CONTENTS

It takes more than a Silver Bullet 

Lockheed Martin Takes F-35B to State Museum

Boundary Street Property Owners Invited to Briefing

October is Archaeology Month

Festival Series to Kick of 35th Season

Plenty of Opportunities to Eat Oysters to Help a Good Cause

Beaufort Cheese?  In France, that is.

And Some of the Many Community Events of Interest

"County Council reverses course, will contribute $195K to Lowcountry Economic Alliance"

You may want to read Packet/Gazette as background, but it is not necessary.

http://www.islandpacket.com/2014/10/13/3368658/county-council-to-review-decision.html?sp=/99/257/

The Silver Bullet Syndrome Will Not Get the Job Done

The question for Beaufort County Council is not about saving or not saving the Lowcountry Economic Alliance (LEA). 

LEA is but a symptom of County Council's Silver Bullet Syndrome of looking for the quick fix for an age old problem that cannot be fixed, like many other challenges that are solved with a vote and money.

 If it was simply about money, though it has not made headlines or seemed controversial, County Council has done a lot in the name of economic development in recent months:  

 * they offered $1 million, along with the Town of Bluffton and the School Board, for a project at Buckwalter that never materialized; they 

 * they borrowed $4 million for a spec building for which there is no prospect to be put on County land in Bluffton; and 

 *  they paid $500,000 down toward an $11 million price tag for the Graves Tract which, though they are not sure what it will be used for, some members are talking about a Medical Technology Park.  (By the way, Port Royal, has considered the notion of re-purposing the Naval Hospital as a Medical Research and Technology Center when it is abandoned by the Navy which seems to be in the cards though no one can tell when.)

 At that same time they have spent months struggling to write a check for dollars already budgeted, which are matched by state dollars, to the marketing arm they created and whose plan they endorsed.

What is this all about?

My Lessons from Business

Don't be under capitalized.  It takes time to get traction and one needs the staying power through the ups and downs of the business cycles.

Know the market you are seeking to harvest.

 Have a plan and stick to it regardless of temptations to make quick changes thinking you will find a silver bullet to get yourself out of trouble.

Know the competition, their mission, available resources, the leadership and capital assets so you can craft a strategy that differentiates you and your product from what was already out there with a head start.

 And finally, make sure your board, company leadership, partners, employees and other stake holders are behind you through the ups and downs, resisting the temptation to cut bait and run or seek magical answers.

Beaufort County and Economic Development

 Without pointing fingers, taking a position on funding or not funding the Lowcountry Economic Alliance, I'd like to share some history about the challenge to diversify Beaufort County's job base during my lifetime.

 Because it serves the County's entire population (including the municipalities whose residents pay the same taxes as those who live outside our boundaries) and has a larger budget and takes a regional approach, local governments have historically relied almost solely on Beaufort County Council to lead economic development.  Regardless of the many tacks they have taken, they have failed us.

Let me explain:

 A Personal Experience

 When I returned to Beaufort just over twenty years ago, I worked with a boat manufacturer who was eager to locate in Beaufort County.  (After a German petrochemical plant and iron works were turned away in the late 1960's and mid 1970's, the community said "we need clean industry like a boat maker."

 Governor Campbell invited Baron Yachts, a partnership between the builder of high end "Formula" boats and a Hilton Head Island businessman, to locate here.

 Beaufort County Council embraced the opportunity because "finally we have the clean industry we've been looking for".  County Council facilitated the transfer of land, the State Ports Authority purchased for economic development at Victoria Bluff, to the boat builder. Based on this support, the company invested hundreds of thousands of dollars in planning, permitting and undergoing multiple public hearings at which they were jeered at by "environmentalists" who believed that testing 15 new boats a year, built in a plant buffered by about 1000 feet upland from the water, would ruin the Colleton River.   

 In the end, Council reneged its support, asked the manufacturer to leave Beaufort County and returned their money including out of pocket expenses. Ironically, when one rides up the Colleton River by boat today, one finds huge houses with yards reaching down to the river and docks with covered pier heads that inadvertently direct more pollutants into the river than the boat plant could have ever have done.

 A good company, with better paying jobs, health and dental insurance, retirement plans and fifty two weeks' pay for fifty week's work was chased away sending a clear signal that Beaufort County wanted only tourism and retirement living as the economic engine and job providers for the young people who grow up in the Lowcountry. The military was then and remains a principal economic driver in Northern Beaufort County. But we still need diversity.

