One of the most dynamic programs in SC is the Liberty Fellows. Founded by Hayne Hipp, the Liberty Fellows take 20 to 25 of the best and brightest young South Carolinians (ages 30 to 45) each year, and put them through an intensive two year leadership program. Partners include the Aspen Institute and Wofford College. I am happy to say that Amy Love was selected for the Class of 2012, the 7th class of Fellows.
On November 30, the Liberty Fellows held their first summit. It was in Columbia and 750 people attended. The keynote speaker was Dan Heath, co-author of the book "Switch." The book provides a method of implementing change. After his lecture, each table of 10 was asked to apply the methodology to specific problems in one of four areas: Economic Development, Health and Environment, Public Policy and Education.
My table discussed Economic Development, and specific the structure for Economic Development in the State. The major conclusion was that we need a Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy in SC. Governor Haley talked about a 10 year plan during her campaign. Milliken CEO Joe Salley (also a Liberty Fellow) has called for a comprehensive strategy.
The Monitor Group in 2005 produced a document called "A Strategic Plan for South Carolina." It was built around clusters and task forces. The problem with the plan was that it did not recognize the major economic development effort in the state which has been and is recruiting new industry. SC has been very good at this for a long time. It also did not recognize the role of the other partners such as Regional Alliances, the Power Team, SCRA, technical colleges, public utilities, local economic developers and others. It did, however, recognize that Education and Workforce, Research, Distressed Areas and Entrepreneurhsip should be included in such a plan.
I hope the Liberty Fellows and the new Governor will take the opportunity to organize a way to produce one overall long term comprehensive economic development strategy for the State.
The South Carolina Council on Competitiveness is a business-led non-profit organization working to make the state, industries and citizens of South Carolina more competitive.
Friday, December 3, 2010
SC Rural Development Council Strategic Plan
The Annual Meeting of the SC Rural Development Council was to identify elements of existing strategic plans that the group might wish to pursue. An intern at Clemson reviewed plans from the I-95 Corridor Study, New Carolina, the Palmetto Institute, the Palmetto Agribusiness Council, the Forestry Commission, the McNulty Strategic Plan for Tourism and the I05 Rejuvenation Paper by SCRA. Co-Chairs David Hughes and Vernita Dore believed that direction could be obtained from existing plans. The group subsequently identified some 26 issues from the reports.
After much discussion, the group identified two areas: Entreprenuership and Education/Workforce. Entrpeneurship would include a borad range of issues, including various funding models, public policy, renewable energy and entrepreneurship education. Education and workforce will work with existing groups to identify problems and seek solutions for the lack of trained workforce in rural areas.
The Council recognized and thanked Walter Harris for his service as coordinator of the Rural Development Council. Walter was retiring on November 23 after many years of service to Clemson and the State of SC.
After much discussion, the group identified two areas: Entreprenuership and Education/Workforce. Entrpeneurship would include a borad range of issues, including various funding models, public policy, renewable energy and entrepreneurship education. Education and workforce will work with existing groups to identify problems and seek solutions for the lack of trained workforce in rural areas.
The Council recognized and thanked Walter Harris for his service as coordinator of the Rural Development Council. Walter was retiring on November 23 after many years of service to Clemson and the State of SC.
Harvard Business School
On November 17, the project team for the EDA Cluster Mapping project assembled at the Harvard Business School. The team members are Harvard's Institute for Strategy and Competitiveness (Michael Porter), MIT, Temple, the Monitor Group and the states of Massachusetts, Minnesota, Oregon and SC. The meeting began with Michael Porter summarizing the last 10 years of his work with Regional Innovation Clusters. He contends that the data is overwhelming that robust clusters are the best way to generate innovation and entreprenuership within regions. The federal government has adopted his approach, and this $3.5 million grant will be the way to get those ideas into the mainstream of economic development thinking.
We also had a presentation from the MIT Entrepreneurship Center. This organization spits out 200 to 400 technology companies a year. Their ways of identifying technologies arfe fairly unique, and I will try to get the Head, Bill Aulet, to come as a speaker for our High Impact Entreprenuership Conference on April 7th, 2011
We also had a presentation from the MIT Entrepreneurship Center. This organization spits out 200 to 400 technology companies a year. Their ways of identifying technologies arfe fairly unique, and I will try to get the Head, Bill Aulet, to come as a speaker for our High Impact Entreprenuership Conference on April 7th, 2011
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Dr. Peter Beattie, Queensland "Smart State" Model
Dr. Peter Beattie, former Premier of Queensland, Australia, gave the first of four lectures around the State on the Queensland "Smart State" Model. In a relatively short period of time, Queensland went from (to quote John Warner) "rocks, crops and tourism" to a world class biotechnology center.
Dr. Beattie does not believe that SC should try to compete in life sciences beyond several niches like medical devices. (The consultants that are updating Charleston clusters agree with this assesssment.) However, he thinks we have a competitive advantage in areas like biofuels.
He said that the United States has the best universities in the world, but we must continue to invest in research and innovation and then hold the institutions accountable for commercializing the technology. This will be the only way that we can compete with China, which can commit to long term technology objectives without the inconvenience of election cycles. As Dr. Beattie said, "if China develops a cure for lung cancer, and I have lung cancer, I am going to China for the cure."
