tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20886036585528255002024-03-05T21:56:25.861-05:00The Hickory HoundThis is a blog about the vitality, growth, and future of Hickory, North Carolina. All comments and input are welcome.
I want this to be a dynamic forum where we can discuss what it will take to make this the great city it can and should be.James Thomas Shellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04359970774315269896noreply@blogger.comBlogger1484125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2088603658552825500.post-49658636194474794512020-12-31T16:23:00.009-05:002021-01-06T12:18:48.961-05:00The State of Hickory 2020<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b> </b></span></span><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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</xml><![endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>A Prologue to 2020</b></span></span><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">It has been hard to focus lately. I’ve always been
someone with many oars in the water. I started the year working my job, running
errands, and taking care of a couple of properties. By March I was a full-time
caregiver, still running errands, trying to prepare a garden, and taking care
of those properties. In May I was back to my job, being a part-time caregiver,
still running errands, trying to garden, and still taking care of those
properties. That all continued throughout the rest of the year, but come
December I became the infirmed myself, and to finish out the year I’ve had to
focus on my well-being. Yeah, having a lot of oars in the water won’t get you
much of anywhere if those oars aren’t paddling in the same direction. </span></p>
<div style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border: medium none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0in 0in 1pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I think that many of us
have dealt with these issues over the past year. The population of our area has
aged and so we 40 and 50 and 60 somethings have to look out for our parents who
are 70 and 80 years old and need some assistance. It’s just the reality of the
world we live in. When you throw in the healthy (really unhealthy) dose of
paranoia brought on by the Coronavirus Pandemic, then it becomes mentally
draining. The energy needed to make life work is incredible and much of the
energy for these tasks, we don’t want to do, feels like we are wasting time.
It’s like we are doing the same thing over and over again and not accomplishing
much, so it isn’t fulfilling. I think many of us are burned out by all that has
gone on in 2020. <br /></span></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; line-height: 115%;"> The Surface</span></span></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I haven’t written one of these State of Hickory
pieces in 5 years. I think if you go back and read them, you will understand that
these documents are written with sincerity. I think much of what has been
written has stood the test of time and has credibility. What I write here is
what I see, read, and hear about the goings-on in this community and what I
sense about the present, and what it projects for its future. Unlike what you
get with so-called “Journalism” these days, these words that I put down aren’t
meant to fulfill a company agenda or to make sure that I don’t upset certain
people. These words are meant to paint a picture of reality.</span></p>
<p class="bodycopy">When it comes to Hickory, on the surface, you see some good things
that have happened like the new multi-use apartment building and facility
across from City Hall called One North Center. There has been a lot of energy
that has gone into that project. According to articles in the Hickory Daily
Record, the developer will have invested at least $15.5 million in the project
as part of its agreement with the city. The city in turn agreed to spend $3.5
million, primarily for structural improvements to the site. The City was paid
$240,000 for the property, which they had owned and used as city parking for
years. </p>
<p class="bodycopy">The property does look nice and it will fill a niche for
those seeking luxury and who desire that trendy downtown lifestyle that many
other communities have developed over time. The people interested in living at
One North Center are excited because they feel like they are pioneering
stakeholders in Hickory becoming like other trendy cities in the region. This
developed as part of the movement promulgated by the local Powers That Be over
the past decade. These are the same folks that pushed forward the Boost Hickory
group that got the $40 million Bond initiative passed in 2014.</p>
<p class="bodycopy">As part of the Union Square revitalization projects we have
seen over the past decade, tons of concrete has been poured to further urbanize
and restructure the area that centers around the courtyard of Union Square. The
folks that are energized about the apartment development across from City Hall
have been super excited to see the cleaner and wider sidewalk that is the
Citywalk. Local officials point to the completion of these projects as examples
of a community moving forward, achieving goals, and making economic progress.</p>
<p class="bodycopy">Of late, coming into Catawba County on Highway 321 from
Caldwell County – Granite Falls, Lenoir, the mountains – as one crosses the
bridge and looks to the left, we can now see the pylons put into the ground
that is the foundation for the Riverwalk. If you drive River Road in the
Lakeland Park Neighborhood, then you can see activity taking place at Geitner
Park. One of the bright spots for years in our community has been the success
of the parks out along the river. Geitner Park, Rotary Park, and Glenn Hilton
Park have been facilities that Hickory’s citizenry have enjoyed for decades and
Hickory Inc. tells us that they are committed to investing more in these assets
to make them even better in the years ahead.</p>
<p class="bodycopy">We also see the Business Park named the Trivium Corporate
Center located in Southeast Hickory crossing Interstate 40 and heading down
Startown road towards Highway 321 South. This business center is located between
Startown Road and Robinwood Road less than 2 miles from the Interstate 40,
Highway 70, Startown Road intersection. Looking at the maps provided by Catawba
County’s Economic Development Corporation, one sees that there are currently
nine large proposed developments within this property and room for more sub
lots. Of the nine large developments, four are already filled and these are the
type of high-tech manufacturing facilities, with good-paying jobs, that our
community has long desired. The projects already in the works represent right
at 500 jobs and over $150 million to be invested in our area.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">What has been expressed to the community is that hundreds of
millions of dollars have been invested in Hickory and there are promises of
more to come. Infrastructure is being built that will make Hickory more modern
and appealing. Jobs are coming to the area that we have needed and desired for
a long time. We are seeing residential developments being constructed that are
in demand by the well-to-do and will make the heart of the city convey a small
town of prosperity, sort of like The Wizard of Oz’s allegory about the Emerald
City.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; line-height: 115%;"> </span></span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; line-height: 115%;"></span></span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; line-height: 115%;">The Middle</span></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">In the five years since I last composed one of these
articles about our community’s condition, the economic landscape has certainly
changed. Manufacturing was able to make a comeback during President Trump’s
first 3 years in office with a focus on reshoring American industries that had
been offshored over the past 20 years. In the United States, we were seeing
solid growth in Gross Domestic Product due to the Domestic Business Policies
that were put into place. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Before the Coronavirus Pandemic, the economy
certainly looked to be on a path towards continued growth. Compare that to the
previous 8 years where we were told that manufacturing in the United States was
dead because we couldn’t compete with foreign cheap labor and other reduced
costs of doing business. President Obama said he didn’t have a magic wand. There
was a multitude of excuses that were given as to why we couldn’t get the
economy rolling after the Great Recession that lasted from 2008 through 2009 –
and beyond. We had one year of annualized 3% growth in GDP during Obama’s eight
years in office. The key to National economic growth is correlated to
manufacturing. Manufacturing takes raw materials and creates products. Selling
products creates profit which moves the economy. The rawer the inputs >to>
the more refined the product >equals> the greater the value >and>
the greater the profit.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Hickory enjoyed the fruits of the Renaissance that
we saw in manufacturing during the Trump Presidency because we are and have
always been a manufacturing hub during the modern economic era in the United
States. Obama’s years mainly saw an economy centered around Urban Expansion and
a Global Economic Agenda that mostly benefited the upper crust of American
society at the expense of the working class -- and the working class is the
Middle Class. Our area couldn’t get a foothold under these policies, because we
are a suburban population that isn’t metropolitan but isn’t rural either.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The major urban centers located near Hickory are
Charlotte 50 miles Southeast, Winston-Salem 70 miles East-Northeast, and
Asheville 75 miles West-Southwest. Most people don’t want a two-hour-plus
commute to work every day. That drive would be a job in and of itself. So we
aren’t going to be a bedroom community for the major metro areas. That just
isn’t realistic.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The outskirts of our area are truly rural in nature.
Those communities have suffered greatly from the Global policies that we have
seen over the past generation. How are they supposed to progress when the
Federal and State governments continually ignore their needs? These smaller
towns and unincorporated areas in our immediate region have a relationship with
Hickory that stems from Hickory’s location and its history as the commercial
and transportation hub of the counties that surround it. Hickory has always
benefited from this relationship, but that relationship has taken a hit over
time, because of modern realities.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Hickory is the definition of caught in the middle.
We are a community that was built upon Middle-Class values. We aren’t Urban and
we aren’t Rural. We have all of the amenities of the larger cities of North
Carolina and the Eastern United States, but those amenities aren’t as plentiful
and they aren’t quite as nice, because of Economies of Scale. We are located a
little too far from the urban centers to take part in the economic growth that
those areas have experienced over the past couple of decades. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">To express that growth in numbers, let’s look at the
fact that Charlotte<span class="MsoHyperlink"><b> </b></span><span class="hgkelc">was
the seventh-fastest-growing large metro over the past decade, increasing population
by 15.9% between 2010 and 2018. C<b>harlotte</b> is now the 16<sup>th</sup>
largest city in the United States by population and the fifth-fastest-growing
city in the country. Charlotte’s expansion has been long-lasting and sustained.
Charlotte's population was around 540,000 in 2000 and today it is estimated to
be around 885,000. That means that Charlotte has grown by 64% since the year
2000.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="hgkelc"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Winston-Salem has grown by 8% since
2010 and 33% since 2000. Asheville has grown 11% since 2010 and 35% since 2000.
In comparison, Hickory has grown by 3% since 2010 and by 11% since the year
2000. </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="hgkelc"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">If Hickory had grown at Asheville’s
rate since 2000, we would have a population of a little over 50,000 people now.
Asheville had around 30,000 more people than Hickory in the year 2000 and now
it has 50,000 more people than Hickory and is more than twice Hickory’s size in
population. If Hickory had grown at Charlotte’s rate, then we would have a population
of over 60,000 by now. The dynamics of those numbers feed off of one another.
The urban area populations grew because the Federal and State governments
focused on helping them grow and people moved there for economic opportunity.
On the other hand, we lost many of our best and brightest young people to those
urban centers because of the economic opportunity that we could not provide.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="hgkelc"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Down Below</span></b></span><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">So here I am 13 years after I initially decided to
publicly start writing about this community. What I have always attempted to do
is paint a picture of our community as it is. Some people don’t care for my take
on our community’s standing in the world concerning its economics, politics,
and culture, I understand that this isn’t how everyone sees
things. Like I have said so many times, I am not a salesman. My job isn’t to
sell the community. I am here to paint a picture as close to reality as
possible. Realistic assessments of where you are help individuals and groups of
people make better plans that will help them achieve their goals to get where
they want to be. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">In November 2014, we saw the $40 million Bond
referendum passed because Hickory Inc. pushed a narrative that it was urgent
that this happens, because of the state of the local economic condition, which
had been in a malaise since the early 2000s. Of course, that malaise was
brought on by what I describe above – Globalism and Government pushing people
into the Metropolitan Areas and focusing their directives upon those Urban
Centers at the expense of communities like our own. We had basically been
abandoned.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Unfortunately, during the beginning of this century,
our community officials had made some decisions that exacerbated the malaise.
They were promoting our area as a haven for retirees just when we were having our
young people and nest builders yanked out from underneath us. Admittedly, I
haven’t seen the demographic breakdown as of late, but over the first 15 years
of this decade, we were deeply in the red when it came to the population growth
of those 40 and younger. The reason we had any growth at all was because of the
successful recruitment of retirees to our community. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">As I said above, the population data reflects my
assessment of the motives of Hickory officials and the reasoning behind the Powers
That Be developing these current economic and cultural initiatives.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">After the Referendum was passed, in February 2015 a
bond commission was created under the auspices that it would play a role in the
implementation of the $25 million of Bonds that were intended for traditional Hickory's
infrastructure. Another $15 million was set aside for economic development and
a business park in the Startown area. The Economic Development Corporation led
by Scott Millar has been directing that project and over time it has become
more apparent that he is playing a pivotal role in the developments taking
place in traditional Hickory.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The Bond Commission hasn’t played any direct role in
these developments other than to encourage community spirit and to support the
public relations promoting the projects. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Most of the work pertaining to the development of
these projects has been happening behind the scenes. The projects have been a
collaboration of the City's executive staff and the project development firms
they hired out. </span><span style="background-color: white;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Freese and Nichols were the primary consulting group that
worked in conjunction with city executives</span></a><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">
on the master plan for the city projects.</span></span></p><span style="background-color: white;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">To be honest the implementation
phase of these projects has taken forever, especially when it was sold to the
public as urgent in 2014. Six years down the road from the Bond Referendum
being passed and almost nine years after its forerunner initiative “Inspiring
Spaces” was formed, I don’t think anyone would say that they thought it would
take this long to not even be halfway into all of this. I don’t think what was
promised could be said to be halfway delivered. I would also say that there
hasn’t been much transparency in relation to this venture and that the
perception is that city officials don’t have a feel for all of this themselves.
They don’t know how long all of this is going to take.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: rgb(255, 242, 204) none repeat scroll 0% 0%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: rgb(255, 242, 204) none repeat scroll 0% 0%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="background-color: white;">Money</span></span></span></b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="background-color: white;"> </span></span></span></b> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">For practically all of my life, we have continued to
pump the public’s money into Union Square and to change it in some way hoping
to make it the center of attention for the community like it was in days gone
by. My issues with Union Square have never been personal. My issue is that Union
Square development seems to be the sole focus of our community's leadership.