 Though Mayor Chambers and others made some headway bringing some new businesses to the Lowcountry:

1. Until last year, they never developed and executed a well thought out plan
2. They have not adequately invested the dollars it takes for marketing and incentives, compared to other counties against whom they were competing
3. They have never owned land suitable for industry
4. Because there was no prior experience with manufacturing, our work force was not suited for the needs of industries
5. And finally,  and most importantly, on what appears to be a four or five year cycle,  the County Council, with no significant signs of achievement,  abandons what they are doing for a new silver bullet they hope will produce quick results:   

The Silver Bullets:

One Silver Bullet which failed: Beaufort County joined Hampton, Jasper, Colleton and Allendale counties in establishing a Five County Commerce Park near I-95 in Hampton County.  This did not work due to a number of facts, not the least of which was political squabbling about one county getting more than the others and no unified marketing plan.

Another Silver Bullet which failed: Then, based on the notion that politicians should put economic development in the hands of the private sector, the Council formed the Lowcountry Economic Network.

Another Silver Bullet which failed: As one of their principal initiatives, the Network purchased and improved what had been a privately held Beaufort Commerce Park which did not have water, sewer, electric and gas service and a storm water system to keep the uplands dry. 

Another Silver Bullet which failed: Since there were no spec buildings on the property, or for that matter in the County, and most companies look to move in and save the time and money without starting from scratch, the idea of building a spec building was thrown around for a while with no decision. When the economy tanked, the Network's bank account went dry, the property went into foreclosure and the County did not see reason to save it at a price of about $1.8 million for a property appraised at $3.4 million.

Silver Bullet which failed: Then came along the idea that Beaufort and Jasper County should ally themselves through what became the Lowcountry Economic Alliance. Beaufort County bore the brunt of the cost of about $100,000 to commission a target industry study.  

Before the "Avalanche Study" was even completed, the difference of cultures and politics between the two counties' governing bodies drew a divide and Jasper County abandoned the Alliance even though the Alliance had landed two new companies for Jasper County. Jasper County was upset that Beaufort County did not support a new retail center which experts say would have cannibalized existing retail outlets on Hilton Head and in Bluffton.  Furthermore, Jasper County was in hot pursuit of a Casino, which Hilton Head did not want because, for marketing purposes, the casino would likely have marketed itself as Hilton Head as others have done all the way out to I-95.  Finally, Jasper County Council wanted the Alliance controlled by elected officials when Beaufort County wanted the private sector to lead.

Another Silver Bullet which failed: Frustrated by lack of direction from the County, Hilton Head and Bluffton stood up their own economic development entities as they were impatient with lack of direction and support from the County.  While the City of Beaufort did not start a new organization, we did salvage the Beaufort Commerce Park (costs us about $3,000 per month to own) with the expectation that the county would continue with their marketing plan and support our efforts along with those of the other municipalities.

Another Silver Bullet which failed: After adopting the Target Market study and the Alliance created a full scale marketing campaign, it appears that five out of eleven County Council members want to bring it to a halt: the plan costs money, it demonstrated shortcomings in infrastructure compared to other counties across the state, the County Council balked on their commitment.

And now a New Silver Bullet is under consideration: It appears that at least three of the five dissenting members of County Council (three of whom are new to the Council and likely do not know the past, what is currently at stake or the needs of the larger county outside of Bluffton and Hilton Head) are exploring yet another silver bullet which is to join another alliance with surrounding counties, including Jasper, which have little in common with the needs and/or opportunities in Beaufort County. I am all for regional collaboration, but when it did not work three years ago, why should we believe it will work tomorrow?

 Economic Diversification is not about Silver Bullets every four or five years. What is necessary is for County leaders to get together, show some imagination, leadership, individual and collective commitment to the plan they adopted, fund it, work collaboratively and achieve something rather than looking for quick fixes when halfhearted quick fixes have achieved little.

 And if they think joining others before they get their heads and hearts together and accept the responsibility we have vested in them, they will again be wrong.  They will spend more money and, if history repeats itself, they will be looking for another silver bullet in four years.

 Meanwhile the children growing up in Beaufort County will wait patiently, not perform in school because they see no better future and we will pay a price significantly higher than a couple hundred thousand dollars a year trying to save them. 

Finally:

 Since I grew up as a child in Beaufort County, politicians have promised us opportunities for better jobs closer to home.  I have no doubt that by working together we can tackle this issue and win for all.

I beg you, Beaufort County Council, through the LEA or by bringing economic development inside (like almost all counties do) please make this a priority, get on the same page with your colleagues, engage the municipalities and the private sector as partners and let's get to work.

Some eye opening facts about diversifying our economic base:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4nzUOoBCYwE

 Boundary Street property owners, public invited to Beaufort briefings on upcoming road project

With road construction expected to start soon, Beaufort city leaders will hold open meetings later this month to share information and expectations with the affected property owners and public.

