Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Regardless of the success in Charlotte's SC counties, the state still is focused on the traditional metros with regards to decelpmemt. More focus should be place on the Charlotte counties.
There's PLENTY of focus on the SC 'burbs of Charlotte, so I'm not sure why you think otherwise; hell, as of now, the state's only F500 company is in Fort Mill. Here are all the developments that have come to Lancaster and York counties over the past few years, and unlike other developments in the state, they tend to be more white-collar in nature due to the proximity of the Charlotte-area workforce. That's why I think you perceive there to be less of a focus on the SC counties in Charlotte's metro.
The only problem I have with some of these developments is that they were formerly in Charlotte and only jumped the border for incentives and lower taxes without creating many new jobs. But at lot of them are brand-new developments as well that result in lots of new jobs that benefit the entire region. York and Lancaster counties are getting just as much economic development as Greenville, Columbia, and Charleston.
Population that matters for each city Suburban Surrounding Population + City Population = Total Population Greenville - 263,637 + 61,674 = 325,311 Columbia - 168,103 + 129,272 = 297,375 Charleston - 34,638 + 120,083 = 154,721
There's PLENTY of focus on the SC 'burbs of Charlotte, so I'm not sure why you think otherwise; hell, as of now, the state's only F500 company is in Fort Mill. Here are all the developments that have come to Lancaster and York counties over the past few years, and unlike other developments in the state, they tend to be more white-collar in nature due to the proximity of the Charlotte-area workforce. That's why I think you perceive there to be less of a focus on the SC counties in Charlotte's metro.
The only problem I have with some of these developments is that they were formerly in Charlotte and only jumped the border for incentives and lower taxes without creating many new jobs. But at lot of them are brand-new developments as well that result in lots of new jobs that benefit the entire region. York and Lancaster counties are getting just as much economic development as Greenville, Columbia, and Charleston.
I am aware of the developments and like you said, a lot of the developments are simple movements within the region. Others are ones that start looking at the area through groups like the Charlotte Regional Partnership and then focus in on the SC counties due to taxes. However, the commerce department is not the one bringing these companies to the area. The political power in this state still centers around the upstate due to the ultra conservative leanings of the area. Partly because of that and the historical context of the areas, Commerce does not show enough sites in the Charlotte area. From an automakers perspective, somewhere along I77 would be the best place for a second plant in SC but, you keep seeing Anderson County as the site Commerce is pushing.
And, you see it here on this board. I thought it was an easy statement to make that Charlotte is part of SC now more than ever and is the largest metro represented in SC. I honestly did not think that the Greenville crowd would get so worked up and did not expect to be told to "let it go". When I read economic reports or review some of the regional partnership material, the state lines are blurred. There are 4 SC counties in the regional partnership and SC metrics are included in much of the chamber/partnership material. I don't see it as a big deal. If you want ot be particular and say what is the largest metro based in SC, sure it is now Greenville. However, there is not a company around that would ask that questions and folks moving to SC who want to be in a large metro don't care about Greenville v. Columbia v. Charleston. If they want to be in the largest metro and live in SC, Charlotte is by far the only choice. Not sure why you are preaching to me about letting it go. I look at it differently and the state of SC should look at it differently as well. Hope that is clear because this thread has become silly.
Piedmont Atlantic (Fastest growing because of Upstate SC, Charlotte, and Atlanta)
You have a source on this region being the fastest-growing? No doubt it's growing very fast, but I'm pretty sure the Texas Triangle is growing even faster.
You have a source on this region being the fastest-growing? No doubt it's growing very fast, but I'm pretty sure the Texas Triangle is growing even faster.
Also, if this region is in fact growing the fastest, it is because of Charlotte, Raleigh, and Atlanta. The upstate region actually hurts the averages for these areas.
I am aware of the developments and like you said, a lot of the developments are simple movements within the region. Others are ones that start looking at the area through groups like the Charlotte Regional Partnership and then focus in on the SC counties due to taxes. However, the commerce department is not the one bringing these companies to the area. The political power in this state still centers around the upstate due to the ultra conservative leanings of the area. Partly because of that and the historical context of the areas, Commerce does not show enough sites in the Charlotte area. From an automakers perspective, somewhere along I77 would be the best place for a second plant in SC but, you keep seeing Anderson County as the site Commerce is pushing.
I'm not sure why you see this as a bad thing. I would MUCH rather have the CRP push economic development in the SC counties of metro Charlotte since they are focused more on higher wage white-collar jobs. The state commerce department is focused entirely too much on manufacturing jobs. These sorts of jobs have their place, but they aren't going to attract and retain college-educated professionals like the developments you mostly see in the Charlotte area. The fact of the matter is that other places in the state are more suited for large-scale manufacturing developments. York and Lancaster counties in particular don't really have the established infrastructure and workforce to support them like the Upstate, Charleston, Columbia, and the Pee Dee.
And I'd actually say that a site near the I-26/I-95 junction in Orangeburg County would be the best place for another auto plant.
Quote:
And, you see it here on this board. I thought it was an easy statement to make that Charlotte is part of SC now more than ever and is the largest metro represented in SC. I honestly did not think that the Greenville crowd would get so worked up and did not expect to be told to "let it go". When I read economic reports or review some of the regional partnership material, the state lines are blurred. There are 4 SC counties in the regional partnership and SC metrics are included in much of the chamber/partnership material. I don't see it as a big deal. If you want ot be particular and say what is the largest metro based in SC, sure it is now Greenville. However, there is not a company around that would ask that questions and folks moving to SC who want to be in a large metro don't care about Greenville v. Columbia v. Charleston. If they want to be in the largest metro and live in SC, Charlotte is by far the only choice. Not sure why you are preaching to me about letting it go. I look at it differently and the state of SC should look at it differently as well. Hope that is clear because this thread has become silly.
Pushing economic development is well and good, but all we're talking about is a simple fact. Again, when you used to state that Columbia was the state's largest metro area under the old definition, you didn't go off on this tangent about economic development and regional partnerships and about how Charlotte is really the largest. It's really not that deep. Companies are smart enough to know that there are parts of SC that have close proximity to Charlotte but that the entire 2 million+ population of the Charlotte region doesn't reside within SC.
You're honestly making this out to be more than what it is. It's really not the "Greenville crowd" getting as "worked up" about this as it's you. Hey, I'm just being objective and unbiased here.
You have a source on this region being the fastest-growing? No doubt it's growing very fast, but I'm pretty sure the Texas Triangle is growing even faster.
True. The growth rate of the Upstate is more average.
More like above average.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