Hell, in terms of real money (adjusted for inflation), we’ve probably put a
billion dollars worth of taxpayer money into the Square and we have seen little
return for most of Hickory’s taxpayers. And there doesn’t seem to be any end in
sight to these initiatives. <br />
<br />
I have nothing against Union Square property owners, shop owners, or their
patrons, but I don't think it is the responsibility of the taxpayers (the investing
party) to enhance the area for those people, especially when we are still
seeing other parts of the community being neglected and disrespected.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Just think, I might own a restaurant, a clothing
shop or another business in one of Hickory’s other areas miles away from the
Square and Hickory Inc. is going to take my property tax money, sales tax money,
and other city fees and redirect them to the benefit of my competition on or
around the Square. Hickory Inc. is going to promote my competition at my expense.
Do you see what I am getting at?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I also worry about the near term economic future of
our community, because without the emphasis on manufacturing that we saw from
2017 through 2019, we might just fall back into that economic malaise that we
just finger clawed out of. I hope to God I’m wrong. It has become apparent that
the real problem with American manufacturing is that too many individuals are
profiteering from selling out the interests of the American Workforce.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Hickory’s middle class is that workforce that has
been constantly sold out for years. They are proud people who just want a
decent job with decent pay and to be able to keep their money, have some nice
things, and be able to invest a little in their future. They want a decent
quality of life.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Hey, I’ll admit when I am wrong and when Hickory
Inc. started talking about all of these initiatives and projects, and they
started talking about the money involved, I thought for sure that interest
rates would rise and we would be paying a crazy amount of interest, much less
paying back the principal. Interest rates are still low, so we’ve been lucky by
that token. Hickory Inc. has so far issued $30 million of the Bonds. The first
issuance ($15 million) took place in August 2018 and the second issuance ($15
million) took place in November 2019. The first bonds were issued at a smidge
under 3% and the second issuance was around 2.2%. They are 20-year term bonds
and should be paid back by 2038-39. The third tranche of $10 million has not
been issued yet, so they wouldn’t be paid back until the early 2040s.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">We are still going to see property taxes rise to pay
for these projects. The tax rate has risen 8.75 cents (per $1,000) since 2014
and you can expect it to rise further over the upcoming years. That comes along
with the 4.5 cents (per $1,000) raised by Catawba County over that same span.
That doesn’t amount to but $13.25 extra on a $100,000 property, but you know
that isn’t going to pay back $40 million bucks either. Remember they have to
maintain their present budget levels and the costs of goods and services will rise over time. The
money to pay back these bonds will have to come from somewhere. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">At some point with the debasing of the dollar
through macroeconomic debt, we are going to have an inflationary spiral, but
I’ve given up on trying to predict when that will occur because the worldwide
economic wizards have the bands wound so tight, no one with a clue would have
ever thought the current system would have lasted this long because it never
has in the past.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">And That’s the Bottom Line Cause The Hound Says So</span></b></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I would describe the current condition of Hickory as
better than it was but in need of constant situational awareness with regards
to the National and Global Economic Landscape. We have certainly taken a big
bite financially with regards to the bond projects. </span>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">In looking at what has taken place around Hickory’s
City Center, I would describe these public works projects as upgrades. Existing
infrastructure is being renewed, rearranged, reorganized, and recycled. There’s
plenty that has happened to make the people who already consume Union Square
happy. There isn’t anything that has happened down there that can be labeled as
game-changing. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No public works that have
been done down there, as part of this revitalization, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>have been additional in nature. It is by
definition a Beautification Project.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Well, people will talk about that One North Center
multi-use apartment complex and that is an addition, but that is a private
venture that the city helped facilitate through public investment. Hickory Inc.
officials and its cheerleaders tell us that is what the Citywalk and the future
sidewalk enhancement down Old 70 are all about. They say when they upgrade
these sidewalks, more businesses and residences will spring up along these
areas. Build it and they will come, so to speak. Well, we shall see.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">How many more times can Hickory Inc. spend $3+
million (or even a million or a half a million) to help make a private project
happen without some kind of a payback put in place? Yes, I understand what was
said about it is necessary to clean up the issues that were buried under the
city parking lot where this new Apartment complex is located, but there will be
other properties with hazardous issues that have to be mitigated. We have seen
that all across the city limits. How will we fairly pick and choose which
properties will be helped along by taxpayer’s dollars and which ones won’t? I
think that is a very fair question to be asked.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Still, not much has happened around other less
fortunate areas of town that have continued to be abandoned. With all that has
been budgeted and spent in the wash, rinse, dry, and do it all again City Center,
we know that it will be at least 20 years before we could go about focusing on any of
those other areas. If those areas are going to be revitalized, then it will
take the neighborhood associations and possible business associations that will
have to take the initiative to make things happen on their own. They aren’t
going to get help from a City Hall whose resources are
hyperfocused on the projects created of, by, and for the Bond Referendum and its supporters. I’m
sorry but it seems that if those less prosperous areas are to be developed it
will be despite City Hall and not because of it.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">So what I am seeing and saying is that “It rolls
downhill… It always rolls downhill.” Hickory spent years trying to get some
attention from the State and Federal governments. It took a new administration
with an “America First” perspective for Hickory to start rebounding. We finally
got some of the attention we had long needed.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">In turn, Hickory took the resources that have
finally been afforded to it and decided to invest it in the same infrastructure
it has been investing in for 50 years. The middle class, the people who most
represent Hickory, continue to get muted. Like how Hickory had been ignored for
years by the people above it, in turn, Hickory’s decision-makers have chosen to
do the same to the people below them. They don’t seem to catch on to the irony.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Now it looks like we might be forced back into the
situation we found ourselves in a few years ago. The Coronavirus Pandemic has
certainly put everything into a holding pattern and I can just imagine the
economic consequences that will follow the aftermath of this situation. The
present year has certainly done us no favors. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Like a take on what an old mentor told me when I was
younger, “Prepare for the worst and Pray for the Best.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Please God, I beg you to bless this community in the
upcoming year!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://hickoryrecord.com/news/hickory-council-oks-new-residential-and-commercial-development/article_93b20ee2-cf2c-11e9-8c55-4340ce11b2f9.html"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">https://hickoryrecord.com/news/hickory-council-oks-new-residential-and-commercial-development/article_93b20ee2-cf2c-11e9-8c55-4340ce11b2f9.html</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.catawbaedc.org/properties/triviumcorporatecenter"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">https://www.catawbaedc.org/properties/triviumcorporatecenter</span></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="https://www.hickorync.gov/city-hickory-sells-first-round-bonds">https://www.hickorync.gov/city-hickory-sells-first-round-bonds</a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.hickorync.gov/city-hickory-sells-second-round-bonds">https://www.hickorync.gov/city-hickory-sells-second-round-bonds</a></p><p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
James Thomas Shellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04359970774315269896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2088603658552825500.post-212584672546723992020-09-11T10:59:00.005-04:002020-09-11T12:41:50.585-04:0020/20 in 2020 (part 2) - The Destructive Left<div class="_5pbx userContent _3ds9 _3576" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-testid="post_message" id="js_j"><p><u><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: #38761d;">No Reason</span> </b></span></u><br /></p><p>You
just can't reason with the Bleedin' Heart Blame everything on Trump
Brigade. They think they care more than the rest of us do and they are going to tell us so. "If you support Trump, then you are evil." No, some of
us are more judicious about how we pick and choose our battles. I'm sick and
tired of Bleeding Hearts telling me I don't care because I don't fall
all over myself for the Pop Culture Meme of the day. Whatever is on the mainstream television news that day.<br /></p><p> Hey
Democrats you whine about Wage Disparity. The notorious rich people in
the country (Bezos, Gates, Buffett, the Walton Family, 90% of
Hollyweird,,, and I can go on) are all big contributors to your party.</p><p>
You whine about the systemic injustice of the police force. Most of the
people pushing the violence are white. They are anarchist. They believe
in NO GOVERNMENT. They are out here assaulting people and tearing up
the inner cities which are heavily populated by minorities. They don't
care about Minorities. Minorities are just a tool to be used for their
crazy beliefs... a means to an end.</p><p> You think you are the
protectors against the virus and Trump has done everything wrong. It's
easy as hell to second guess the President. Give us specifics about what
you would have done differently. Give us specifics about who has done
better. You are long on pissing and moaning and short on the reality of
the situation. You really don't have a clue.</p><p> You can be
constructive or destructive in this life. Grow up, be mature, be
productive, make things happen. Stop describing how virtuous you are and
start actually trying to be virtuous. Actions always speak louder than
words.</p><p> </p><p><span style="color: #38761d;"><u><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Liberal Media Privilege</b></span></u></span></p><p>At the Press Conference on September 10th, <span dir="ltr"><span class="_3l3x _1n4g"><span><span>there was a moment
during the President's press conference where ABC News correspondent Jonathan Karl, who so obviously has a personal agenda and could care less about facts, starts out by calling the President a Liar (</span></span></span></span><span dir="ltr"><span class="_3l3x _1n4g"><span><span><b>‘Why Did You Lie to the American People?’)</b> and then proceeds
to ask why the American pe</span></span><span><span><span>ople should
trust him. I just want to ask why the American people should
trust Mr. Karl or so many of the others in that room (Jim Acosta I'm looking at you) who so obviously are trying to shape opinion before having the facts. One can see these people's body language. That totally negative body language is 180 degrees opposite of what was offered to the last President. Can you at least try to be professional and show some civility. <br /><br />Over the past several months, since they pushed all of this "Social Justice" narrative, they have been pushing another narrative called "White Privilege." According to them all Caucasians are naturally racist and don't understand it. Somehow we were all born with a silver spoon in our mouths and we need to wake up every morning and apologize for our "White" status. Personally, I find such a notion to be repulsive. I am a victim of my life. We are all victims of something in life. If I succumb to my weaknesses and vulnerabilities, then I am doomed to fail at whatever endeavors I pursue.We can all point fingers and say that "I have failed because of someone else."... I am absolved of any failures. It is always someone else's fault.</span></span></span></span></span></p><p><span dir="ltr"><span class="_3l3x _1n4g"><span><span><span>True Privilege status is the Mainstream/Lamestream Corporate Media Press Corps. These folks have a pretty high standard of living. These folks aren't physically sweating it out to earn a buck. They get to travel around and follow a story. They are given an opportunity to be the eyes and ears for their community. With that they have a responsibility to get the story correct, but so many times they choose to present information through their own personal prism to the point where they neglect the events and only report their personal opinion and/or the narrative of the corporate entity they represent.</span></span></span></span></span></p><p><span dir="ltr"><span class="_3l3x _1n4g"><span><span><span>Mr. Karl himself is the President of the White House Press Correspondents Association. He has taken it upon himself to be an attack dog against President Trump. Constantly he misrepresents what someone has said before asking a question, trying to frame the narrative, instead of simply asking a question. He is not an objective reporter. He has written several negative opinion pieces against the President -- like in the Washington Post and Wall Street Journal. The man took it upon himself to ban a reporter from the White House Press briefings back in March, because she showed up for briefings after he took it upon himself to constantly omit her when Press Corps attendance was limited after the Pandemic status was officially sanctioned. Her name is Chanel Rion and she is a reporter for One America News. </span></span></span></span></span></p><p><span dir="ltr"><span class="_3l3x _1n4g"><span><span><span>Legacy Media representatives, like Mr. Karl, have attempted to shut down New Media Representatives at every turn and create barriers to entry to make it difficult for them to exist. Mr. Karl, you need to get on your knees and beg for forgiveness for your arrogance related to your status as a media </span></span></span></span></span>correspondent/journalist, you have selfishly represented your own personal interests. Your personal agenda does nothing for the average American citizen. </p><p> </p><p><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="font-size: large;"><u><b>The Destructive Left</b></u></span></span><br /></p><p><span dir="ltr"><span class="_3l3x"><span>The Trump deranged Leftists are always short on
specifics about why they hate the President. They rarely, if ever, will give you a cogent-tangible reason. Most of the bleeding hearts are truly caring, compassionate people. They talk about Peace and love and understanding, but the rhetoric I have seen against the President, Conservatives, and Republicans does not match those sentiments Their literal venom and vitriolic animosity has emboldened Anarchists to literally set cities on fire. </span></span></span></p><p><span dir="ltr"><span class="_3l3x"><span>They call President Trump a </span></span></span><span dir="ltr"><span class="_3l3x"><span>narcissist, while dismissing the last President spying on
Trump's 2016 campaign. Former President Obama's administration used the FBI and intelligence to railroad people like Carter Page, Michael Flynn, Roger Stone, and others, to the point of bankruptcy
through the justice system, and cost them their livelihoods. Remember that Richard Nixon was forced from office for less. If a
