Economic developments in the Midlands

[krazeeboi]

This will be the official thread for economic notes for the Midlands, including job announcements, trends, statistics, rankings, etc.

I'll start it off with this: Columbia was ranked 24th in the midsized city category in Inc.com's 2007 Boomtowns rankings, which is based on job-growth data. Columbia has consistently been making gains on this list, having ranked in the upper 80's in 2004 and 2005 and ranking #50 for 2006.

Also, unemployment for March was down to 5.1% for the metro area, compared to 5.6% for February. Also in February, the metro area registered 2,500 job gains, the 2nd largest increase in the state (Myrtle Beach was 1st at 2,700).

[CorgiMatt]

"The State" newspaper reported yesterday that USC's hydrogen fuel cell initiatives have highly impressed some major players in this area of new energy research. Americans have said in recent polls that finding new sources of energy is one of the important things this country needs to accomplish, both because of global warming and because of their pocketbooks.

Cities with well educated workforces and research centers that the nation is depending on keep our economy strong for future generations, stand to boom. By 2009 when the National Hydrogen Fuel Cell Convention takes place at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center, "hydrogen fuel cell" will be becoming a household phrase as "the internet" once was, and Columbia will be at the forefront.

We'll be the New South Capital of New Energy Research.

By the way, the article in "The State" said Samsung is beginning "investigations" into having a presence here.

[803metlife]

"The State" newspaper reported yesterday that USC's hydrogen fuel cell initiatives have highly impressed some major players in this area of new energy research. Americans have said in recent polls that finding new sources of energy is one of the important things this country needs to accomplish, both because of global warming and because of their pocketbooks.

Cities with well educated workforces and research centers that the nation is depending on keep our economy strong for future generations, stand to boom. By 2009 when the National Hydrogen Fuel Cell Convention takes place at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center, "hydrogen fuel cell" will be becoming a household phrase as "the internet" once was, and Columbia will be at the forefront.

We'll be the New South Capital of New Energy Research.

By the way, the article in "The State" said Samsung is beginning "investigations" into having a presence here.

That's great news to hear. Columbia is definetly a good city to invest in. And companies like Samsung would give Columbia the boost it needs. The Hydrogen Fuel Cell Convention is a big step for us. Can't wait to hear more develop from the fuell cell research.

[krazeeboi]

Here's an article from this week's edition of the Columbia Star that basically talks about the same thing, as it contains coverage of FuelCellSouth's 4th Annual Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Technology Conference and Expo that was held at the convention center last week.

[emerging.me]

Sometimes it's made out like USC/Columbia is the only place banking on hydrogen, but there are SO many other schools and cities hoping to create the next energy boomtown and working just as hard to position themselves. But really, given our city's low cost of living/doing business and the great quality of life, I think we really could be poised to become the next big thing.

Edited May 14, 2007 by emerging.me

[krazeeboi]

^And from what I've been reading, it seems that the advantage when it comes to USC and Columbia is the level of state, city, and university cooperation; just about everyone that has taken a position in SC associated with the hydrogen/fuel cell industry has cited that as a major factor in their decision to come here.

Still, I would like to see some visible headway made, particularly associated with the private sector, in the other focus areas of Innovista.

[CorgiMatt]

Here's a nice piece of economic news for Columbia.

http://www.wltx.com/news/story.aspx?storyid=50393

[krazeeboi]

I saw on the news today that a new business incubator-type building is being constructed at Midlands Tech and that an international software company has established its U.S. headquarters there. I couldn't find a link online, though.

Edit: found it.

[803metlife]

An international company today will announce plans to locate its North American headquarters in Newberry.

The company was not named but it is in the aerospace industry. The company plans to invest millions in a new manufacturing facility and will bring new jobs to the county. So this is great news for the midlands area

[emerging.me]

An international company today will announce plans to locate its North American headquarters in Newberry.

The company was not named but it is in the aerospace industry. The company plans to invest millions in a new manufacturing facility and will bring new jobs to the county. So this is great news for the midlands area

That's great news for Newberry County! They've really been hoping to score some big deals like that. Downtown Newberry is already a nice little gem, but it sure would be cool to see it boom.

Edited June 19, 2007 by emerging.me

[krazeeboi]

Sounds good! Hope to hear more details soon.

[krazeeboi]

Here are the details: British aerospace supplier Nasmyth Group Limited plans to employ about 70 workers at a planned 40,000-square-foot, $15 million production facility on 15.5 acres just off Interstate 26 at the Prosperity exit. The plant will be the first tenant of the planned Mid-Carolina Commerce Park.

[BryCola]

Hope this is the right thread for this...it's not exactly an economic development...but it's economic news. CNN did a ranking of real estate growth for the 100 largest markets in the US, and Columbia is the only one in SC listed. And we're in the positive territory with growth. The one's at the bottom have negative growth.

http://money.cnn.com/2007/04/09/real_estat...eymag/index.htm

[krazeeboi]

^That's a pretty decent rank for Columbia.

For future reference, you can post real estate related news in this thread.

[803metlife]

^That's a pretty decent rank for Columbia.

For future reference, you can post real estate related news in this thread.

Yeah that is pretty decent for Columbia..I'm starting to notice a trend with Columbia ranking higher on the polls nowadays. Just this year alone I've seen Columbia do pretty well for it's self. But back to the thread....Another positive annoucement for Newberry...Newberry County rolled up another new employer Thursday, luring Schweitzer-Mauduit International to an existing industrial park just off Interstate 26. Schweitzer, an Alpharetta, Ga.-based maker of cigarette paper, plans to spend $4 million renovating a vacant, 54,000-square-foot specialty printing plant. Earlier this week British aerospace parts supplier Nasmyth Group Limited announced Tuesday its plans to hire up to 70 workers at a new facility. Now this!!! Two in one week...

[krazeeboi]

Good for Newberry!

[Spartan]

Newberry's on a roll....

[krazeeboi]

The State reports that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has granted Google a permit to alter about 14 acres of wetlands on the 466-acre site in Blythewood. However, it is unknown if or when the company would begin construction on the project.

[waccamatt]

Let's hope that is built sooner rather than later. I'm disappointed that wetlands have to be disturbed, however.

[Spartan]

If that many acres of weltands are going to be distrubed then this had better be a huge economic development. Huge.

[krazeeboi]

14 acres out of almost 500 really isn't that much at all.

[Captain Worley]

^ No, it really isn't. Especially when you consider the economic imact.

[krazeeboi]

For the past several months, whenever job gains have been posted for all of the state's MSAs, Columbia has either ranked first or second in terms of the number of jobs created.

August: 4,300 (ranked 1st)

September: 2,300 (1st)

October: 1,800 (2nd)

November: 2,600 (1st)

December: 1,700 (1st)

January: all metro areas experienced job losses

February: 2,500 (2nd)

March: 2,600 (2nd)

April: 2,000 (2nd)

Also, all of the gains have not been in government, either. Many of them have been in the trade and transportation sector.

Source

[Spartan]

Interesting! Thats very consistent job growth. No wonder the NE is booming (and the rest of the metro for that matter)

[krazeeboi]

^Exactly. Also, this partly explains why Columbia has been faring pretty well in just about every economic ranking that's out there. The local economy is really diversifying.