The next three lectures will be in Charleston on October 27, Clemson Sandhill on November 3 and the Strom Thurmond Institute in Clemson on November 16th. Details, as well as the full text of Dr. Beattie's speech to the SC Commission on Higher Education, are available on the following Swamp Fox link:
http://www.swampfox.ws/2010/10/20/powerful-presentation-former-premier-queensland-dr-peter-beattie-smart-state-model
Dr. Beattie does not believe that SC should try to compete in life sciences beyond several niches like medical devices. (The consultants that are updating Charleston clusters agree with this assesssment.) However, he thinks we have a competitive advantage in areas like biofuels.
He said that the United States has the best universities in the world, but we must continue to invest in research and innovation and then hold the institutions accountable for commercializing the technology. This will be the only way that we can compete with China, which can commit to long term technology objectives without the inconvenience of election cycles. As Dr. Beattie said, "if China develops a cure for lung cancer, and I have lung cancer, I am going to China for the cure."
The next three lectures will be in Charleston on October 27, Clemson Sandhill on November 3 and the Strom Thurmond Institute in Clemson on November 16th. Details, as well as the full text of Dr. Beattie's speech to the SC Commission on Higher Education, are available on the following Swamp Fox link:
http://www.swampfox.ws/2010/10/20/powerful-presentation-former-premier-queensland-dr-peter-beattie-smart-state-model
SCEDA Mid Year Meeting
Milliken CEO Joe Salley gave the luncheon speech at the SCEDA Mid Year Meeting on October 15. He listed the various (all good) commitments of the gubnatorial candidates, but asked the question "What is our strategy?" "What differentiates SC from other states?" "What are our unique and valuable resources?" "What role does the sense of place play in our overall strategy?"
Dr. Salley specifically mentioned Michael Porter and the cluster strategy. This is not a complete strategy, but where there are robust clusters (Silicon Valley, for example), economic development takes care of itself.
He said that we need an overal strategy that 1) addresses the above questions, and 2) outlasts the term of any one Governor.
I hope that whoever is elected Governor would ask Dr. Salley to play a role in crafting such a strategy.
Dr. Salley specifically mentioned Michael Porter and the cluster strategy. This is not a complete strategy, but where there are robust clusters (Silicon Valley, for example), economic development takes care of itself.
He said that we need an overal strategy that 1) addresses the above questions, and 2) outlasts the term of any one Governor.
I hope that whoever is elected Governor would ask Dr. Salley to play a role in crafting such a strategy.
Monday, October 11, 2010
Ambassador of the Year
On September 29, the Columbia Chamber recognized Ed Sellers as Ambassador of the Year. This award was in recognition of the incredible civic role that Ed and Blue Cross Blue Shield have played over the his tenure as CEO. He retired from Blue Cross on August 1st, where he added 8000 jobs during his18 years as CEO. As part of the presentation, four former Ambassadors talked about the need for a long sustained effort to achieve success. Joel Smith talked about the challenges of creating a positive relationship with the University and the City of Columbia. John Lumpkin talked about the knowledge economy and the need to sustain support for Innovista and the waterfront. Lee Bussell talked about the decade long challenge to build a homeless shelter.
In accepting the award, Ed said that it is a dangerous time. Many people are angry at the economy and government and many individual and community actions will be threatened. It is important to sustain these long term efforts.
We are thrilled that Ed has maintained his own commitment by remaining as Chairman of New Carolina.
In accepting the award, Ed said that it is a dangerous time. Many people are angry at the economy and government and many individual and community actions will be threatened. It is important to sustain these long term efforts.
We are thrilled that Ed has maintained his own commitment by remaining as Chairman of New Carolina.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Inaugural Blog
One of the great things about this job is that Amy Love and I routinely have chances to interact with the thought leaders of the State. In this blog, we will share some of their ideas and stories.
My initial blog will come from a speech that Otis Rawl, CEO of the State Chamber of Commerce, gave to the South Carolina Economic Developers Association. Membership meeting on August 26th. He quoted Dow Chemical CEO Andrew Liveris who has called for an "Advanced Manufacturing Plan" to rejuvenate the US Economy. The strategies are 1) New infrastructure investment, 2) Cutting edge R&D, 3) Education that leads the world, 4) Fair trade policies, 5) Alternate energy, 6) Regulatory reform, 7) Fair taxation and 8) Civil justice reform.
Otis expressed concern that the current debate in Washington is over issues like "card check" and "cap and trade" that will make Southern manufacturing less competitive.
He then outlined some legislative steps that the state chamber will pursue to mirror these strategies at the State level.
South Carolina's economy is strongly dependent on manufacturing and we applaud the idea of an Advanced Manufacturing Plan at both the federal and state level.
My initial blog will come from a speech that Otis Rawl, CEO of the State Chamber of Commerce, gave to the South Carolina Economic Developers Association. Membership meeting on August 26th. He quoted Dow Chemical CEO Andrew Liveris who has called for an "Advanced Manufacturing Plan" to rejuvenate the US Economy. The strategies are 1) New infrastructure investment, 2) Cutting edge R&D, 3) Education that leads the world, 4) Fair trade policies, 5) Alternate energy, 6) Regulatory reform, 7) Fair taxation and 8) Civil justice reform.
Otis expressed concern that the current debate in Washington is over issues like "card check" and "cap and trade" that will make Southern manufacturing less competitive.
He then outlined some legislative steps that the state chamber will pursue to mirror these strategies at the State level.
South Carolina's economy is strongly dependent on manufacturing and we applaud the idea of an Advanced Manufacturing Plan at both the federal and state level.
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