Republican had done anything like what the Obama administration did, they would already be in jail.</span></span></span></p><p><span dir="ltr"><span class="_3l3x"><span>You reap what you sow. It's hard to build things and so easy to tear them down. Think about building a house. Think about building a skyscraper like the Twin Towers that used to stand in New York. Think about building a stadium like those new multi-billion dollar stadiums in Los Angeles and Las Vegas. It takes months to years to build great structures, but it only takes minutes to tear them down. When people get angry they get destructive. They don't think about the consequences of their anger until it is too late and then they have to deal with the aftermath of their destruction. It is time to reflect on your anger. Take a deep breath. What is causing your anger? Is your destructive impulse going to be worth the aftermath? </span></span></span><br /></p></div>James Thomas Shellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04359970774315269896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2088603658552825500.post-37839180065155162302020-07-05T01:20:00.002-04:002020-07-05T08:53:15.424-04:00A Bridge Too Far - in HickoryYears ago I was treated to a few seasons of "How small time politics works in Middle America."<br />
<br />
Seems that the theory works like this. "Don't tell me about a square peg not fitting in a round hole, cause that's what this here sledgehammer was invented for."<br />
<br />
"OK, well what about all the damage that does? You know it's likely that the object will never work as it was intended again."<br />
<br />
"Well, we'll worry about that when the time comes. Why are you worrying about that anyway? You just let me worry about about all of this. I've got the right people to handle the situation."<br />
<br />
Basically politicians feel they are here to sell you Bull S*** and you are here to buy it. They are salespeople. If they make people feel like they are a part of the process, even if they aren't, then most people will go right along with the initiative of the moment.<br />
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I was part of a group of people that tried to fix the electoral system here in Hickory. Our focus was to allow a predominantly African-American area to pick its own representative on the Hickory City Council. Hmmm... doesn't that fit in exactly with what we have been through over the past month. Doesn't it matter that people who live in a certain area have the ability to elect the person who represents them, instead of having that person selected for them. We lost and the status quo remained.<br />
<br />
The following year, we attempted to get a few of our own elected and that turned into a circus. It wasn't a circus because of anything we did. It was a circus, because those who were in power weren't going to give an inch. We set forth objectives for moving the town forward in a prudent and fiscally responsible manner and some of what we proposed has subsequently been implemented, but to the victor go the spoils and those in power were enabled to take the next step in their agenda.<br />
<br />
The next year, we got the $40 million bond referendum. Personally, I pretty much supported the idea of the business park and I didn't have a problem with the beautification projects, but I thought it all should have been done piecemeal, instead of with the elaborate scheme that they came up with. Now, we are 6 years down the road and this isn't the game changer that they claimed it to be. The economy around here improved because the National economy improved, because there was a renewed emphasis on manufacturing and Tada, we are a manufacturing area.<br />
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<br />
So there is your background of what led up to what we have experienced over the past 5+ years. I haven't written much, because my life is a priority to me and I have been trying to weather the storm of my middle age. Besides, there really hasn't been a whole lot of government action besides the slow motion implementation of the Bond Referendum that was passed 5 years and 8 months ago. We are barely into Phase 1 of the Infrastructure build out and at the rate we are going it will be 20 years before these projects are done.<br />
<br />
Deal is that I have a track record of credibility, because I can see trends. I'm certainly not always right, but I'm usually in the Ballpark.<br />
<br />
Speaking of Ballparks. A few weeks ago, I read where the City of Hickory swapped land and paid money for property that belonged to MDI. <a href="https://hickoryrecord.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/hickory-city-council-to-consider-1-4-million-land-swap-with-mdi/article_abb71bee-8b48-54e4-9a63-8fbdc60ad16a.html"> <b>Hickory City Council to consider $1.4 million land swap with MDI</b> </a>- Hickory Daily Record - Kevin Griffin - June 16, 2020<br />
<br />
We heard mention of the city's desire to build a bridge from the proposed Riverwalk across Highway 321 at several vignettes back in 2014 administered by their Boost Hickory group, which was basically created by our Mayor of that time. I've still got videos and recordings of those proceedings. Some Boost Hickory Spokespeople speculated that this property, mostly located in Burke County, was going to become Hickory's own version of Birkdale Village -- you know that swanky area in North Charlotte (Huntersville) with those Million Dollar residences, gourmet restaurants, dazzling spas, and elegant boutiques.<br />
<br />
What we do know at this point in time, is that the proposed pedestrian bridge across Highway 321 is supposed to lead people to the LP Frans (Hickory Crawdad) Baseball Stadium. Here are a few inputs I would like everyone to take into consideration. These inputs are public knowledge for anyone to see. This isn't me trying to be the Gadfly. This is an exercise in Critical Thinking. The Critical Thinking process is necessary to make the best decisions when multiple variables come into play within complex and chaotic parameters.<br />
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1) The Highway 321 thoroughfare project leading north through and from Hickory has been put on hold, because the NCDOT is out of money and the State of North Carolina has put out a lot of money for the Coronavirus Pandemic and State Revenues are very unstable at this time. - <a href="https://www.ncdot.gov/projects/Pages/projects-temporarily-suspended.aspx">https://www.ncdot.gov/projects/Pages/projects-temporarily-suspended.aspx</a><br />
<br />
2) <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2020/06/23/cities-warn-of-infrastructure-spending-cuts-as-coronavirus-depletes-budgets.html">Cities warn of infrastructure spending cuts and more layoffs as coronavirus leaves holes in budgets </a>- CNBC - June 23 2020 - Noah Higgins-Dunn - More than U.S. 700 cities plan to delay or cancel infrastructure projects after their responses to the <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/coronavirus/">coronavirus</a> outbreak left budgets with unplugged holes, according to a National League of Cities survey released Tuesday.<br />
<br />
3) <a href="http://The $3.9 trillion state and local government debt market, typically the safest of havens, has suddenly become one where assessing risk matters again, thanks to the economic wreckage wrought by the pandemic.">Wall Street Risk Analysts Rise in the Muni Bond Market</a> - Bloomberg - Amanda Albright - June 9, 2020 - The $3.9 trillion state and local government debt market, typically the safest of havens, has suddenly become one where assessing risk matters again, thanks to the economic wreckage wrought by the pandemic.<br />
<i><br /></i>
<i><u><b>And the biggest Kicker of them all...</b></u></i><br />
<br />
4) <b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hickory_Crawdads">The Hickory Crawdads</a></b> are no longer locally owned - The Crawdads are owned by the parent baseball club "The Texas Rangers" - Following the 2017 season, the Rangers purchased the team from Don Beaver. The Crawdads are in the lowest tier of Minor League Baseball - the Class A South Atlantic League. The Crawdads are also located in one of the smallest markets in Minor League Baseball. Within the Sally League, The Crawdads compete against cities like Greensboro, Asheville, Charleston, and Columbia, South Carolina. All of those are cities with populations of over 100,000. Not only that, but there is the travel expense and distance associated with minor league baseball. These professional baseball players are traveling 400 miles to Hagerstown, Maryland, 500 miles to Salisbury, Maryland and 600 miles to Lakewood, New Jersey. Mind you that road trips are coordinated, but they are doing this by bus.<br />
<br />
You might think I am fishing here, but here is what the <u><b>Commissioner of Baseball Rob Manfred had to say about Minor League Baseball contraction in the face of economics</b></u>. This was from last November before the Coronavirus Pandemic took control of the National Economic Outlook.<br />
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<br />
<i><b>Here is a Fox News and Sports article on the subject from 3 days ago:</b></i><br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.foxnews.com/sports/minor-league-baseball-teams-uncertain-future-canceled-season"><b>Minor League Baseball teams face uncertain future over canceled season</b></a> - The league's future was murky even before the COVID-19 pandemic - Fox News - Ryan Gaydos - July 1, 2020 - ...According to Baseball America, O’Conner warned that about half or possibly more than half of minor league baseball teams could sell or fold completely. “It’s north of half (of MiLB teams) who could either have to sell (or go insolvent without government or other help). This is the perfect storm. There are many teams that are not liquid, not solvent,” Conner said. “I could see this (economic impact) lingering into 2022, 2023 easily. In some cases, possibly a little longer.”<br />
<br />
<i><br /></i>
<i><b>And finally ESPN with an article that basically sums it all up</b></i><br />
<br />
<b><a href="https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/29390182/key-questions-minor-league-baseball-officially-cancels-2020-season">Key questions as Minor League Baseball officially cancels 2020 season</a></b> - ESPN - June 30, 2020 - The Professional Baseball Agreement, the document that governs the relationship between MLB and its affiliates, expires in September. Last fall, in advance of baseball's annual winter meetings, news leaked of baseball's plan to <a href="https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/27874510/reports-mlb-proposes-overhaul-minor-leagues-elimination-40-teams">cut the total number of affiliated teams in the minors from 160 to 120</a>. That news kicked off <a href="https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/28261571/minor-league-baseball-president-pat-oconner-rebukes-contraction-plan">a fiery volley of rhetoric between the respective league offices</a> as both sides positioned themselves on the public relations and political fronts... <b>Will minor league teams survive this?</b> Teams at the Double-A and Triple-A levels will survive, even though many have had to lay off or furlough staff in recent months. One thing that nearly all teams at those levels have is the certainty of being a high-level affiliate of a big league club next season and beyond, however the negotiations for a new PBA are resolved. Those teams reside in larger municipalities than lower-level clubs and thus have more corporate support and a larger season-ticket base. Nevertheless, even for those clubs, the loss of an entire season is a major setback. <b>What will minor league baseball look like when it returns? ...</b>The most likely outcome is that a new PBA will be agreed to, and it will be on MLB's terms. Given the terrain, desperate MiLB owners will latch on to pretty much anything that comes their way. Expect to see a reduced list of affiliated teams next season, a shuffling of affiliations and a restructuring of the leagues themselves as major league clubs seek greater geographic efficiency.<br />
<br />
<b><i><u><span style="color: #990000;">Hounds Opinion</span></u>: So, when we take all of that and put it together, what is the sum of the equation. Hickory Inc. needs to put that pedestrian bridge on hold. Right now I won't get into the reasons why you don't jump into big projects with both feet. We've seen roads to nowhere, trails to nowhere, and other infrastructure projects that ended up being mistakes built from sea to shining sea across the United States. I hope we don't see Hickory building a bridge to an empty/dormant baseball stadium.</i></b><br />
<br />James Thomas Shellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04359970774315269896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2088603658552825500.post-56837092099338691822020-06-21T00:45:00.000-04:002020-07-05T09:05:13.046-04:0020/20 in 2020Sorry I haven't written much lately. My mother was in a car accident on Christmas Eve and severely broke her right leg to the extent that she had to have an external fixator. I have thus had a lot on my plate. She was taken to Wake Forest Baptist for a month. A superstar doctor was able to save her leg. The Fibula and Tibia were broken along with bones above and below the ankle. She had 14 fractures.<br />
<br />
She was in Baptist for a month, then in rehab in Conover for a month, I took a leave of absence from my job and finally I brought her home on February 27th, but a couple of days later she took a turn for the worse and she had to be admitted to the Frye hospital with heart and other issues. I was able to bring her home again on March 9th. It was just a couple days after that when the Coronavirus Pandemic hit full force. We made 5 trips to Wake Forest Medical Center over the subsequent two months before we finally moved her to a hard cast and then a walking boot.<br />
<br />
My life has been funky since all of that happened, but I know most people's lives have evolved over the past several months. Below I will place some thoughts that I have jotted down in various places over the past few months that I will relate to you.<br />
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<b>*** Television</b> - The other day my mother was going to tell me about something related to what one of the talking heads on television said about Governor Roy Cooper's mandates about the Coronavirus and the lockdowns. I told her that I didn't care what they said on the TV, because their "news" is irrelevant. It has little to do with reality and more to do with their agenda. Like I told her, they like to manipulate the Dupes that are addicted to the television. There needs to the a Alcoholics Anonymous for TV addicts. There are 12 step programs for about every addiction and Television can be very bad for those certain people in a vulnerable mental state.<br />
<br />
<b>*** </b><span class="oi732d6d ik7dh3pa d2edcug0 qv66sw1b c1et5uql a8c37x1j muag1w35 ew0dbk1b jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><b>Echo Chamber</b> - an environment in which a person encounters only beliefs or opinions that coincide with their own, so that their existing views are reinforced and alternative ideas are not considered.</span><br />
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<span class="oi732d6d ik7dh3pa d2edcug0 qv66sw1b c1et5uql a8c37x1j muag1w35 ew0dbk1b jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"></span><br />
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<span class="oi732d6d ik7dh3pa d2edcug0 qv66sw1b c1et5uql a8c37x1j muag1w35 ew0dbk1b jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><b>*** Virtue Signalling: (aka - Woke)</b> - To take a conspicuous but essentially useless action ostensibly to support a popular cause but actually to show off how much more moral you are than everybody else... Advocating a political or philosophical position, and/or taking up a public cause, from a position of vanity, for the primary purpose of demonstrating your conformity with fashionable pop culture values.</span></div>
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<span class="oi732d6d ik7dh3pa d2edcug0 qv66sw1b c1et5uql a8c37x1j muag1w35 ew0dbk1b jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><b>*** </b><span class="oi732d6d ik7dh3pa d2edcug0 qv66sw1b c1et5uql a8c37x1j muag1w35 ew0dbk1b jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><b>Facebook</b> - I'm just curious. Is facebook a place for the mentally ill or is it just a reflection of our current society, because there is no doubt in my mind that more than half of the place is Nucking Futz.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="oi732d6d ik7dh3pa d2edcug0 qv66sw1b c1et5uql a8c37x1j muag1w35 ew0dbk1b jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="oi732d6d ik7dh3pa d2edcug0 qv66sw1b c1et5uql a8c37x1j muag1w35 ew0dbk1b jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><b>*** On Democrats blaming Trump for everything</b> - </span></span><span class="oi732d6d ik7dh3pa d2edcug0 qv66sw1b c1et5uql a8c37x1j muag1w35 ew0dbk1b jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="oi732d6d ik7dh3pa d2edcug0 qv66sw1b c1et5uql a8c37x1j muag1w35 ew0dbk1b jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="oi732d6d ik7dh3pa d2edcug0 qv66sw1b c1et5uql a8c37x1j muag1w35 ew0dbk1b jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id" dir="auto">I know that Democrats like to blame
Trump for everything. Actually they like to blame Republicans for
everything, but let's look at who runs the Major Metropolitan cities. Basically
Democrat-Socialist-Progressives run these cities from top to bottom.
