Mega Regions = Mega Growth

By Hal Johnson

The Upstate’s total population is expected to grow more than 250,000, and the workforce is expected to grow by 203,000.

In the world of economic development, the measurement of a community typically defines the area of responsibility either assigned by geographic boundaries or governmental entities. Globalization and our ability to communicate with anyone, anywhere, at any time has blurred traditional boundaries. Therefore, economic development tasks continue to evolve from state and local organizations to regional organizations and now - mega regions.

Mega regions include multiple communities, cross state lines and are traditionally defined by a common asset or a common geographic area. Furthermore, a mega region typically embodies a common market. There are multiple mega regions emerging nationally and globally, and just as regions leverage resources of multiple communities, mega regions are doing it on a much larger scale.

Have you ever heard of Char-lanta?

According to Richard Florida, author of The Rise of the Mega Regions, Char-lanta is the world’s ninth largest mega region, with a population exceeding 22 million and a GDP exceeding $720 billion. According to Florida, Char-lanta’s GDP is greater than India’s and about the same size of Canada’s.

Char-lanta boasts significant new job creation through targeted talent attraction and extensive business recruitment campaigns. The global economic development practices amongst South Carolina, Georgia and North Carolina are extremely competitive and attractive for businesses evaluating a strategic location. This should be the driver for our state and region to be a leader in not only recognizing the trends of mega regions but also being actively involved in leading its direction and long-term focus of growth. Realization of significant expansion within Char-lanta must be acknowledged and discussed as a community in order to preserve the greatest asset of this area – quality of life.

According to Dr. Barry Nocks of Clemson University, by 2030, the Upstate’s total population is expected to grow more than 250,000, and the workforce is expected to grow by 203,000. This growth is significant and on par with the growth of Atlanta and Charlotte on a per capita basis. In reference, the Greenville-Spartanburg combined statistical area (CSA) covers an eight county region, whereas the Atlanta CSA covers a much larger area and is currently only 62 miles from the South Carolina state line. It is expected to gain 30 additional miles by the year 2030. Just up the road, Charlotte’s CSA already overlaps into the Upstate’s CSA and by 2030 will reach the Spartanburg County line.

The growth of the region as a whole is both good and bad. The good allows for leveraging of multiple assets and collaboration to take place on many fronts. The negative side is the growth continues at a rapid pace, and this does not allow adequate time to be taken to discuss growth issues related to the region as a whole. If this growth is not truly recognized on a grand scale, meaning what happens in one county affects the next county, then it could yield challenges not easily fixed in the short term. It is imperative for our counties and cities to discuss growth, reiterating the positive opportunities and potential challenges, and to consider a much broader perspective that includes the entire mega region.

The Upstate SC Alliance is conveniently located at the center point of the Char-lanta mega region. We are a regional economic development organization charged with marketing and branding the region on a global scale to attract new business investment. We remind our investors that we are not between Atlanta and Charlotte, we connect them. It is this strategic location within this mega region that serves as a major driver for our continued success. Our success is enhanced by the core assets of the Char-lanta mega region, which includes excellent access to interstates, proximity to multiple deepwater ports, convenience to several international airports and benefits of having more than 10 research universities within 200 miles.

Upstate South Carolina, “the connector,” in Char-lanta cannot sit back and wait for growth. It has to prepare at a greater force than ever before, because growth is coming. Just look at the past year within the 10 county Upstate region. The announced capital investment was more than $2 billion and 6,100 jobs were created. The Upstate of South Carolina, along with the state and the entire Char-lanta mega region, will emerge through these tumultuous economic conditions sooner and stronger than most if we put in place aggressive economic development practices.

Now is the time for better communication and partnerships to evolve amongst those in the Char-lanta mega region. We must continue to state to the world why their business needs to be here. With every challenge there is opportunity, and we have one before us now in recognizing that regional growth planning discussions must be held and acted upon. Working together as one to protect our quality of life through regional collaboration on growth issues is imperative to securing our future for generations to come. By doing so, it will remain a great day in the Upstate and a better tomorrow for the Char-lanta mega region.

Hal Johnson is president and CEO of the Upstate South Carolina Alliance. Formed in 2000, the Upstate South Carolina Alliance is a public/private regional economic development organization designed to market the dynamic 10-county Upstate region to the world.