Taxes in Columbia/Richland County and economic development (Greenville, Sumter: fit in, wages)

[g-man430]

Originally Posted by Palmetto_Guy

You'd think Greenville was the Portland of SC the way some people talk, LOL.

Ummm...guess which city Greenville just beat out for this major collaboration project with General Electric: http://www.greenvilleonline.com/asse...S171038227.PDF Greenville and Charleston continue to become progressive while Columbia just sits on their hands and acting like the politicians in this state. When is Columbia finally going to WAKE UP and get with the program? It's time for them to put their money where their mouth is and TAKE ACTION. Hopefully Southwest Airlines gave them a good kick in the rear-end cause they need it.

[Palmetto_Guy]

Originally Posted by g-man430

Ummm...guess which city Greenville just beat out for this project: http://www.greenvilleonline.com/asse...S171038227.PDF

What kind of project is that? It just looks like some kind of local greening program in Greenville. Did you post the correct link?

Greenville and Charleston continue to become progressive while Columbia just sits on their hands and acting like the politicians in this state. When is Columbia finally going to WAKE UP and get with the program? It's time for them to put their money where their mouth is and TAKE ACTION. Hopefully Southwest Airlines gave them a good kick in the rear-end cause they need it.

I don't know what you mean. If people are criticizing Columbia because it doesn't have a bunch of manufacturing companies in the area, that would be a little off-base. Cities don't have to land those to become prosperous. I'm not saying that Columbia is perfect and couldn't improve in some areas, but the things that most people are basing that on in this thread seem a little suspect. If Columbia is so far behind as some assert, why does it have comparable growth rates, unemployment rates, etc. as Greenville and Charleston? It can't be doing that bad if that's the case.

[g-man430]

Originally Posted by Palmetto_Guy

What kind of project is that? It just looks like some kind of local greening program in Greenville. Did you post the correct link?

Here is the full news article but I believe you need a log-in link to read it: Greenville may become testing ground for energy-saving ideas | greenvilleonline.com | The Greenville News More info can also be found here: City and General Electric teaming up to make "Green"ville a world showcase energy efficient city. Portland is a fantastic city though. No denying that.

Originally Posted by Palmetto_Guy

I don't know what you mean. If people are criticizing Columbia because it doesn't have a bunch of manufacturing companies in the area, that would be a little off-base. Cities don't have to land those to become prosperous. I'm not saying that Columbia is perfect and couldn't improve in some areas, but the things that most people are basing that on in this thread seem a little suspect. If Columbia is so far behind as some assert, why does it have comparable growth rates, unemployment rates, etc. as Greenville and Charleston? It can't be doing that bad if that's the case.

Why did Southwest Airlines say no to Columbia but yes to Charleston and Greenville/Spartanburg if this is all true? Why can't they land the same national retailers/restaurants Charleston and Greenville have? Why can't they get major collaborations from companies like General Electric is doing in Greenville and Boeing in Charleston instead of just a "scr*w you" from SCANA? For a city having the largest MSA population in the state, Columbia sure doesn't act like it. Like i've been saying, they need to get with the program and take action. Just talking about doing something isn't going to make it happen. They need to actually install and implement it.

[Palmetto_Guy]

Originally Posted by g-man430

Here is the full news article but I believe you need a log-in link to read it: Greenville may become testing ground for energy-saving ideas | greenvilleonline.com | The Greenville News

Yeah, I'm not paying to read the article. But what I will say is that while I think there are some benefits for more green technology and the like, the government and various industries are seriously over-hyping the whole green movement thing.

Why did Southwest Airlines say no to Columbia but yes to Charleston and Greenville/Spartanburg if this is all true? Why can't they land the same national retailers/restaurants Charleston and Greenville have? Why can't they get major collaborations from companies like General Electric is doing in Greenville and Boeing in Charleston instead of just a "*********" from SCANA? For a city having the largest MSA population in the state, Columbia sure doesn't act like it.

I suppose Charleston and Greenville have busier airports which is why they landed Southwest. But I do think that Columbia's airport just got a small low-cost carrier that flies to Florida. Anyway, some cities can excel in certain things over others, but can still be on the same level. This is true with all of the major cities in SC; none is really head and shoulders above the others. If anything, the real major cities in surrounding states stand head and shoulders above anything in South Carolina. They get real Fortune 500 headquarters, light rail, major league pro sports, international consulates, major national and international events (Olympics, DNC, etc.). It really shows how far SC is behind when cripple fights like these are picked over distribution centers and some small-based local greening project. If you want to be honest, the only thing that puts SC on the map is the coast. Myrtle Beach, Charleston, Hilton Head, Kiawah Island, etc. are the only things saving this state from total irrelevancy. I think you need to get out of the state sometimes and gain some perspective, because you and the other guy seem to have very little of it.

[reed067]

I used BMW for the name having someone with plant like BMW is a huge lure to other companies looking to open another plant/etc. Some of those places you all mentioned have been here for a good while & are not hiring. I work for a security company which I guard said business at night, they laid off half their people most companies/DC’s are not hiring & if they are it's mostly though temp agencies. I am not the most educated person in the I can admit that so at the moment I have to take what I can. So $15.00 an hr sounds pretty damn good to me. I'm not in debt with anyone but the bank to who I pay my mortgage too. I don't have ANY credit card debt or a car payment so in some ways I'm ahead of others.
. Most plants are paying around $11.00ish an IF you can get on. It might be the same way in Greenville I can't say if it is or not. The job market might be as bad there as it is here. Despite whatever numbers you all throw out or our trusting government tells us, it's not showing when your out looking for a job. Some of you seem over joyed with what little business have come here. I personally like warehouse work I'm not the type of person to sit in an office all day. I've always thought Asheville was the mecca of the east coast because it has a lot of the lifestyle I enjoy. Even Asheville as much as I love that place need's some serious up dating as well. Not a lot of jobs up there either from what I understand. I never said Columbia was hell but if your OK with what little progress as been done then more power to you. Some of you seem to really love this city & that's great but I would think you want more for it.