They are so large that they control who becomes governor of the State.
They have the Mayorship, and control their town councils and appoint the
Police Chief. Democrat-Socialist-Progressives control the whole thing
from top to bottom, because minorities put them in these positions, but
somehow it's Trump's fault. Give me a freakin break. The cancer in our
society is the Democrat Party and how corrupt it is and run like a caste
system. It's a Gilded Age system where they live fabulously wealthy
lives in their compounds and everyone else deals with the messes they
make.</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="oi732d6d ik7dh3pa d2edcug0 qv66sw1b c1et5uql a8c37x1j muag1w35 ew0dbk1b jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="oi732d6d ik7dh3pa d2edcug0 qv66sw1b c1et5uql a8c37x1j muag1w35 ew0dbk1b jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="oi732d6d ik7dh3pa d2edcug0 qv66sw1b c1et5uql a8c37x1j muag1w35 ew0dbk1b jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id" dir="auto"><b>*** Social Media Bias</b> - </span></span></span><span class="oi732d6d ik7dh3pa d2edcug0 qv66sw1b c1et5uql a8c37x1j muag1w35 ew0dbk1b jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="oi732d6d ik7dh3pa d2edcug0 qv66sw1b c1et5uql a8c37x1j muag1w35 ew0dbk1b jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="oi732d6d ik7dh3pa d2edcug0 qv66sw1b c1et5uql a8c37x1j muag1w35 ew0dbk1b jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id" dir="auto"><span class="oi732d6d ik7dh3pa d2edcug0 qv66sw1b c1et5uql a8c37x1j muag1w35 ew0dbk1b jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto">Either
Youtube, Twitter, Facebook and other social media forums are allowed to
be public commons and open without bias or they should be forced into
divestiture. End the high tech monopolies and tyranny... </span></span></span></span><span class="oi732d6d ik7dh3pa d2edcug0 qv66sw1b c1et5uql a8c37x1j muag1w35 ew0dbk1b jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="oi732d6d ik7dh3pa d2edcug0 qv66sw1b c1et5uql a8c37x1j muag1w35 ew0dbk1b jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="oi732d6d ik7dh3pa d2edcug0 qv66sw1b c1et5uql a8c37x1j muag1w35 ew0dbk1b jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id" dir="auto"><span class="oi732d6d ik7dh3pa d2edcug0 qv66sw1b c1et5uql a8c37x1j muag1w35 ew0dbk1b jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="oi732d6d ik7dh3pa d2edcug0 qv66sw1b c1et5uql a8c37x1j muag1w35 ew0dbk1b jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id" dir="auto">There
are Antitrust rules that come into play over how these companies have
been operated. Capitalism isn't at play here. Crapitalism (Crony
Capitalism) is at play here and these entities are not above such laws.
These are the modern day Robber Barons... <span class="oi732d6d ik7dh3pa d2edcug0 qv66sw1b c1et5uql a8c37x1j muag1w35 ew0dbk1b jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id" dir="auto">Of
course it is Democrats that have always protected monopolies and have
been against competition. Look at the largest tech companies, that have
bought out competition and vertically integrated into behemoths. All
Democrats protected by Democrats. That's why you have to laugh when
Democrats pretend to be for the little guy. They love the Gilded Age
type culture... </span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="oi732d6d ik7dh3pa d2edcug0 qv66sw1b c1et5uql a8c37x1j muag1w35 ew0dbk1b jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="oi732d6d ik7dh3pa d2edcug0 qv66sw1b c1et5uql a8c37x1j muag1w35 ew0dbk1b jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="oi732d6d ik7dh3pa d2edcug0 qv66sw1b c1et5uql a8c37x1j muag1w35 ew0dbk1b jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id" dir="auto"><span class="oi732d6d ik7dh3pa d2edcug0 qv66sw1b c1et5uql a8c37x1j muag1w35 ew0dbk1b jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="oi732d6d ik7dh3pa d2edcug0 qv66sw1b c1et5uql a8c37x1j muag1w35 ew0dbk1b jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id" dir="auto"><span class="oi732d6d ik7dh3pa d2edcug0 qv66sw1b c1et5uql a8c37x1j muag1w35 ew0dbk1b jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id" dir="auto"><span class="oi732d6d ik7dh3pa d2edcug0 qv66sw1b c1et5uql a8c37x1j muag1w35 ew0dbk1b jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id" dir="auto">I
am in favor of the Social Media Behemoths being run and regulated as public utility infrastructure like the
phone company, power company, and cable companies are run and regulated... Democrat-Socialists seem to be in</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="oi732d6d ik7dh3pa d2edcug0 qv66sw1b c1et5uql a8c37x1j muag1w35 ew0dbk1b jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="oi732d6d ik7dh3pa d2edcug0 qv66sw1b c1et5uql a8c37x1j muag1w35 ew0dbk1b jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="oi732d6d ik7dh3pa d2edcug0 qv66sw1b c1et5uql a8c37x1j muag1w35 ew0dbk1b jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id" dir="auto"><span class="oi732d6d ik7dh3pa d2edcug0 qv66sw1b c1et5uql a8c37x1j muag1w35 ew0dbk1b jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="oi732d6d ik7dh3pa d2edcug0 qv66sw1b c1et5uql a8c37x1j muag1w35 ew0dbk1b jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id" dir="auto"><span class="oi732d6d ik7dh3pa d2edcug0 qv66sw1b c1et5uql a8c37x1j muag1w35 ew0dbk1b jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id" dir="auto"><span class="oi732d6d ik7dh3pa d2edcug0 qv66sw1b c1et5uql a8c37x1j muag1w35 ew0dbk1b jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id" dir="auto"><span class="oi732d6d ik7dh3pa d2edcug0 qv66sw1b c1et5uql a8c37x1j muag1w35 ew0dbk1b jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id" dir="auto"> favor of a public forum that attacks free expression and
speech. These Social Media corporation's growth was built upon them operating as a public
commons. If they are going to enjoy enormous growth based upon that
principle then they can't arbitrarily disappear people and their
expression, because they decide to pick one side over the other. We
don't tolerate that with other industries and we aren't going to here.
It is a violation of Civil Rights. It is the same as arbitrarily
denying me the right to eat in your restaurant for (because of) some
reason you don't like me.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span class="oi732d6d ik7dh3pa d2edcug0 qv66sw1b c1et5uql a8c37x1j muag1w35 ew0dbk1b jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><b>*** Proverbs 13:9</b> -<span class="oi732d6d ik7dh3pa d2edcug0 qv66sw1b c1et5uql a8c37x1j muag1w35 ew0dbk1b jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"> The light of the righteous shines brightly, but the lamp of the wicked is extinguished.</span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q">
<b>*** John 1: 5-9</b> - 5 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. </div>
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James Thomas Shellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04359970774315269896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2088603658552825500.post-81231385677210673542019-12-30T22:58:00.000-05:002019-12-31T08:20:17.551-05:00Ode to the 2010sIt has been hard to sit down and focus and write about politics, culture, and society, but as we leave this decade, I feel it necessary to put out a message.<br />
<br />
This decade started out on a sour note when it comes to economics. In 2010, we weren't yet really out of the Great Recession caused by the Economic crisis of 2008. In 2010, the National Unemployment (U-3) Rate was 9.6%. North Carolina's Unemployment rate was 11.4%, which was the worst we would see from the recession. 10 years later, we currently have a North Carolina Unemployment rate of 3.8%.<br />
<br />
In Catawba County, back in 2010, it was about as bad as it could get. The unemployment rate was 14.9% and today it is 3.3%. We started out 2010 worse than the National Average and today we are better than the national average.<br />
<br />
Does this tell the whole story. I don't believe that it really does. I don't think the issues that led to the 2008 Economic Crisis have truly been addressed, so we could find ourselves back in that mess again. The problem is that that isn't an economic issue as much as it is a social-cultural-political issue.<br />
<br />
North Carolina's Legislature has been doing an excellent job of tightening its belt, while focusing on endeavors that make the State more hospitable towards business than it was a decade ago. This isn't going to make people whose life focuses predominantly on social and cultural issues happy, but what they never seem to understand is that quality of life in our Monetized Society correlates completely with the Velocity of the economy. When the economy slows down, then those with little wealth will suffer the most. And even in Socialist Utopia, a slow economy means that those with lesser socio-economic circumstances will be the ones who suffer the most. It will just be more of them.<br />
<br />
I think back to a decade ago. We were in the midst of the Obama administration pushing through Healthcare Reform. What is the focus of the current crop of Democrat Presidential candidates? The same garbage they were peddling and focusing on 10 years ago. They didn't solve anything and in many ways they made it worse. <a href="https://insurancenewsnet.com/oarticle/kaiser-health-care-costs-keep-rising-faster-than-wages-inflation#.XgqwfBt7nb0">Healthcare costs continue to rise faster than wages. </a>This article on <a href="https://finance.yahoo.com/news/middle-class-risks-consuming-itself-143035003.html">The Middle Class Risks Consuming Itself</a> says that the American Economy has become more and more dependent on Healthcare Services and its growth while the costs continue to become less affordable. In other words, the current model isn't sustainable.<br />
<br />
2019 marks eighteen years since the event at the World Trade Center in New York. Subsequently, the United States went into Iraq and Afghanistan. President Bush 43 quickly claimed victory, but we are still involved in Afghanistan. This is the longest conflict in our nation's history.<br />
<br />
From my personal experience and in my opinion, the Internet is a lot less freer today than it was 10 years ago. I think much of it has to do with "Smart" phones. The smart phone platform is dominating the computer technology market and it has become more and more monetized through Apps and Services. Personally, I have never been enamored with cell phones. I find them to be too tethered. While their size and purpose (portability) leads to independence of movement/travel, there is a lack of adaptability due to the dependence on the monetized apps that make them work and drives up their cost of usage.<br />
<br />
When it comes to the Internet, one can't help but notice the controls that the Corporatocracy has placed on it. Yes, some of it is related to monetization of information by the Corporate Media, but you can taste the censorship, controlled content and narratives, and outright biases of the Leftist leaning Big Tech cronies out of Silicon Valley. I suspect that this is only going to get worse, because most of the public might use tech, but most of them don't understand it. They just want it convenient and user friendly. They could care less how it works.<br />
<br />
The Big Tech big picture is that the companies who integrate these convenience based technologies are going to control more and more of your life experiences than they already currently do. They are going to push market you into buying their products or the products they approve of. The further you enter this Matrix, the harder it will become to extricate yourself from it. Most of you won't even care, because "It's Cool." You are putting your faith into the idea that you can trust these companies to have your best interest at heart. Are you ready for driverless cars and robot assistants and caregivers?<br />
<br />
It might not seem like we have come all that far over the past decade, but were you really paying attention? I wonder what the advent of 5G technology is going to bring over the next few years. It is probably going to revolutionize the platform on which Information Technology is delivered and kick that Matrix I previously mentioned into another dimension.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/mikescott/2019/12/09/these-are-the-technologies-that-will-transform-the-2020sfrom-5g-to-vertical-farming/#382d81c34a05">These Are The Technologies That Will Transform The 2020s - From 5G To Vertical Farming</a> - Forbes - Mike Scott - December 9, 2019James Thomas Shellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04359970774315269896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2088603658552825500.post-2712104354558620192019-11-15T09:07:00.000-05:002019-11-15T09:27:13.633-05:00Foothills Digest - Fox & Hound Article - Summer 2019The following is the 8th out of 8 Fox and Hound articles available from the Foothills Digest. It is the first collaboration that I have had with Sarah Everly. The current edition of the Foothills Digest is available on newstands and magazine racks in the area. I won't publish that article here until it comes out of general circulation. You should think about getting a subscription to the Foothills Digest. It is very artistic, has great literature related to our area, and it supports many of the entrepreneurs and creative people and their endeavors in our region.<br />
<br />
In my mind, Sarah comes to this series with a bend that Gabriel got along too well with the Wascawee Weepubwican. We'll see. I'm not here for debate. I'm here for discussion. I have the thoughts of an Independent Liberated Free Man and I don't get stuck in Corporate Media Political Dogma and Rituals. If that is the altar from which you form your prism, then you will never understand a person like myself. Let's move forward in these discussions. My angle is to get as close to bringing a discussion of reality and realism to the public as possible. You won't see a list of Republican talking points in my discussions.<br />
<br />
<br />
The following article is about "Quality of Life." <br />
<br />
My personal reflection on the modern Democrat/Progressive/Liberal/Socialist of 2019. Everyone has ideas about how we move forward towards making people's everyday lives better. It's how we move from ideas to actions and then towards implementation that we differ. I like ideas that are Achievable/Doable and rooted in realistic principles. I'm into making your lives better as soon as possible. Pie in the sky, grandiose ideas lead to frustration and disruption and cause more harm than good. It wastes time, because people end up throwing their hands up in the air and having to start all over again. Feelings come and go like a whiff of air. Logic is steadfast and foundational. It is something we can build upon. We have to root our ideas in Logic and not Feelings.<br />
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--------------------------- <br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #990000;"><u><b>(The Hickory Hound: Thom Shell)</b></u></span></span><br />
<br />
To open this dialogue with Sarah, the general topic is about what it would take to get Millennials to stay in our area. In a text, she says that her interpretation of past Fox-Hound articles: “mention “young people” and how our community needs to evolve to keep Millennials upward, but it is banter about Millennials instead of with them.”<br />
<br />
I think some people may misunderstand where I am coming from, if they think that my main focus is just on attracting ‘Millennials.’ My focus is upon Science and the overall vitality of our community. Local officials, around 20 years ago, laser focused on attracting retiring ‘Baby Boomers’ because they thought the sheer numbers of that generation’s population would bring growth to our community. Unfortunately, retirees don’t create the economic velocity that young up and comers do and this most likely played a huge role in the economic malaise that we experienced in the first decade plus of this century. It threw our overall Ecosystem out of whack.<br />
<br />
Chicken or Egg? Which comes first, the social dynamism of a community or its Economic Well-Being? My thoughts are in these articles, as well as on my website. Success is defined pretty simply, because “Quality of Life” correlates to economic growth, therefore our community’s overall “Quality of Life” is dependent upon growth in the largest workplace and consumer demographic -- Millennials. In other words, if young people aren’t living here or moving here, then we aren’t succeeding.<br />
<br />
My thought process relates to not putting all of your eggs in one basket. We don’t need a certain generation. We don’t need a certain type of industry. We don’t need any certain category. What we need is balance. ‘If the chickens ain’t layin’ no eggs, and no eggs are hatchin’, then soon we ain’t gonna have no chickens.’<br />
<br />
The reason why I have said that we need young people, and haven’t just said Millennials, is because of the demographic evidence -- lack of balance -- over the past twenty years. Besides, Millennials are now entering middle age. We have seen population stagnation for a generation and if we don’t stem the tide, then we are going to see population decline. Look at the Rust Belt areas of Western New York, Western Pennsylvania, Ohio, Northern Indiana, Michigan, if we don’t regenerate, then that is where we are headed.<br />
<br />
I’m all about a call to action. That is how I got involved in civic engagement. At 52 years old, as a DeGeneration X’er, I have seen my family pass away and move away to the point that there are only 3 of us left here. I have put ideas on my website, in this magazine, and in the public. The only thing that politics and good government can successfully do is create an environment for people to participate. The Millennials and iGen are going to have to buy in.<br />
<br />
