District 7's Diva of Economic Development

So you are trying to say it was MCW s fault that the mill closed down .You have got to do better than that . The cotton mill is gone forever thanks to walmart kmart and other stores that buy imported goods ,so blow that smoke up somebody elses butt.

So you are trying to say it was MCW s fault that the mill closed down .You have got to do better than that . The cotton mill is gone forever thanks to walmart kmart and other stores that buy imported goods ,so blow that smoke up somebody elses butt.

- Daneboy_4

Dane 4 Boys,

It's a fact that inaction is often times just as damaging if not more so than taking action. Here, lets look at a recent article from the Independent-Mail about Economic Development for both Belton and Honea-Path.

It's not KFC in Honea-Path, but it IS a start.

No mention of M. Cindy Wilson . . .

What IS mentioned is this (from the article):

Until now, restaurants seemed to be the only new businesses considering new ventures into Belton and Honea Path, communities seeking to replace jobs lost to industries that closed and downsized, such as the Chiquola Mill in Honea Path and Blair Mills in Belton.

She is, at least, in part to blame. There are concepts such as economic incentive packages to keep businesses here in our area. I have NEVER seen her partner with Econ Dev or the County to put together an incentive package to retain business.

Not once.


- SSHM

It's a fact that inaction is often times just as damaging if not more so than taking action. Here, lets look at a recent article from the Independent-Mail about Economic Development for both Belton and Honea-Path.


No mention of M. Cindy Wilson . . .



- SSHM

- SSHM

She is one of seven. So how does the one get the blame for the inaction of the seven?

Are you saying the County Council bears responsibility for the economic demise of all B-HP and the rest of Andeson County?

From what I see you will tell or give businesses any thing to get them here ,but after you do you want to tax them to death . Do something for the small guy to keep him here they are as important as the big business.

I would think ( and occasionally I do just that) that bringing/keeping smaller businesses here would increase the tax base more than one conglomerate business with HUGE tax breaks and added incentives.
America was founded on the backs of small business. Mom & Pop stores, owner/operator and independent distribution companies employ lots of lesser & middle trained people, a mainstay of Anderson. With the loss of many mills and manufacturing, there is not a lot to choose from here, trust me I know! To continue to hope for some mega Wal-mart/walgreens type employer to come here is nonsense. Too many other areas with more to offer than we do. Too many depressed regions who'd break their piggybanks to supply incentives and better locations.

She is one of seven. So how does the one get the blame for the inaction of the seven?

- BillyBoy

A: It's HER district. It has ALWAYS BEEN her district. Actually, Billy, others have stepped in to help Belton and Honea-Path in the absence of her action, as evidenced in the article I linked. If anything, what you are attempting to point out it something along the lines of "Cindy should wait for help." That's a rather DEMOCRATIC thing to do - wait for the government to help you rather than take action. Are you implying that Cindy isn't a Republican? Such a charge from a Cindy supporter is, to say the least, interesting.

Are you saying the County Council bears responsibility for the economic demise of all B-HP and the rest of Andeson County?

- BillyBoy

A: Cindy, the Council, and the County Economic Development Department are indeed to blame for the progressive demise of Honea-Path. While there are many that will argue (myself included) that some economic and market conditions can not be overcome, there are other ways to counter certain market conditions in the name of job and community preservation (this is the part where Major Taylor gets T.O.(ed) at me for being a Neo-Keynesian . . . but I at least care about my community, my county).

You can't save every job, but for Pete's sake, at least show up and give it a shot, please.


- SSHM

Do something for the small guy to keep him here they are as important as the big business.

- Daneboy_4

I'm marking this on the calendar. Someone is honestly contributing to the discussion.

You are correct - small business is indeed the backbone of our country. It drives the economy and (*shock*) aids in landing those larger businesses.

So what would I propose doing? Simple - Look at ways of rolling back or eliminating payroll taxes for small businesses with less than 50 people on the payroll. Walk around town and ask our small businesses where their wallet gets pinched the most - it's payroll taxes. Find a way for the county to help with this. Watch growth go through the roof.

