Casey Conley covers Bluffton government for the Island Packet and Beaufort Gazette. | The Lowcountry created 1,400 new businesses between 1999 and 2007, and a new economic study released this week by the Lowcountry Economic Alliance suggests the region is primed for continued growth in the years ahead.
But to attract jobs and businesses to Beaufort and Jasper counties, the study suggests trying to attract businesses within certain types of industries, including healthcare & biomedical, back office & information technology, light manufacturing & assembly, and logistics & distribution.
The study cost $125,000 and was conducted by Austin, Texas-based Avalanche Consulting and Greenville-based McCallum Sweeney Consulting.
“The Lowcountry region is strategically positioned to be a hotbed for economic growth in the coming years,” said David Tigges, Chairman of the Lowcountry Economic Alliance, in a statement. “The Lowcountry provides a beautiful natural environment, ideal geographic location and healthy entrepreneurial climate to set the right framework for desired business investment.”
Some weaknesses that should be addressed, according to the report, are perceptions that the school district lags behind other parts of the state and that local governments are not committed to business-friendly policies.
“We look forward to working with the local communities and advancing the recommendation of this critical regional study,” said Jan Baxter of Palmetto Electric and board member of the Lowcountry Economic Alliance.
To read the reports, and view the alliance’s $50,000 logo and website redesign, visit The Lowcountry Economic Alliance website.