What will it take for them to buy-in? Perceived opportunity. Do they like it here? Do they want to be here? Can they afford to stay here? Do they have a future if they stay?<br />
<br />
I have never had a problem with listening. I’d love to hear what the younger people have to say. I’d love to know what would make them happy, because I know that attracting these people to stay home, or to move here, is the key to the vitality and viability of our community.<br />
<br />
We have a lot of ingredients that make for community success, but we’re having trouble with the recipe. Is there something missing or are we just not putting it together right?<br />
<br />
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---------------------------------------------------------------------------<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #990000;"><u><b>(The Fox: Sarah Everly) </b></u></span></span><br />
<br />
In 2001 my family moved to the Hickory area. I was 9 years old and to me Hickory was a wasteland. Empty buildings littered the roadsides, parking lots were cracked and overgrown with weeds trying desperately to reach the light. The town was stagnant. There was a lack of youth. The youth that was here was wildly underpaid and their children? wildly undereducated. <br />
<br />
Eighteen years later my peers and I have grown up. In large part, the once empty buildings are now filled with businesses owned by the under forty population. Growing up in the recession taught our town’s youth to make their own prosperity, to make wealth out of barren land and broken buildings. All of this makes it appear that this area is a lively and prosperous place to settle. It makes us look like, as Hound phrased it, we have the perfect recipe, but there is so much that isn’t seen to outside eyes. <br />
<br />
As our under forty populations put their hours, hands, and heart into stimulating prosperity in our towns, they are being repaid by housing markets that leave them in vicious cycles of predatory landlords and few options to find a home they can afford. Our Boomer populations are selling their homes for four times what they paid, and anything sold under 120k is going to investors and serving as a fifth or sixth rental property. In my own experience I have found housing to be more affordable outside of our immediate area. Time and time again I have seen my peers move their families to Morganton, Nebo, or Charlotte, often taking their businesses with them. Add the housing crisis to the insurmountable student debt crisis, and public school systems that are still lagging behind and you have a recipe that is forcing us out of the areas that we largely helped lift out of recession. <br />
<br />
I have to earnestly agree that our ecosystem is out of whack, but it is also my belief that we are facing another economic collapse. If housing prices do not fall, the market will crash. If interest rates do not stabilize, businesses will waste away or leave entirely. If our younger residents continue to work so tirelessly and only the Boomers benefit, we will burn out. If wages continue to leave tradesmen rolling pennies at the end of the month, they will follow the cash flow elsewhere. Plainly put, this area will be facing a drought of youthful prosperity within the next five to ten years. Do we want to stay? Yes! This is our home. We pulled the weeds, we paved the parking lots, we filled the empty storefronts. We had the odd privilege of helping craft this wasteland into the beautiful and bountiful community it appears to be. The idea of leaving is heartbreaking for many of us, but many of us are left with no choice. Can we afford to stay? Perhaps some of us, for now, but I’m not sure how much longer. Our recipe is lacking sustenance. <br />
<br />
This is not to say that millennials consider Boomers to be lazily benefiting from our hard work. Many of them will never have the chance to retire because they too are lacking opportunity and prosperity. While eighty five percent of our community is panic stricken over billing statements each month, the other fifteen percent sip from wine glasses at country clubs or stand around in circles discussing rounds of golf. Things that most of our community will never get to do. It is bewildering to me that a town that once sought out retirees, is being sustained and developed by a population that will never get to retire. <br />
<br />
A call to action. In previous versions of this column the call to action has largely been to raise wages, lower cost of living, etc… <br />
<br />
I have to agree with those sentiments, but those things do not happen quickly. They may take years to happen. What condition will our community be in by then? We need swift actions. Actions like stimulating, or even adding more nonprofits. Non profit Microlending has been proven to bring communities up and out of their stagnation. These institutions often focus on lending to minority populations such as People of color, women, LGBTQ+ individuals, those with credit challenges, and those who do not have an established business portfolio. Adding lenders who service people that would otherwise be rejected by traditional banks to our community gives every individual an opportunity to pull themselves up, succeed, and then allow their success to benefit our community’s ecosystem. <br />
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Creating affordable access to trade certifications, hiring people of color, shopping locally, opening affordable and safe daycares, pushing our school systems to deliver quality education to our children, all of these things are immediate actions that we, as a community, can do to keep our younger populations prosperous, and upward. <br />
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Boomers to Generation Z, we all work hard. We all deserve quality of life. We all deserve a stronger, more united community. To borrow from Gloria Steinem, humans should be linked. Not ranked. When we accomplish that, we’ll know we’ve created the perfect recipe. <br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span></b></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: #990000;">James Thomas Shell’s Question</span></b>: </span><br />
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Sarah, I appreciate very much where you are coming from with your article. If you go back and read all of the articles that Gabriel and I corresponded on, then you will read about some of the very issues you elaborate on here. I have been a big proponent of microlending and small business generators since the inception of the Hickory Hound in 2008. Can you further elaborate on how we can bring this to fruition and maybe how it might help you or someone you know on a personal Level? I understand where you are coming from, but there are many who don’t understand and can’t relate. <br />
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I understand your angst related to housing. Many of the issues, related to housing in our area, stem from the financial crisis of 2008, which had a lot to do with lending to people who got in over their heads buying overvalued houses. What do you believe can be done to re-open the marketplace to lower- income home buyers without going back down that path again? Maybe, as you alluded to, the market will have to reset by allowing housing values to fall to a level of affordability that correlates with those lower income levels. Are you looking for a government solution? <br />
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<b><span style="color: #990000;"><u><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></u></span></b>
<b><span style="color: #990000;"><u><span style="font-size: medium;">Sarah's response to Thom</span></u></span></b><br />
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While it may be tricky to seek out microlenders to settle here, it’s relatively easy to educate our nonprofits about the existence of Microlending. Institutions like Women’s Resource Center work closely with programs like Work First. Knowledge of Microlending and how it works could cultivate opportunity for the jobless and underpaid women they serve. The same goes for Safe Harbor, Christian Ministries, etc... The people nonprofits ore serving are people that would be quickly rejected by conventional lenders. I’ve been a housewife for seven years. I have eleven thousand in defaulted student loans, a sobering reality that affects a massive portion of our community. A woman with a seven year job history gap and defaulted federal loans isn’t seen as a promising candidate for living wage jobs. She’s also not a candidate for traditional financing. If I decided to run a business, t4icrolending would be my only hope. Being provided with a low interest loan from a non predatory lender would help me establish a business that provides the means to get my student loans out of default and begin a valid work history. The fact is that thousands of our citizens ore in the same boat. Those thousands of citizens would similarly benefit from access to Microlending. <br />
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As for my ideas on our housing crisis, my opinion is not favorable to investors. While having a rental property is a wonderful way to build financial security, having six of them is an action of greed. My husband and I hove been searching for a home since February. Every home within our price range is swept off the market within hours, only to be listed for rent within three weeks time. These homes would come with a mortgage that equals half of what they’re being rented for. I also believe Airbnb is contributing to our housing drought. While families are being forced out of the city, homes are sitting empty half the year because renting them nightly brings in more cash flow than renting them to our residents. Cities like New York and San Francisco have enacted regulations on Airbnb in response the the cities’ rising homeless population. These regulations include guidelines that require hosts to be residents of the city that their Airbnbs are located and nightly rentals cap out at 90 days a year. If we enacted similar regulations hundreds of homes would be available to citizens nine months a year. Investors and Airbnb hosts, these two populations are leaving hundreds of victims in their wake and roaming wit little to no regulation and in turn the citizens that make our community prosperous are being forced to pay twice as much for housing or being forced out of our community altogether.<br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #990000;"><u><b>Sarah Everly’s Question:</b></u></span></span> <br />
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As an individual with a focus on science, what do you think could be done to harness this interest and use it to benefit the younger populations in our community? <br />
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You’ve mentioned that you’ve watched your family members pass away and leave. I’m very sorry that has been the case. I am interested to know what kept you here. What actions and/or options were available to you that made staying in this community worth it? Do you believe these actions and/or options are readily available to every demographic in our community? <br />
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<b><span style="color: #990000;"><u><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></u></span></b>
<b><span style="color: #990000;"><u><span style="font-size: medium;">Thom's response to Sarah</span></u></span></b><br />
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Sarah, our area was in recession well before it was acknowledged nationally in 2008 and we have never truly recovered. What some have interpreted as a recovery has actually been settling into a new normal. The Economic Innovation Group still lists us as an 'At-Risk' Community. That is a lot of what you saw in your teenage years. That is a completely different experience than my own teen years.<br />
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In the 70s and early 80s, my mother was a top-notch job recruiter in the Hickory area. Manufacturing businesses were actually paying people bonuses and helping them with housing to locate here. The problem was that as time went on there was resistance from our community's hierarchy to recruit more highly skilled technical industries. Regarding technical industries, a local entrepreneur started Superior Cable Company. Corning Inc. invested and eventually took over. People flocked to those jobs because of the compensation offered. This led to a Telephony Industry cluster in our area, which flourished before Trade Treaties caused a major scale back in the early 2000s, which coincides to the era you allude to.<br />
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The housing issue that you have faced is a National issue. In an Associated Press article out this week, we learn that "In the seven years since the housing crash ended, home values in more than three-quarters of U.S. metro areas have climbed faster than incomes... Nationally, home prices since 2000 have climbed at an annual average rate of 3.8%, while average incomes have grown at an annual rate of 2.7%." So yes, your personal experience is validated.<br />
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My personal experience? I moved back here because I was more comfortable with the family connection. My income would definitely have been higher outside of this area, but can you put a price tag on the family experience? I had to get creative and make a ton of sacrifices to buy my house and keep making the payments. I'm making less than I made in 2005. I haven't been able to afford upgrades, but the good thing is I locked in at the 2005 monthly payment. Because of the economics of the area, the value hasn't risen much. You are correct about rental costs. <br />
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As far as my experience versus others? That is more complex than I can answer here. I will say that my life has been built upon plenty of blood, sweat, and tears and nothing I have was accumulated through some special privilege. I look forward to future discussions.<br />
<i><b><br /></b></i>
<i><b>Economic Innovation Group - Distressed Communities - https://eig.org/dci</b></i><br />
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<i><b>Young homebuyers scramble as prices rise faster than incomes - Associated Press - JOSH BOAK & LARRY FENN - May 25, 2019</b></i>James Thomas Shellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04359970774315269896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2088603658552825500.post-61841196060345130352019-11-02T23:13:00.000-04:002019-11-02T23:13:34.683-04:00Calling Irascible CrankWe haven't heard from you in quite some time. We are checking in on you. Would like to hear from you. Gotham needs you.<br />
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P.S. We have a specific request.James Thomas Shellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04359970774315269896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2088603658552825500.post-46477828042920001882019-10-28T21:07:00.000-04:002019-10-29T00:53:24.337-04:00Foothills Digest - Fox & Hound Article - Spring 2019The following is the 7th out of 8 Fox and Hound articles available from the Foothills Digest. It is the sixth and final collaboration with Gabriel Sherwood. I enjoyed those collaborations, because one can see that it was about our ideas relating to the Economic Development and Vitality of the area. We came to many of the same conclusions about the status of our area, but we had many different thoughts about how to achieve goals that would make things better for all.<br />
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The following article is about "How would we spend Government money to achieve our desired results of Economic, Social, and Cultural Vitality making for a better Quality of Life for the citizenry?"<br />
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It's Spring again. The time for birth and rebirth. Time for Evolution and Revolution. Time for fresh starts and new beginnings. Gabriel and I finished up our series about Economic Development. When we discuss the Vitality of where we live, it is defined by Economics, Culture, and Politics. You just can't get away from those forces and the impact they have on our individual and collective lives. <br />
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Gabriel and I were thinking about where we wanted to take this seventh discussion. Seven's supposedly a lucky number. It is thought to be the number of perfection and completeness. Well Gabriel sent me a message and asked what we were going to talk about. I told him to choose. He was talking about the money local governments are spending trying to make things happen. He wants to talk about that and possibilities and most of all he wanted the focus to be positive.<br />
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Well, let's see how we did...<br />
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #990000;"><u><b>(The Hickory Hound: Thom Shell)</b></u></span></span><br />
In looking at the economics, culture, and politics of our community, what issue that involves all of those dynamics, is urgent and important to address, so we can advance our communities forward towards growth and well-being as we progress through this century.<br />
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What do we do about dead buildings, wasted space, and urban sprawl in our communities that creates the least intrusion in the rights of property owners, while maximizing the economic and cultural viability of our community?<br />
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In the last 15 years, we have seen our local communities have to come to grips with a transition towards a new economic reality. We saw many manufacturing facilities become defunct and close their doors. There was a negative impact on business owners, managers, and laborers that caused an overall lack of progress in our communities. In a world that constantly spins forward, our being stuck in a rut meant that we were actually falling behind. Property owners understand that maintaining property is a constant battle that costs money. Not maintaining property causes one to actually fall behind economically. <br />
