More work needed for productive community

By: Nathaniel Miller | SCNOW
Published: July 17, 2009

Work necessary to create better business community
It is more and more apparent that the South Carolina job and unemployment rate lags behind that of the entire nation.
We are seeing rapidly escalating job losses and a sharp hike in the unemployment figures. Marion County now has about a 24-25 percent unemployment rate, almost three times the rate of the nation at large.
Small rural communities continue to suffer under the tremendous job loss and loss of services and population. In Marion County, we are seeing a decrease in employment in schools, businesses and health services. These areas are needed for a strong community.
As the economic news continues to be dismal even by the state resources, it is important to continue to work hard and diligent about making our communities productive.
It is perhaps an outstanding time to revisit just how the new corridors to the beach will survive. Often we try to encourage large companies to relocate to Florence and Marion counties and hire somewhere between 100 to 500 employees.
The present economy does not allow for many companies with a large workforce to relocate, particularly in areas where the economy is not thriving. A new shift on how we will continue to thrive will depend upon our ability to reinvent how we will engage businesses, build upon entrepreneurial spirit and forge partnerships that we create.
As rural communities work to stay solvent, they need to adopt a more aggressive spirit of engagement with all segments of society. I would suggest that communities facing economic decline look at engaging in some of the following activities.
Communities can and must embrace:
• Keeping all neighborhoods safe from crime and deterioration
• Providing the best education possible for all students
• Engaging in creating small businesses throughout the county, supporting each other and rebuilding communities
• Caring for the elderly
• Respecting children and all adults
• Creating a spirit of entrepreneurship
• Respecting the property of others
• Creating a spirit of cooperation among each other, each city, each organization
• Endeavoring to make Marion County a unified, vibrant county with a plan for the
future.
As a citizen of the county, I believe we could make our county a better place to live and a more prosperous place to work and raise a family.
We must begin to work more harmoniously with each other in an effort to make our future bright.

More work needed for productive community

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