Oh - while we are on the subject of growth and investment, lets look at foreign investment. There is good reason and cause to hop a plane and lure out-of-country companies to our backyard:

The Effects of Foreign Direct Investment on Local Communities

Yes - you have to pay for the PDF if you want to read it. The summary should be more than enough to prompt some of you:

Little evidence exists on the effects of foreign direct investment (FDI) on local communities in the United States, despite evidence that U.S. communities actively bid against each other for FDI. We use detailed county-level panel data from South Carolina across 5-year intervals from 1980 through 1995 to investigate the effect of foreign manufacturing plants on local labor markets and on the level and distribution of local government budgets. We find that foreign investment raises local real wages much more than does domestic investment, but lowers per capita county-government expenditures and redistributes monies away from public school expenditures.

Don't be quick to be critical of someone from Econ Dev hopping a jet plane to a far-away location. If anything, in the long-run, they saved you a TON of money.

- SSHM

Correct me if I'm wrong here, SSHM, but aren't those "payroll taxes" all STATE and FEDERAL taxes? What do you think County Council can do about those?

And I'm not trying to be a smarta** here. I honestly want to know what you have in mind, because you are correct in your assessment of their impact on small businesses (especially those that have to be matched by the employer.)

Correct me if I'm wrong here, SSHM, but aren't those "payroll taxes" all STATE and FEDERAL taxes? What do you think County Council can do about those?

And I'm not trying to be a smarta** here. I honestly want to know what you have in mind, because you are correct in your assessment of their impact on small businesses (especially those that have to be matched by the employer.)

- JDTippett

You are correct, JD.

These are federal and state taxes that every business has to pay. Now, until such time as our congressional or state legislative delegation can marshal legislation through to provide relieve to the "little guy," at the County level, we could offer aid in any of a number of ways.

(Please bear with me, these ideas are a little rough around the edges)

Approach One: Small business that meet certain criteria (less than "X" so many employees, in business "X" so many years) could qualify for partially matching funds (emphasis on partial) to help defray the costs of paroll taxes.

Approach Two: Small business that opts to locate in certain areas where there is an emphasis on growth and development (e.g. - we are trying to market/cater to "Y" type of business in this area) could qualify for partially matching funds (emphasis again on partial) to help defray the payroll taxes.

So what does this mean for our current budget allocations?

Well . . . we would have to cut from somewhere to provide for this. I believe such a program or approaches as listed above could be handled within our current budget. Yes, this could possibly mean that "X" Pubic Park might not get new bathrooms this year, but next year, with a healthier tax base nutured through direct investment, who knows, the new bathrooms might not come from government, but from a local business opting to give back to the community.

It's just a thought . . . and yes . . . the thought is slightly out of the box.


- SSHM

Porter, Anderson County has been stagnant for 12 years under Joey Ray, much longer than Cindy has been on council. The bullies love to attack Cindy because she is a female.
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ANDERSON--STAGNANT FOR 12 YEARS UNDER JOEY RAY
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Porter, Anderson County has been stagnant for 12 years under Joey Ray, much longer than Cindy has been on council. The bullies love to attack Cindy because she is a female.
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ANDERSON--STAGNANT FOR 12 YEARS UNDER JOEY RAY
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- Bubba

A lie as big as the day is long . . .

Proof:
2004 - Walgreens and Electrolux Expansion

When you can't talk in the realm of facts that can be verified, make it up as you go, eh?

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STUPID SHOULD HURT MORE - AND BUBBA IS A PATHOLOGICAL LIAR
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- SSHM

And SSHM is the biggest pile of Preston s... that is on any of the blogs. SSHM is a liiar's liar. You keep proving that you are either Joey, McAbee, Amy or Gracie more with every post you do.
I'm certainly not the first one to openly proclaim that SSHM IS THE BIGGEST LIAR IN THE COUNTY.
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SSHM--A SLIMY SLOPHEAD HIDING MONKEY
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Let's stick with the facts, shall we?

You said: "Anderson County has been stagnant for 12 years under Joey Ray, much longer than Cindy has been on council" -Bubba

Stagnant
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/stagnant

We'll run with the third entry from that URL:
3. characterized by lack of development, advancement, or progressive movement: a stagnant economy.