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I am not new to this issue. 10 years ago, I made videos that are still on Youtube of vacant properties in our area that needed to be addressed. The Hollar Mill and Lyerly Mill buildings are two buildings that had sat empty for years that I videoed. Look at those buildings today compared to what they were then. I may not have been all on board, when it comes to how those buildings were redeveloped, but I wasn't the owner of those properties. At the end of the day, I am glad that those properties have become positive economic assets in Hickory<br />
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Most people alive today seem to think that "Big Box" stores have always existed as part of the country’s landscape, but they pretty much came into existence in the middle of the last century. They evolved when retailers decided to put most available goods on display in the store, instead of keeping the inventory sealed off in storage.<br />
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Walmart, Kmart, and Target all opened their first stores in the year 1962. Today, we take for granted the existence of these kinds of companies. These stores required huge, undivided space, with high ceilings to accommodate their voluminous inventories. They also required huge parking lots, centering their economic model around customer convenience. Their diversity of products meant that customers could one-stop shop, buying everything they needed. Their economies of scale enabled these companies to buy huge amounts of goods at lower wholesale prices and pass those savings along to customers.<br />
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With more marketplace evolution, the rise of online retail has further changed the landscape. Now customer convenience has progressed to where products are delivered to your doorstep without leaving home . Year after year, over the past generation, we have seen more and more of these "Big Box" stores go out of business, leaving communities littered with empty buildings.<br />
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How do we repurpose these buildings? In some cases, similar sized evolutionary companies are looking to fill these spots. Amazon Inc., largely responsible for the new retail reality, has decided to open some brick and mortar stores, but this type of repurposing will put a very small dent in this issue, because of the same reason that Amazon began dominating the retail sector to start with. The bottom line demand of customers are price and customer convenience.<br />
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The practical option, in many circumstances, is demolition. Many of these buildings were cheaply built with projected lifespans of 25 to 30 years. We have seen, through the "Big Box" era, where a building was demolished and the same (or a similar) retailer rebuilt in the same footprint. Demolition allows for land to be repurposed and building parts to be recycled.<br />
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The enormous size of these properties are adaptive to many functions. Such stores can be utilized for apartment housing within a mixed-use development. Aside from residential use, these shell buildings have been redeveloped into office space, civic accessibility, museums, and healthcare facilities. Many "Big Box" property owners are transforming these sites into mixed-use destinations with multiple restaurant pads, smaller shop spaces, and public plazas.<br />
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Mixed-use environments create dynamic community hubs of commerce. Restaurants, offices, and healthcare facilities can activate sidewalks and build foot-traffic. The housing is an excellent alternative in re-using a footprint, as opposed to creating more developmental sprawl.<br />
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In our communities, we have thought about ways to take our limited economic resources and leverage them to redevelop and enhance our landscape. I think it is vital to have a 21st century mindset in using public money to do what is best to improve our local ecosystem. The first step towards improving our community is to maintain the assets that already exist. The 21st Century approach means that it is imperative that we reduce, reuse, and recycle assets that are not performing as intended.<br />
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We must develop governmental policies that do not create roadblocks that hinder outside of the box ideas related to economic development. Policies and ordinances should be open to possibilities, not towards making transitions and evolution impossible to protect existing, antiquated business and cultural concepts.<br />
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In a city like Hickory, I would direct at least $10 million (total) of public funds towards developing a Mixed-Use Development node in each of the four quadrants of the city ($2.5 Million in each quadrant). The money could only be used on abandoned "Big Box" or Manufacturing properties.<br />
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The developer's proposed business plan would show the city why they need the money, how it benefits the public, and how they intend to develop their property as a centerpiece that can stimulate economic regeneration in that vicinity. The order of such projects would be ranked based upon economic enhancement of the proposed property versus the need of, and impact on, the immediate vicinity.<br />
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The above is just an overview of my thoughts. Yeah, details, details, details... but I think you can see this is how we take something negative and turn it positive.<br />
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<u><br /></u>
<u><b>References</b></u><br />
Big box stores are dying. What do we do with all the bodies? - Popular Science - March 28, 2018 <br />
Innovative Uses for Vacant Big Boxes - GlobeSt.Com - December 13, 2017<br />
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #990000;"><u><b>(The Fox: Gabriel Sherwood) </b></u></span></span><br />
What would you do if you won the lottery? We have all thought about it I am sure, what we would do, how we would invest in the future. On the heels of our recent conversations about economic development in the area, let it be Hickory and surrounding communities who win. Imagine after a long process the Western Piedmont Council of Governments region … Alexander, Burke, Caldwell, and Catawba, Counties … are awarded a one hundred-million-dollar development grant. What could, what would we do with it to improve the region while being the most efficient and offering the most impact?<br />
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I advocate planning how much will be invested in transportation access, how much will be invested in communications access, and how much to help people who need a hand getting back up off the streets?We have jobs available, but we have a high poverty rates partly due partly to access to those jobs between communities that really aren’t that far from one another. Hickory’s success is inexorably linked to the success of the counties in which our city’s reach extends.Public funds are vital and should be invested to do the most good to the most people, as a rising tide lifts all. <br />
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Experience has taught me the trouble it can be getting to job centers, even if just across amunicipal line, as I regularly loaded up my old ’89 van to make the drive from Hickory’s public housing to Claremont and Conover factories to drop off neighbors. We can do that on a larger level with the capital to expand that idea as it is being spearheaded in Hickory now by certain public servants and potential employers. I would suggest we put that program on steroids and use Greenway’s existing structure to do it.We offer shift-based stops, neighborhood access far off main access lines, and along the way we ask the businesses being served to invest in the programs as well as the people gaining their access. With minimal investments by each entity being served, we could do years of good work.<br />
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8 more busses, 10vehicles that carry up to 15 people, and 10 that carry up to 8, and a few for special needs, would require an investment of a maximum of $7 million with alternative fueling options and maintenance warranties. Drivers and administration salaries would require an investment max of$4 million a year after all overhead and would put millions a year into the local economies. The plan would use busses to connect cities with hubsin each town. Then, smaller vehicles to move between communities and production centers in each county. With an investment of 25% of our purse including the operational budget, we can expand and maintain the organization for the first several years. After some time to read the need, we adjust the vehicle count according to the use and move forward to sustained viability and possibly growth to other communities. <br />
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Just as important as getting people to theproduction is getting information and education and commerce to them in their homes. There are areas of the four-county region that don’t have good cell phone reception, much less good highspeed internet access. In fact, in downtown areas in some of our towns there is no access while at the same time our students have received electronic equipment to do homework. That has caused some stress for some families, and despite our rural areas we can do something about it.<br />
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I believe investing 30 million in grants to communities and citizens to assist in gaining access would lead to a new burst of commerce and civic involvement. The funds would acquire land to build towers in partnership with providers, and negotiation between those providers and municipalities for public access would help drastically reduce the investment going forward.<br />
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Students would benefit with the access to their studies, online learning options, and general access to what’s happening in real time. Businesses benefit for obvious reasons and the increase in commerce brings more income for citizens and municipalities alike. The cycle of success often requires limited investments, but it’s the patience and willingness to invest in people that sometimes stops the wheels. I think if we treat people like the end instead of the means, the means takes care of itself as the tide goes up. This plan not only improves lives, but also provides a more proactive business culture. As James and I have spoken of many times in agreement, we have the land and the workforce but just need ways to connect them with the centers of production and commerce … and we can take a huge leap towards it with these investments. <br />
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Finally, with planning for supports for our people, we can’t forget those most in need. Holding ten for future needs, thirty million remains in our grant. There is a challenge our area faces, Hickory deals with it every day. Poverty at near 20% and the homeless that struggle around us are a reminder that without responsible growth, people get left behind. Like the opioid crisis, we can’t arrest or legislate ourselves out of this one … people require investment sometimes. I think if we continue the positive steps taken by our governmental and non-governmental forces, and adapt a more people first approach, our economic goals may lay along an easier path.<br />
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We have opportunities to take lessons from other places in how we respond to these challenges. Simple access to the internet and transportation will make a world of difference to folks that are kept from things by distance, but for those hiding in the woods around us every day … we need to think big. Thirty million dollars to buy a few unused buildings to transform into temporary housing to offer a bed, a shower, and an address, helps us offer that foothold needed to get started. With work and investment by our people, our business community, and our governments, a challenge can become a strength and a beacon of our investment in ourselves and others. That attracts businesses and younger workers that know their community will invest in them. <br />
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All these ideas feed off each other, and a system of self-supported citizens and communities is what we are all striving for. Often people trying to make a comeback are hindered by situations they don’t always control, as it’s expensive to be poor. We can help. We have our internet expansion provide application access, our transportation system gets them there on time, and we get to watch as some folks reenter the area as productive members of our communities. <br />
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With these plans we can make a real difference to a lot of people and still hold a quarter of our funds for unseen needs of the future as these programs develop, and perhaps some of it could go to grants to assist companies along the way that need space as our commerce expands. We can’t help everyone and there would be technicalities and conflicts and budgeting issues to overcome and work through, but with efficiency in mind and equality in purpose we can make a difference. <br />
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<br />James Thomas Shellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04359970774315269896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2088603658552825500.post-24372151927090403912019-10-20T09:04:00.002-04:002019-10-20T09:04:47.501-04:00Hickory Hound - Hickory Daily Record - LttE October 20, 2019<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<span style="color: #990000;">The following is my Letter to the Editor that was in this morning (October 20, 2019) Hickory Daily Record. They did some minor editing, so here is the original as I sent in back on Thursday. The Letter relates to the candidates running for Hickory City Council during the 2019 municipal election cycle.</span><br />
<br />
---------------------------------------------------------------<br />
<br />
Wash, rinse, and repeat, it’s election time in the City of Hickory. At least
we see actual contests taking place for the Ward 1, 2, and 3 seats available
during this cycle. But, once again we see the machinations of Hickory’s dubiously
complicated electoral format with 845 votes out of 13,000 registered voters (6.5%)
in those wards. 60 people voting in Ward 3 means barely 1 out of 100 voters
voted in that Ward. Folks, that is proof positive of a broken system.<br />
<br />
Even if the “Me Too” messages of the candidates running does little to
inspire the electorate, more than 1 out of 100 could accidentally stumble into
an election booth and cast a vote. It seems to me that this is symbolic of some
sort of protest.<br />
<br />
For years we have been told by community leaders that we all need to be
positive, of like mind, just push “the Brand”, stick to the Message. That is
the mindset of a Salesperson. Personally, I think we need to operate with the
mindset of an Entrepreneur. That mindset is different.<br />
<br />
Reminds me of the Breakfast Plate of Eggs and Bacon… The Chicken that
provides the eggs is involved. The Hog that provides the bacon is committed.<br />
<br />
The Entrepreneur has everything to lose. That makes them look for problems
and identify solutions. Identifying problems is not being negative. It is being
smart. Identifying problems is a money maker. It is figuring out what people
want and need and creating it. That is how product development and evolution
takes place. The Salesman can claim perfection (no problems) all day long, but
reality sells or doesn’t sell products. If the salesman fails, they just move
on to the next job. It isn’t their product. The Entrepreneur can lose
everything. They are committed.<br />
<br />
We live in a new economy. An economy defined by Creativity. Hickory has been
Generic for far too long. We can’t copy our way to progress and prosperity. We
have to have unique assets that set us apart from our competition. We need new
ideas.<br />
<br />
So, it isn’t about the message. In the end it is about your reality… your
Identity. How good is your product and will the target consumers buy it?<br />
<br />
Hey candidates, what are you selling? Do you have any fresh ideas… anything
innovative? If people want Generic, they can get that at Walmart.<br />
James Thomas Shellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04359970774315269896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2088603658552825500.post-51854993725322861152019-10-15T17:42:00.000-04:002019-10-15T17:55:17.169-04:00Foothills Digest - Fox & Hound Article - Winter 2019OK, it took a week to get this out. I had work, a 35th Class Reunion, and Church Homecoming slow me down... Forgive me and I'll owe you one. This is the 6th out of 8 available. After I get these out, I intend to write something epic and relevant in the present tense, not that these aren't. The following is the sixth Fox and Hound Article from the Foothills Digest. It is the fifth article in which I collaborated with Gabriel Sherwood. The topic focuses on 'How do we connect with people to get them to move here and do business here.'<br />
<br />
<u><b>Preparation </b></u>- Prepare - make (something) ready for use or consideration.<br />
<br />
<u><b>Plan</b></u> - a scheme or method of acting, doing, proceeding, making, etc., developed in advance: a design or scheme of arrangement: a specific project or definite purpose: <br />
