New director anxious to meet with local leaders

The Darlington County Economic Development Partnership’s new director is wasting no time in familiarizing himself with his new job.

Robert D. Long officially begins his new duties on Sept. 18. But Long said Monday he will be traveling to Darlington County every Friday between now and then to meet with local officials and business leaders as he prepares to begin work in his new role as the head of the county’s economic development effort.

“I’m very thankful for the opportunity to work with Darlington County in this position on its economic development,” Long said Monday, the day the partnership announced his appointment to the position.

Long has been working as assistant director of the Aiken/Edgefield Economic Development Partnership in Aiken. He has worked in the economic development and community development fields for more than 13 years.

Since 2000, the Aiken/Edgefield Economic Development Partnership has attracted more than $1.5 billion in capital investment and the creation of more than 4,100 jobs in that area of South Carolina.

Most recently, he served as project manager over all industrial, distribution and service-related projects that have expanded and relocated in Aiken and Edgefield counties.

“We are thrilled to have Robert coming to Darlington County to lead our efforts in attracting new business investment and jobs to further improve the per capita income of our citizens,” said Goz Segars, chairman of the development partnership, a public-private partnership formed last spring to pursue economic development in Darlington County.

“He has a proven track record of building infrastructure, existing industry expansions and attracting new companies,” Segars said. “His fresh ideas and energy really caught the eye of our board.”

Long, a native of Aiken County whose duties as assistant director with the Aiken/Edgefield Partnership have included project management, research, marketing, governmental affairs, community development and presentations, replaces Hartsville attorney and Darlington County Partnership board member Gordon McBride, who has served as interim director for the partnership since its formation and interim director of the the former Darlington County Development Board since the retirement of former Director Dave Bailey. McBride will continue as a member of the board.

“I’m anxious to get my roots firmly planted in Darlington County so that I can begin the task of building strategies and infrastructure to better market the strengths of the county to the business world,” Long said.

“One of the first things I want to do is meet with the local leadership, elected and nonelected, and get their feedback, their thoughts and ideas on economic development,” Long told The Messenger.

“While I have a number of priorities, one of my first efforts will be in strengthening relationships with existing businesses and building collaboration between state, county and local government officials as well as private interests,” Long said. “Darlington County has wonderful potential, and I am confident that I can contribute greatly to its economic development efforts.”

In building relationships with existing industry, Long said he would like to see the creation of a manufacturer’s council in Darlington County to improve communication among industry and between private industry and the development sector.

Such a council in Aiken County, he said, has worked well there. “It’s been very useful in keeping track of what’s going on with existing industries. Very often, existing industries are one of the first leads you get in learning about potential industrial prospects,” he said.

“It’s important for existing industries to know who their neighbors are. We’ve had good success with that in Aiken County and I believe we can have good success with it in Darlington County,” Long said.

Long was one of two finalists for the Darlington County position. The other top candidate was States L. Clawson, senior community development planner with the S.C. Department of Commerce. The two were selected as finalists from more than 100 applicants nationwide.

During a meeting with the partnership’s Board of Directors last week before his hiring, Long said the creation of the partnership has positioned Darlington County to take advantage of existing assets and develop new assets.

The access in Darlington County to Interstate’s 95 and 20, the publicity the county gets from Darlington Raceway and the resources now available to the county through the new Southeastern Institute of Manufacturing and Technology (SIMT) and the North Eastern Strategic Alliance (NESA) are all significant assets for Darlington County in its economic development efforts, Long said.

Roger Schrum of Sonoco, chairman of the partnership’s personnel committee, which recommended Long for the job, said he was most struck with Long’s energy and his knowledge of project management in marketing and recruitment.

“He seems to have a boundless energy and enthusiasm for our county,” Schrum said. “He’s going to be a part of our county and our community, and he will bring a lot of new ideas to economic development in our county.”

Long said he plans to take an active role in community life outside of his new job. “My wife, Tara, and our two children are looking forward to being a part of the Darlington County community beyond my work in economic development,” he said. “I plan to be just as active in Darlington County as I have in Aiken.”

His activities in Aiken and Edgefield counties have included service on a number of boards, including the Lower Savannah Workforce Development Board, the Edgefield Chamber of Commerce and the Thoroughbred Country Tourism Advisory Committee.

Long holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of South Carolina - Aiken, a master’s degree from Florida State University and is a S.C. Certified Economic Developer.

The Darlington County Economic Development Partnership was established by Darlington County Council and is supported by Darlington County, the communities of Hartsville, Darlington, Society Hill and Lamar as well as businesses and industries that are members of Darlington County Progress, a not-for-profit corporation.

The partnership’s mission is to improve the economy of Darlington County through the effective promotion and development of new industry and the expansion of existing industry. It is also responsible for working with state and federal agencies in securing available grants and other financial assistance for business and industrial growth.