Economic developments in the Midlands

[waccamatt]

Very nice research investment.

[gman430]

I think this goes here. The US Justice Department and USC have struck a $200 million deal which will bring hundreds of federal prosecutors and staff to the building now used by USC

[waccamatt]

This is only partially an Innovista development story, but I wasn't sure where else to put it. The Department of Justice has agreed to lease the current USC Darla Moore School of Business buildings to house some functions affiliated with the DOJ Training Center next door. This will bring 250 high paying jobs to downtown Columbia. This will also allow the DMSOB to build a new location in Innovista. I would rather see 250 high paying jobs than 1000 fast food jobs.

DOJ

[CorgiMatt]

The medical office occupancy rate in Columbia is strong according to a Colliers-Keenan report. Employment in the medical field has grown in the Columbia area as well.

http://www.columbiabusinessreport.com/news...te-climbs?rss=0

[CorgiMatt]

The South Carolina Research Authority and Richland County are going in together to turn the site that was to the the new state farmer's market off of Shop Road into a 196-acre business park designed to attract knowledge-based companies, including companies that outgrow their USC incubator space or graduate from that program.

http://www.thestate.com/breaking/story/892168.html

[krazeeboi]

Seems to overlap a bit with Innovista.

[CorgiMatt]

It could attract knowledge-based companies that don't have the means to pay Innovista rents.

[krazeeboi]

The full article in today's edition of The State has the answer:

SCRA chief executive Bill Mahoney said the park is intended for larger manufacturing firms and would complement, rather than compete with the University of South Carolina’s Innovista research campus and the Carolina Research Park on Farrow Road, which it also owns.

Innovista, Mahoney said, would focus on “clean production environments” for firms specializing in areas such as software and research.

The Shop Road park — which is nearly five miles northwest of the S.C. State Fairgrounds — would be “more about manufacturing firms that require a heavier industrial site”...

The Shop Road park would be the top of an economic ladder that would begin with small business incubators and then move to larger incubators with limited manufacturing capacity — such as the SCRA “Innovation Center” going into a former warehouse at Assembly Street at Catawba Street in Columbia.

A company then would grow into Innovista or move to the Shop Road technology park, depending on its needs.

“Innovista represents the brain trust” between researchers and entrepreneurs, said Richland administrator Pope. “But then you are going to need manufacturing space.”

[emerging.me]

I'm not sure how I feel about this. My gut says it's a bad call. And I love how it's justified... as being part of a feeder system that involves Innovista... as if that even exists. Feeling pretty cynical about all this stuff lately.

Edited August 7, 2009 by emerging.me

[krazeeboi]

Well if it flops, it's not on the city or USC, it's on the state.

[Spartan]

I'm all for anything to help develop high paying jobs. I don't like the location or the fact that the writer thinks that Shop Rd is northwest of the Farmers Market. FYI- 5mi northwest of the Farmers Market puts you in Forest Acres. Anyway, that location may help spur development on that side of town if it is successful, but it will ultimately only contribute to sprawl. The Innovista location is more ideal for more urban development.

[krazeeboi]

Given that this research park caters to "manufacturing firms that require a heavier industrial site

[BrasilnSC]

I agree with you Krazee, that site is a great spot for "heavier industries" as mentioned in the article. And I think Columbia needs more space for such companies that might want to locate here or are home grown. I feel like a lot of job announcements that involve these manufacturing companies have gone to the Upstate and the Charleston MSA. It would be a huge boost for the county and Columbia to land some of these.

[emerging.me]

I hope you guys are right. I get the argument about needing space for manufacturing in the area... This simply feels a bit desperate... grasping... to me. But of course I hope it's successful.

Edited August 7, 2009 by emerging.me

[Spartan]

I see it as diversification. Columbia has the 'government town' stereotype even though there is a lot more to it than that.

[krazeeboi]

High-tech manufacturing is definitely a niche worthy of pursuit. Let's just hope that things get rolling soon with Innovista so that it can make significant contributions towards that effort.

[Spartan]

If you think about it, the fact that manufacturing is a large part of the state's economy, hi-tech manufacturing is a logical next step.

[CorgiMatt]

There was a 12% uptick in the number of homes sold in Columbia from June to July. For comparison purposes only, Charleston was up 8% and Greenville down 12%.

http://www.columbiabusinessreport.com/news...p-in-july?rss=0

[CorgiMatt]

And here are the latest year to year comparisons.

http://www.screaltors.com/mls/SC_MLS_July09.pdf

[CorgiMatt]

Of the five counties with the lowest unemployment rates in the state, three of them are in the Columbia MSA: Lexington, Richland and Saluda; and the Columbia MSA's unemployment rate is the lowest in the state.

http://www.sces.org/lmi/news/July_2009.pdf

[CorgiMatt]

Here's an article from The State this morning about the Brooking Institution's ranking of the strongest 40 metros in the nation with Columbia at #14. The top- twenty list is dominated by southern metros.

Columbia ranked 14th strongest metro - Breaking News - The State

[krazeeboi]

Navistar Inc. has purchased Continental Diesel Systems US LLC’s Columbia and Blythewood facilities, saving more than 400 area jobs, the company announced Monday. The company plans to manufacture key fuel injection components for its MaxxForce diesel engines. It also will establish a dedicated research and development facility to support Navistar’s diesel power system components.

The acquisition of these Continental Diesel facilities by Navistar prevents their closure, the company said. Navistar and Continental Diesel will be working on a product transition plan between now and January to assure that the needs of both companies are met.

Continental Diesel announced in December that it would shutter its facilities in the Midlands within 18 months, affecting approximately 440 employees.

Navistar is renaming the company Pure Power Technologies LLC. It will integrate research and development, engineering and manufacturing capabilities to produce diesel power systems and advanced emissions control systems.

[CorgiMatt]

Another big plug for Columbia on the national scene... Posting this in one of the "Columbia Off Topic" forums would be too obscure. Sperling's lists the Capital City in its list of the 10 most affordable places to live that offer a good quality of life with a lot going on.

http://realestate.msn.com/slideshow.aspx?cp-documentid=22334217#9

[krazeeboi]

For future reference, unless they have something to do specifically with the local economy (e.g., Forbes annual "Best Places for Business and Careers," "Best Cities for Jobs" lists), rankings should be posted in

But as far as the mention itself, it's definitely more good press for Columbia (as well as the city's listing as #7 on the "15 Standout Metros for Starter Homes" list, also by MSN Real Estate). I also think the "con" part isn't really that bad (even though you'd think Columbia didn't have an airport by reading it), especially when compared to the listed "cons" of some of the other cities on the list which sometimes seem harsh enough to cancel out or even override the pros. For instance, Little Rock's "con" section states, Entrenched poverty means crime is a serious problem in many neighborhoods, and metro residents have a low average life expectancy, despite the high number of physicians and medical specialists in the area.

[krazeeboi]

DHL, one of the world's largest shipping companies, is opening a processing center in Lexington County that will employ 200 jobs initially, a number that could rise to 700, Lexington County officials said.

The center will be located on Platt Springs Road, across the street from the Midlands Technical College's Airport Campus. It will be housed in the building that once housed the Teradata firm.

Officials for DHL confirmed Friday the center will open early next year.