<br />
--------------------------- <br />
<br />
This is the sixth, and the finale, in this series, about economic development in our area. We have discussed vision, aligning to the marketplace, leveraging unique strengths, and inspiring people to innovate, and change. Now we finish up by articulating how we connect with and influence people to move here and do business in our area.<br />
<br />
In summary, I think that we can all see that Gabriel and I agree on more than we disagree on when it comes to the issues of Economic Growth. I think we all understand it’s difficult to sustain a successful economy over a long period of time. We are at the mercy of external forces, including, but not limited to, the overall business cycle, culture, and politics. Our fortunes will ebb and flow with the times, but a proactive approach is necessary to ward off stagnation. This is about action versus inaction, which is completely different than the modern political paradigms deemed Conservative-Progressive.<br />
<br />
The bottom line is that growth necessitates a clear understanding of where you want to be in the future. If you don't have goals, then what is your endgame? You’re just winging it through life. Winging it isn’t a formula for success. The Roman Philosopher Seneca said, “Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.” Good fortune isn't just about being at the right place at the right time, but also about being open to and ready for new opportunities. That is what this series has been about… Preparing for Success!<br />
<br />
<span style="color: blue;">---------------------------- </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #990000;"><u><b>(The Hickory Hound: Thom Shell Intro)</b></u></span></span><br />
Over the past year I have discussed, in this forum, how I believe we should economically develop our area by cultivating the most impactful demographics in the current era. We have seen a stagnation in our population growth and it is directly correlated to the lack of economic growth of the area. It is a chicken or egg situation, because it relates to jobs and job quality. Have young people left, because of the lack of good paying jobs –or- are the good paying industries not locating here, because there is a lack of qualified young working aged folks to fill the positions?<br />
<br />
Once again, I will point to where South Carolina economic development officials said that they didn’t need pre-trained individuals for Upstate South Carolina’s BMW plant. They trained the initial workers at the plant and then later created specific technical programs to train workers for future jobs in the automotive industry. <br />
<br />
There must be a multi-faceted approach in creating an environment to benefit from people who are in the sweet-spot of their productive working lives. People who are 40 years and younger are better able to adapt to economic change than those 40 years and older. By the time you hit 40, you are ready to settle into some form of routine. Many 40 year olds have established family structures. By and large, middle aged folks aren’t looking (and can’t afford) to change jobs on a whim or move here, there, and everywhere.<br />
<br />
Let’s look at a good reality, presently Millennials and their younger compatriots iGen are the future of economic development and productivity in our modern world. They are now the largest demographic in the workforce and in the consumer marketplace. Success will be defined pretty simply, because “Quality of Life” correlates to economic growth, therefore our community’s overall “Quality of Life” is dependent upon growth in the largest workplace and consumer demographic. In other words, if the young people aren’t living here or moving here, then we aren’t succeeding.<br />
<br />
I have a saying, ‘Smart people make things simple. Stupid people make things complicated.’ Think about talented athletes, chefs, artists, whatever… don’t they make whatever they are doing look easy? Think about procrastinators always doing mental gymnastics, always ‘studying’ something, always doing busy work, but never seeming to get anything accomplished… wasting time… wasting away.<br />
<br />
As I have already discussed, local leadership has to have a plan. We have to engage all of the components of this economic equation. We must be effective listeners. We must develop our ability to be nimble about understanding and diagnosing problems and responding with effective solutions. <br />
<br />
Develop a system that allows engagement across multiple platforms of government and private industry. Cut the red tape and have open engagement between elected officials, government administration, business leaders, and the citizenry. How do we create, acknowledge, and engage opportunity? Do you recognize opportunity when it is staring you in the face? We cannot afford to dismiss opportunity!<br />
<br />
Growth is positive change from Time A to Time B. To direct growth, you have to have an intelligent plan about where you are at, where you want to go, and how you are going to get there. In identifying the there, you have to identify and engage your Vision, which is the first step in creating your plan. The growth we desire requires defined goals and benchmarks of where we want to be at a time certain in the future. That measurable vision defines success or failure and develops accountability. <br />
<br />
That accountability helps motivate the drivers of the plan to make necessary adjustments (tweaks or wholesale changes) that can get to the successful goal. The thing about this exercise is that it is never over. You cannot rest on your laurels. Like one of my teachers from the past would tell us, when he caught us looking at the clock, “Time will pass… Will you?”<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: blue;">---------------------------- </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #990000;"><u><b>(The Fox: Gabriel Sherwood Intro) </b></u></span></span><br />
Maintaining a steady growth pattern is an important part of a healthy economy and society and to us the need for working age newcomers is critical in building on what we have going. We know steps must be taken to actively attract the people we need, but is it just the responsibility of our leaders, government and/or business, to keep us growing? As far as business health, our local leadership has done well. So much so that Hickory was just proclaimed as having the “lowest costs for business” by Forbes.<br />
<br />
This is an honor that will perhaps bring us interest from companies looking to invest, and that is something we all celebrate, as it will bring not only dollars but perhaps more youthful talent into our communities. In addition to our drive to expand we must also have pause and measure, as our goals must be mitigated by the need for responsible growth and must be focused on increasing the value of our people as it compares with the interests of businesses we offer a home.<br />
<br />
A USA Today article from December, 2017 covered some reasons younger professionals touted as critical to invest in a location. Jobs is always number one, but increasingly the addition of “good paying” is finding its way into the discussions. According to Data USA, Hickory’s median household income declined in recent years by 4.61%. Payscale.com says wages continued to drop another 1.1% in the 2nd quarter of 2018, and average income in Hickory is $5,ooo less than average in NC and $14,000 less than average for the nation. One reason the area is good for business is because overhead is low … and that includes payroll.<br />
<br />
Another trend in modern families is the more educated woman being the highest earner while the man may be a tradesman or in the service industry or manufacturing. Those are couples we could use, as our trade markets need young blood to replace aging service techs and our manufacturing resurgence needs workers. But, as the Convention Center prepares for a Professional Women’s event that will bring several hundred guests, the average working woman in Hickory earns $16,000 a year less an average man. I personally can say I know a young professional woman with young children who is looking North for better pay in her field, even as it compares to cost of living.<br />
<br />
Our last conversation included my suggestion of focusing on bringing in educators … there are college level instructors at CVCC making less than 40K a year. The teaching profession is by in large still female, and I recently heard from a former coordinator of superintendents that the teaching college at UNC Charlotte had over 900 students when he began his tenure there 9 years ago and last year when he left there were less than 100. These are professional jobs that are a backbone of local economies, and they are not heading here.<br />
<br />
Now I don’t want this to be a pouncing session on our local drive to improve, because there is a drive to improve that includes everyone, but as the USA Today article pointed out some of the most effective means of bringing people in is bringing them home and focusing on the demographics. We have a lot of folks who have left for the cities around us and we can work hard to market the area to them along with a push for the young professional woman, and we may attract attention. But, I fear it won’t do a thing if they look for a comparable job in a different area and take a massive pay cut to come here.<br />
<br />
We are all responsible for our community’s growth, each and everyone one of us. We entrust our leadership with the guidance of our societies and we expect responsible growth in opportunity in return, but in the end it is the civic engagement of citizens that leads any municipality or region or state. First we must teach people to give their best but also to expect better than to have basic fears that a good salary alleviates. A desperate salesperson is seen a mile away, one that is secure sells more.<br />
<br />
That’s one thing that can get folks past the transportation issues we face here and we can create the market for better education access with and movement in the green in income growth instead of the red as we have seen for years here. Like Lenoir-Rhyne offered locals half tuition, let’s offer returning citizens a promise of tax breaks for companies that offer better than living wages. After that, we can boost and boast a great image that is backed up in the numbers that matter, and get some of our state’s best educators and public servants, and that’s a recipe for Responsible Growth to last a generation or two.<br />
<br />
2018 Forbes Best Places for Business and Careers – October 24, 2018 - https://www.forbes.com/sites/kurtbadenhausen/2018/10/24/the-best-places-for-business-and-careers-2018-seattle-leads-the-way/#7062ac47447e<br />
<br />
Millennials to small cities: Ready or not here we come! – USA Today - November 5, 2017 -<br />
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2017/11/05/millennials-small-cities-ready-not-here-we-come/830955001/<br />
<br />
https://datausa.io/profile/geo/hickory-nc/#intro<br />
<br />
https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Location=Hickory-NC/Salary<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: blue;">---------------------------- </span><br />
<b><span style="color: #990000;"><u><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></u></span></b>
<b><span style="color: #990000;"><u><span style="font-size: large;">Thom's response to Gabriel</span></u></span></b><br />
<br />
Gabriel, in the overall outlook of the Forbes’ article ‘2018 Best Places for Business and Careers’ that you allude to, we see that Raleigh (#2), Charlotte (#5), Durham (#13), and Asheville (#15) did extremely well, but Hickory was listed as #172 out of 200 cities in that list. That fits in with our second article (Winter 2018) where I address what I surmise to be the Tale of Two States here in North Carolina.<br />
<br />
I am glad that you are encouraged by the North Carolina’s positioning in the marketplace as a whole and I am also hopeful that we are taking some steps in our region to move forward. I would however like to see an emphasis placed upon the more Rural and Suburban areas of the State that have been hurt by the rapidly changing dynamics of modern industry and the post modern “free-trade” economy. <br />
<br />
I agree with what you state about young people wanting good paying jobs. On my blog, though I haven’t really added articles over the past year, in the past I have constantly talked about the underemployment issue and this “Low Cost of doing Business” certainly seems to correlate to that. Hickory, in that 2018 Forbes list that you interjected into this conversation, ranks #1 in the nation as the least expensive place to do business. 21 places in the bottom 50 of that overall list rank as the cheapest places to do business. Maybe it’s less expensive, because there’s a lot less economic activity taking place here than in the more successful cities in that list.<br />
<br />
I do agree that people need to take charge and be leaders, but that doesn’t forego those who have asked and are being paid to assume the forefront of leadership positions in our communities. In the end, they are in charge of the decision making process, including setting policies and making plans for the direction of the community. We can only make suggestions and hold them accountable to a certain extent. They are in charge!<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #990000;"><u><b>Gabriel's response to Thom</b></u></span></span><br />
As often is the case, we agree on much. A multi-faceted plan is needed and we have some facets of it in place or on the way and it must be strategic and a decade ahead of itself. Over the past year we have agreed that we need to work on access and transportation options to connect us to the economic powerhouse of the Charlotte market. The 16 extension is well underway and the double lane access will decrease travel time between the ever expanding suburbs of Charlotte and our area. The expansion of 150 across the bridge into the Mooresville area as part of the development of the Eastern parts of Catawba County I think would be a great investment in having some of Mecklenburg's commerce and professionals jumping the lake. <br />
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More land at a lower price in a growing area is an attraction we can utilize with proper marketing and valuation of our attributes, while at the same time checking several boxes on our goal sheet for responsible growth. <br />
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We have spoken on inclusion of all citizens and municipalities and businesses and NGO’s, as the more ideas at the table mean a better chance for good government and working solutions. We have the Hickory Young Professionals, who just celebrated their 10th Anniversary, working to engage the younger population alongside other similar service and networking organizations across the area. The Rotary Club of Hickory is currently hosting Students of Distinction from each high school in the area who have shown leadership skills and merit in study and extracurricular activities. We should collectively be hoping to keep in touch and either keep these students at CVCC or LR or the App State Campus, or work to lead them back to the area after their education elsewhere. <br />
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Reaching out and engaging people where they are now while showing them a vision of where they could be with us can be a path to our goals, and with the right coordination and direction we can see great success. <br />
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We also have spoken about how we can utilize our attributes, and one we already see being used is … well, the Sun above us. How much could we save our taxpayers, our business owners, our citizens, if we simply put a couple solar panels on every government building, business, or home that can accomodate one, in the area? We have great recycling systems and expanding public parks and services, we are close to nature and the city, we have access to an international airport, and we have local flare and food options, which are all good additions to our regional brochure … but we would make the national news with a commitment like that. <br />
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If we can save money by using the free fusion reactor we circle and allocate that to offering incentives for companies that agree to provide above average salaries and wages in exchange for forward thinking leadership and investment, I believe we will see a good return. <br />
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Know your enemy and know yourself and you will never know defeat in a hundred battles” - Sun Tzu. You are correct that dawdlers will dawdle and complainers will offer plenty observations with few solutions behind them, but those who research the root of a problem and have the courage and acumen to act decisively will often be successful. Fortune favors the bold “they” also say and if we are bold in our requirement for our people to be valued and seen as an investment, if we expand access while reaching out to engage the people we want to be here with us with what we can offer … those who care about such things will notice. <br />
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People who care about such things care about responsible growth. James Thomas Shellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04359970774315269896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2088603658552825500.post-43199170457969371832019-10-08T16:27:00.004-04:002019-10-08T16:27:50.010-04:00Foothills Digest - Fox & Hound Article - Fall 2018I haven't gotten these out as fast as I had hoped. I will have the next one out in short order. We are now past halfway on the ones that are available. <span style="color: blue;">The following is the fifth Fox and Hound
Article from
the Foothills Digest. It is the fourth article in which I collaborated