I counter with:
Walgreens, Dollar General Take Advantage of Highly Skilled Workers for DC projects

Specifically, from THAT article . . .

Walgreens
Walgreens Co. is an example of a company making the most out of the state’s work force. The pharmaceutical retailer plans to hire 450 employees when it opens a new distribution center (DC) on a 110-acre site in Anderson.

Walgreens, which searched for a site for two years, is investing more than $175 million in the project.

. . .

The city of Anderson approved an incentives package that includes a reduction in Walgreens’ property tax rate from 10.5 percent to 6 percent for up to 20 years, and a special-source revenue credit agreement that 35 percent of all taxes collected during the next 16 years be set aside for infrastructure costs at the facility.


Electrolux
A highly skilled work force will be needed when Electrolux Home Products establishes a Cold Products Technology Center of Excellence at the company’s refrigerator manufacturing facility in Anderson. The company will invest $6 million in new laboratories, equipment and facilities.

Scientists, engineers, designers and technicians will staff the center. The facility is also expected to attract talent from other industries and other Electrolux locations.

The center, which is expected to be operating by October, will focus on developing products based on consumer and customer insights.

Timeframe
March, 2004 (date of this article)

Today's Date
May 30, 2008

Twelve Years Ago (the Date)
May 30, 1996

Fact: In a correct chronological order, 2004 falls AFTER 1996, but BEFORE 2008, AND is within the 12 year window you have designated as STAGNANT.

So - where am I lying again? The internet term for what just happened was getting pwned. Try not to cry too much as you ponder your level of fail.


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STUPID SHOULD HURT MORE - AND BUBBA IS A PATHOLOGICAL LIAR
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- SSHM

Did not electrolux lay off a bunch of folks around the end of last year or at the first of this year. Maybe that is why Joey was there day before yesterday talking with B.J. Durham.Who knows. They didnt think twice about building a plant in Mexico did thay.

Let's stick with the facts, shall we?

You said: "Anderson County has been stagnant for 12 years under Joey Ray, much longer than Cindy has been on council" -Bubba

Stagnant
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/stagnant

We'll run with the third entry from that URL:
3. characterized by lack of development, advancement, or progressive movement: a stagnant economy.

I counter with:
Walgreens, Dollar General Take Advantage of Highly Skilled Workers for DC projects

Specifically, from THAT article . . .

Walgreens
Walgreens Co. is an example of a company making the most out of the state’s work force. The pharmaceutical retailer plans to hire 450 employees when it opens a new distribution center (DC) on a 110-acre site in Anderson.

Walgreens, which searched for a site for two years, is investing more than $175 million in the project.

. . .

The city of Anderson approved an incentives package that includes a reduction in Walgreens’ property tax rate from 10.5 percent to 6 percent for up to 20 years, and a special-source revenue credit agreement that 35 percent of all taxes collected during the next 16 years be set aside for infrastructure costs at the facility.


Electrolux
A highly skilled work force will be needed when Electrolux Home Products establishes a Cold Products Technology Center of Excellence at the company’s refrigerator manufacturing facility in Anderson. The company will invest $6 million in new laboratories, equipment and facilities.

Scientists, engineers, designers and technicians will staff the center. The facility is also expected to attract talent from other industries and other Electrolux locations.

The center, which is expected to be operating by October, will focus on developing products based on consumer and customer insights.

Timeframe
March, 2004 (date of this article)

Today's Date
May 30, 2008

Twelve Years Ago (the Date)
May 30, 1996

Fact: In a correct chronological order, 2004 falls AFTER 1996, but BEFORE 2008, AND is within the 12 year window you have designated as STAGNANT.

So - where am I lying again? The internet term for what just happened was getting pwned. Try not to cry too much as you ponder your level of fail.


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STUPID SHOULD HURT MORE - AND BUBBA IS A PATHOLOGICAL LIAR
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- SSHM

- SSHM

Kids, when you use Dollar General in your argument about your county's economic development situation, GAME OVER!