"Even though this is a relatively short stretch of roadway that we are improving, it's a key gateway to Beaufort and is an important commercial corridor," said Jon Verity, chairman of the Beaufort Redevelopment Commission.

"We want to share what we know about the project and keep our communication open with property owners and people who will be traveling the road on a regular basis during construction," he said.

The hour-long session will cover the same content at each meeting, but for the convenience of business owners and the public the meetings will be held on different days and different times:

·       Monday, Oct. 27, noon in City Council Chambers

·       Tuesday, Oct. 28, 8 a.m. in City Council Chambers

·       Wednesday, Oct. 29, 5:30 p.m. in City Council Chambers

·       Thursday, Oct. 30, 7 p.m. in City Council Chambers.

"We certainly hope anyone with an interest can make it to one of these meetings," Verity said. "We spread them out across the week and at different times because we know not everyone can make an early morning meeting or an evening meeting."

 While the sessions primarily are designed to inform property owners along the 1.5-mile section to be improved, the public is welcome to attend. 

The City Council Chambers are located in City Hall at 1911 Boundary Street.

The $30 million Boundary Street construction project is expected to go out for bids in November and Rob McFee, director of engineering and infrastructure for Beaufort County, said the county hopes to award contracts by early December. Dirt could start moving early next year, he said.

The meetings will include an overview of the Boundary Street Redevelopment District, the goals of the construction and how the City plans to keep the community informed during construction. Verity and McFee will lead the discussions.

Building a better Beaufort is the goal of a $30 million investment in Boundary Street to create a safer and more scenic entry to the city, provide better commercial and retail locations, and improve traffic conditions.

A financial impact analysis indicates the local economy will see $5 in benefits for every $1 invested in the Boundary Street Redevelopment District.

 The project includes:

·       Realigning the intersection of SC 170 and Boundary Street

·       Retrofitting, re-investing and redeveloping neglected areas of the corridor

·       Creating commercial/retail nodes

·       Providing alternate ways for people to reach commercial/retail including bike and walking paths

·       And expanding the Spanish Moss Trail in partnership with Beaufort County.

The work is part of a larger effort to reconfigure Beaufort from near the Marine Corps Air Station to annexed areas of Lady's Island, creating a unified and connected neighborhood designed for people, not just cars.

The entire project, approximately 1.5 miles including side road improvements, is expected to be substantially complete by November 2016.

The Boundary Street Redevelopment Corridor project budget is funded through three sources: A Federal Highway Administration grant of $12.635 million, the Beaufort County one cent sales tax for road improvements of $7.819 million and the City of Beaufort's TIF II estimated contribution of about $6.443 million.

Lockheed Martin brings F-35 cockpit demonstration to S.C. State Museum

Look inside and see the simulator. 

Extracted from the State Newspaper

http://www.thestate.com/2014/10/15/3747628_lockheed-martin-brings-f-35-cockpit.html?sp=/99/205/&rh=1

Still Looking for Petition Signers

Megan Feight's Petition Against Off Shore Exploration and Drilling

Has achieved close to 2,000 signers.  If you have not yet signed it, 

please do so and send to family and friends.  

If you have signed it, please forward to others who might sign it.

http://www.change.org/p/sen-tim-scott-say-no-to-offshore-drilling-on-south-carolina-s-pristine-coast?utm_campaign=new_signature&utm_medium=email&utm_source=signature_receipt#share

35th USCB Festival Season Gets Underway

Please join me to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the USCB Festival Series.  The new season will kick-off on Sunday November 2nd with two of Beaufort's favorite ladies returning with Artistic Director and cellist, Edward Arron to the USCB Center for the Arts stage.  

 The diminutive Jeewon Park will exhibit her gargantuan talent at the nine-foot grand Steinway and will be joined by Tessa Lark, who last spring wowed audiences with her amazing virtuosity on the violin (both on the USCB Center for the Arts stage playing Schubert and afterwards for the smaller, but ever so enthusiastic, crowd at the Saltus Grill in an extemporaneous rendition of blue grass favorites with Vic Varner and his boys).  

 The trio will open the program with the classical precision and brilliance of Mozart and conclude with a passionate and angst-ridden fairy tale by the quintessential romantic composer Robert Schumann.

 Beaufort is fortunate to have attracted internationally famous artists to our small, but distinctive town to play some of the finest music ever written for the past 35 years.  

 Don't take this gift for granted; go to www.uscb.edu/festivalseries  or call Staci Breton at 843-208-8246 for complete information about the grand season of five memorable performances that will soon be underway...you don't want to miss experiencing something wonderful.