[reed067]

[quote=Palmetto_Guy;18053950

I think you need to get out of the state sometimes and gain some perspective, because you and the other guy seem to have very little of it.[/quote]



Thank you but I have travled this country more then most people have. I think I got more then enough perspective on things. He's right for some reason or another Columbia is missing out on a lot of other places coming here yet no on seem's have have a good anwser why.

[Palmetto_Guy]

I was just intrigued by some of the inaccurate information being thrown out and decided to correct it, especially since you seem to be contradicting yourself at times. Because now you're saying you don't know if the job market is as bad as Columbia's, but that's what you were saying from the outset without researching any info. I think because you have admitted that you're not as educated, don't really do white-collar work, and prefer warehousing and manufacturing jobs that pay around $15/hour, that's probably why you're not as pleased with Columbia since the area offers more office-type jobs with a lot of banks, insurance companies, and of course state government. I also never said the city was perfect and it does need improvement in several areas like any city, but I do give credit where credit is due. Every city is a work in progress, Columbia included. I gave you an answer about BMW, but other than that, your complaints just seem to be all over the place with very little substance. All you did was compare some things in Columbia with Greenville. If you compare Columbia with other cities around the same size in the South across the board in several areas, I think it compares roughly equally with other cities. For instance, I think Columbia is like SC's version of Augusta, GA or Greensboro, NC or Knoxville, TN or Lexington, KY. That's why I said you need perspective. No disrespect or anything, but I think you're just jaded right now due to your own personal issues. Maybe you just need a change of scenery. Hopefully I'll be getting my own change of scenery in the near future. I think I've outgrown this state.

[reed067]

I never said that the job market is better in Greenville then here I did say that there seems to be more jobs as a whole there. I know only what I have seen & read about Greenville, unlike here where I have lived. Inviting companies like BMW only makes it easier for other companies to follow. Warehouse or not the whole city prospers when plants like BMW decide to build there. I gave Columbia credit for the river walk & the zoo, I gave Lexington a lot of credit for coming a long way since I've been here more so the n Columbia. I compared Columbia to Asheville as well. The biggest reason for me wanting to move there at this moment is the lifestyle which I don't see happening in Columbia until I'm too old to enjoy it. I used to live in Knoxville I loved it personal reasons keep me from going back. Just about every where is hurting for jobs which is reason enough why places like Columbia need to try harder to get more companies here whatever they are. Being that I prefer warehouse type work to working in a stuffy office doesn't mean I'm stupid, I know what I like to do & I know what I need to make to make a living & put some away. Numbers don’t always tell the story people tell much of it & that's one thing I did like about Greenville & towns that offer that type of life style. I might be going though some personal things at the moment but no I'm not jaded. I told myself that if something happened with my marriage I would leave this state I've never been a huge fan of it there are many reasons why too many too list here. IF the jobs market was just as bad in Greenville or worse then I would look some where else, nor would I move if I didn't have a job in said state. With that said Columbia for some reason or another in my opinion isn't do what they can to lure other companies here.

[waccamatt]

Originally Posted by reed067

I never said that the job market is better in Greenville then here I did say that there seems to be more jobs as a whole there. I know only what I have seen & read about Greenville, unlike here where I have lived. Inviting companies like BMW only makes it easier for other companies to follow. Warehouse or not the whole city prospers when plants like BMW decide to build there. I gave Columbia credit for the river walk & the zoo, I gave Lexington a lot of credit for coming a long way since I've been here more so the n Columbia. I compared Columbia to Asheville as well. The biggest reason for me wanting to move there at this moment is the lifestyle which I don't see happening in Columbia until I'm too old to enjoy it. I used to live in Knoxville I loved it personal reasons keep me from going back. Just about every where is hurting for jobs which is reason enough why places like Columbia need to try harder to get more companies here whatever they are. Being that I prefer warehouse type work to working in a stuffy office doesn't mean I'm stupid, I know what I like to do & I know what I need to make to make a living & put some away. Numbers don’t always tell the story people tell much of it & that's one thing I did like about Greenville & towns that offer that type of life style. I might be going though some personal things at the moment but no I'm not jaded. I told myself that if something happened with my marriage I would leave this state I've never been a huge fan of it there are many reasons why too many too list here. IF the jobs market was just as bad in Greenville or worse then I would look some where else, nor would I move if I didn't have a job in said state. With that said Columbia for some reason or another in my opinion isn't do what they can to lure other companies here.

I wonder which Greenville poster created your profile? This site has become a real bore because every thread becomes about Greenville. Honestly, I don't care.

[reed067]

Originally Posted by waccamatt

I wonder which Greenville poster created your profile? This site has become a real bore because every thread becomes about Greenville. Honestly, I don't care.

Don't look at me I live here in Columbia if every post is about Greenvile then blame the city planners or whoever is in charge.