This past year, when Marion County started its search for a new economic developer, county officials turned to the state Commerce Department for guidance.
That move caused the department to look at what it offered and to adjust. According to Maceo Nance, who was in Marion County earlier this week to speak to a group of business and industry leaders, the state office, for the first time, wrote a job description for a county's economic development director, directly assisted the county in the selection of the new director and, again for the first time, pulled together a six-week training program for the newly selected director. That director was Rodney Berry.
Also for the first time, Nance, director of community and rural development in the state’s Department of Commerce, said the office assisted a county in addressing its appearance. The department helped with a sign at the county's Industrial Park on U.S. Highway 501 and gave a $1 million to help the county upgrade the site.
Among other things, leadership and perseverance were two of the topics Monday at the annual Economic Outlook Luncheon in Marion County, where Nance was guest speaker. The annual event, sponsored by the Marion and Greater Mullins Chambers of Commerce and Marion County Progress, Inc., had more than 125 business, industry and civic leaders and public officials attend the luncheon in the Dry Dock Restaurant in Mullins.
Nance told those attending that his remarks were to be taken personally, as they concerned leaders.
“Leadership is action, not a position,” he said, adding that it’s “motion, not where you can be seated.” He admonished leaders to “Do what you know is right, always. Your word is your bond. Too often, we forget about that.”
A key “pearl of wisdom” in economic development, said Nance, a 30-year veteran of state economic development and state development board, is “To separate yourself from the rest of the pack.” However to stand apart from the competition, you must first stand together as a team.”
Divisions between groups, races or communities are “not gonna’ work,” he said, adding “Got to stand as a team.”
Problems become opportunities when the right people join together to create a common vision, Nance said. “Don’t be afraid to take a chance. You’ll miss 100 percent of the shots you never take … There is no challenge too great for those who have the will and the heart to make it happen.”
"We'll get there. And we'll get there together," Nance said, regarding overcoming economic challenges in the county.
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