaccurate comments posted in the comments area. Responsibility for the statements posted lies with the person submitting the comment, not Journalscene.com ®. If you find a comment that is objectionable, please click "report abuse" and we will review it for possible removal. Please be reminded, however, that in accordance with our Terms of Use and federal law, we are under no obligation to remove any third party comments posted on our website.

Users can now build user-to-user connections, follow friends' recent posts, add an avatar that fits their personality, and more. If you have posted here before you'll need to sign up again, or if you've never posted before, start now by reading our terms and conditions, and then signing up below!

Full terms and conditions can be read here.

Poll Question

For entertainment, I mainly go out in...

Most Viewed
Most Commented

104 East Doty Avenue | Summerville, SC 29483 | 843-873-9424 office | 843-873-9432 fax