with Gabriel Sherwood. The topic focuses on 'How do we Inspire our community and set it up in the best position possible to grow. Like I said, this is a marketplace and it is a 3D multilevel Chess
Board. There should be a plan for community development and from that there will be desired outcomes and with that there will be intended and unintended consequences. There will be the seen and the unseen. How do we embrace change and inspire innovation? How do we bring back the Entrepreneurial spirit that our community was founded and built upon? We need to have a broad scope and we must set ourselves up to be in an adaptable position in an ever changing landscape. </span><br />
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So, this is the fifth edition of the Foothills Digest and the Fox and the Hound. Thank You Carmen for affording us a platform for a discussion of issues that are vital to our area. This initial thread has been related to fostering Economic Growth in our area. We have discussed Plan Creation and Implementation, Vision, the Marketplace, and Leveraging Unique strengths. Now we discuss how to attract Millennials to our community, because we have lost many from the younger generation and they are vital to the growth of our region’s communities. How do we inspire innovation and change?<br />
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #990000;"><u><b>(The Hickory Hound: Thom Shell Intro)</b></u></span></span><br />
In my last article, I discussed the nature of the Millennial generation and how they have become the most vital cog in the American Economic Engine, as the largest demographic representative in terms of labor and consumption. Millennials have moved to major metropolitan areas, because that is where they can earn the most money and enjoy life. Statistical information shows that Millennials earn their highest income versus cost of living (1) in the San Francisco Metropolitan area. Raleigh is ranked #14 on the list.<br />
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In this era of constant change, the major metropolitan areas in our nation have been more resilient in dealing with economic upheaval, because they have larger economies of scale. Where a smaller community may be driven by one major industry, these larger metro areas are much more economically diverse with multiple major businesses in multiple business sectors. The loss of a major business in a large metro can certainly cause stress, but it isn’t going to break the community. An individual living in a large community, who finds themselves displaced, can more easily find a job within that community; whereas in a smaller community, they might just have to move.<br />
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It used to be that almost all children would earn more than their parents had at any particular age. Today, that number is around 50 percent (2). Much of the economic flux we have faced in our country can be attributed to what the 20th century Austrian Economist Joseph Schumpeter (3), one of the founding theorists on Entrepreneurship, termed Creative Destruction. Creative Destruction occurs when innovation deconstructs long-standing arrangements and frees resources to be deployed elsewhere. Schumpeter saw innovation as the driving force of the marketplace through Capitalism. He believed that the innovation and technological change of a nation comes from its entrepreneurs, or “wild spirits.” Innovation is progress driven by competition. <br />
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In talking about Economic Regeneration, “Change” is at the forefront of economic reality. The economy on every level of human existence has always evolved. Whereas, in the past, it could take years for things to change, now our economy changes drastically from day-to-day. We must embrace change and learn how to operate and thrive in such an environment. The alternative? Embracing stagnation... No thanks!<br />
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What Schumpeter was getting at relates to creativity. We are living in an age that is defined by creativity, much more so than the preceding Industrial Age. Our present economy has been defined as a “Creative Economy.” Millennials, as a “Free Spirited” generation, like to define themselves by their creativity, being different, and having unique personalities. They want help implementing creative ideas and recognition for successes. Companies that facilitate this way of thinking will be the most successful. We have to know that this creative capacity can be used to a community’s advantage. This mindset benefits us all! How can we cultivate this energy? <br />
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Young people want careers and want their work to have meaning. They want a better world and to associate with good business practices. Most don’t want to waste their lives in a cubicle in an organization that is deeply resistant to change. There are so many career options for the best and the brightest. And isn’t “Best and Brightest” what you want in a community?<br />
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The answer to community growth is to attract Millennials. How we do this is pretty much up for debate. Attracting this creative generation will lead to the “Wild Spirit” of creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurship and that should be the endgame. <br />
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(1) The 25 places where millennials make the most money - The Exponent (Purdue University) – July 18, 2018<br />
(2) The Fading American Dream - Trends in Absolute Income Mobility Since 1940 – Equality of Opportunity Project – February 2017<br />
(3) Innovation and Entrepreneurship – The Austrian Economist Joseph A. Schumpeter – The Austrian Embassy – March 27, 2015<br />
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #990000;"><u><b>(The Fox: Gabriel Sherwood Intro)</b></u></span></span><br />
Millennials will overtake the Boomers as the most populous generation in 2019 we hear, with 73 million citizens falling into that age range <u>(1)</u>. Though they only outnumber Generation X by 6 million or so, youth and even slightly superior numbers will allow the Millennials to shape the economic and cultural landscape of our nation for the next 50 years. How well regions recruit younger industries and the citizens that power them will dictate growth potential as all involved. <br />
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Luckily, we have some forward thinking leadership locally and some of our plans have been focused on ensuring the Foothills and Western Piedmont Regions get our share of what will be an expanding and enduring economic base. Good things are happening around us, and positive changes have been made to infrastructure and access. If we are to maximize on our Millennial marketability, though, then must continue to look for ideas to support the younger citizens that attract the younger businesses. We have advantages that only need minor adjustments and investments, and some inspiration to change a mindset, to generate opportunity for responsible growth. <br />
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Millennials are trending towards public and shared forms of transportation, and though people of all ages are driving less, right now over 30% of 19 year olds in the US don’t have licenses to drive. This is a new reality and will drive certain folks to the more developed regions by necessity, so how can we inspire the needed changes in transit options? What helped create and facilitate the car culture that swept the US in the latter half of the 20th Century? <br />
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Millennials are also steering the markets towards more sustainable lifestyles and socially equitable opportunities. By 2025 they could comprise over 70% of the workforce and polling within the generation shows 87% would be loyal to companies that are socially and economically diverse and responsible <u>(2)</u>. So, how do we market ourselves as socially and economically responsible and how do we capitalize on our diversity? And what has helped finance many of the innovations that make our lives cleaner and greener each day? <br />
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The answer to both: public investment and shared innovation with the private sector brought about much of the amenities of the modern world, and we have the infrastructure and economic capacity to continue to do it here. The Eisenhower Administration used huge tax rates to fund the interconnecting of our nation with the highway system and created millions of recurring jobs nationally, while reshaping our culture for two generations. Locally we can use that example and invest liberally in the expansion of the Greenway system and spread a wider net of low cost transportation access with a responsible brand. <br />
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The 50’s and 60’s also saw one of the largest expansions of public education in Human history, which provided a great deal of the Human capital and intellectual enterprise among the Boomers and Generation X, as well as educated tradespeople in many fields. Now, we need the same locally for Millennial marketing … and we have an opportunity to get back to that with the K64 approach currently making its way to activity at CVCC and elsewhere around us <u>(3)</u>. It is a development model that focuses on the pathway from early education all the way to retirement after years of continuing education. <br />
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You get what you pay for in most places and investment in a nation's own citizens rarely bears a loss. This is one reason Forbes ranked the US the 12th best nation for business, while 9 of the first 11 are Democratic Socialist nations that invest far more in infrastructure and education while regulating the extremes of the Capitalist system that some of them invented to ensure equitable access and opportunity to all, and the other two are Communist Capitalists we shouldn’t consider as great role models <u>(4)</u>. <br />
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The United States will never be these places, and our ways of doing things must recognize the diversity of our vast land and the input of all our people … but no matter where you go if you have eclectically educated citizens with a way to get to work you are going to have the engine to drive innovation and help to inspire change in the private sector. The better we are at those things in our region, the more successful we will be at our recruiting and retention goals for companies and people of the next generation. <br />
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1. Millennials expected to overtake Baby Boomers as America’s largest generation - Pew Research - March 1st, 2018 <br />
2. The Millennial Consumer: A Driving Force for Corporate Sustainability - Ecosphere - January 2, 2018<br />
3. K-64 Learning Homepage - 2017<br />
4. Best Countries for Business in 2017 - Forbes - January, 2018<br />
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<u><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="color: #990000;">Gabriel response to Thom</span></b></span></u><br />
Like the whale oil hunters of old, miners of coal in the US now, and anyone who’s job can be done by a robot over the next decades, the old giving way to the new is in overdrive for post industrial economies. With processors changing every six months, and new phones out nearly yearly, our commercialism is often as fickle as our pop-culture. What needs can we count on to be consistently relevant in the next 50 years, though, and what kind of jobs should we be looking for if we want our kids to make more than us right here? <br />
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Other than jobs in education, which offer a redundant investment in a local economy, and which millennials are attracted to if funded, 3 of the top 5 “Best Jobs for Millennials” involve computer software design, web development, and systems analysis (1). All of these are creative, all of these are potentially generational industries, and they can all be recruited if we can show them we have the people and infrastructure to support their needs. <br />
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We know all those industries from local experience already, and we know we have what they need, but there are social considerations that can hamper creativity as well as the desire for workers and industries to join us. Extremes in social issues turn away Millennials, and areas dominated by certain views will inexorably filter those energies and outlooks into the “Footloose Syndrome” for the young of the area and others who may want to join us. <br />
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There is a lesson in the numbers of the last presidential contest. A popular meme we see on social media references the 2,649 counties won by President Trump as opposed to the 503 counties won by Secretary Clinton. Those 503 counties that leaned more Liberal than Conservative held 64% of our economic output in 2016 (2). <br />
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If we really are prepared to work for economic progress, and towards a “Wild Spirit” of Creativity from a younger generation that holds progressive ideas, then we might have to let some of our region’s aging political and social mindsets be changed out in the next installment of creative destruction this November. <br />
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1 - US News and World Report - The 10 Best Jobs for Millenials - October, 2017<br />
2. Brookings Institute - High Output America vs. Low Output America - November, 2016<br />
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<br />
<b>Answer to your question:</b><br />
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Responsible growth to me includes understanding the needed balance between the public and private, not allowing extreme inequalities to form between neighborhoods and/or social classes, understanding that all people and roles are needed in a healthy economy and that all should be respected, and that there are some sectors of our economy that must be understood to be investments in the future rather than profit sources now.<br />
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In his book: “Capitalism, Socialism, and Democracy” Schumpeter also wrote of his agreement with Marx that Capitalism would collapse, but instead of Marx’s Proletarian Revolution, Schumpeter asserted that highly successful Capitalism would eventually give way to Corporatism and the diminishment of the individual based business in favor of monopolies.<br />
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In his vision the voting majorities would have no choice but to vote themselves into Socialism in order to survive income and class inequality that the market won’t regulate alone. And here with a third of the nation ready to take us back to 90% tax rates and hamper innovation and creativity while another third are following a Neo-Fascist whose policies are driving us further towards state corporatism, it’s easy to see why Schumpeter is seen as an Einstein of Economics. <br />
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To prevent this we must invest. In addition to recruiting tech jobs and continuing to modernize our manufacturing sector, we can find ourselves a beacon for young talent whose job it is to inspire the youth of our region and state. We have a wide base of education professionals here, with many of them aging now and in need of good replacements. <br />
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I say if we want to attract Millennials with jobs that matter; with jobs that will offer a base of economic stability to them and our area over a career; with jobs in which it is partly the purpose to cultivate the creativity of our area … educator rings a bell. <br />
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The NC General Assembly isn’t helping us in that regard because I know young teachers who have left for Texas to get paid, taking our future creativity with them. We can get some back though, or recruit others, because another way to get young people to stay is to let them see they have a voice in their community. <br />
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This election cycle there is change to be sure, as candidates driven by Millennial issues have risen to run from all walks of life in our county and state elections. <br />
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Make sure your voice is heard in November everyone ...<br />
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<u><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #990000;"><b>Thom’s response to Gabriel</b></span></span></u><br />
Gabriel, I agree with much of what you say, but some of your conclusions show purely political biases. Trump isn’t a neo-fascist. To the point, because it has little to do with the thread of this conversation, Conservatism has plenty of support among Millennials. Time Magazine, not exactly a bastion of conservatism, points this out in an article – “Young Americans Are Actually Not Becoming More Progressive” – August 22, 2017 – Jean M. Twenge. The article delves into the political nature of today’s younger generations… “Individualism has also led iGen and Millennials to favor one thing above all else in politicians: Authenticity. Individualism promotes “come as you are” and “just be yourself,” and iGen’ers want their candidates to be — or at least seem — unwavering in their personal beliefs.””<br />
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As we both agree, technological advances are coming rapidly. Technology is second nature to the Millennials and the following “iGeneration (iGen)” -- named for their use of iPhones and interfacing with technology. According to Public Relations Society of America, the Great Recession taught IGen to be independent, and has led to an entrepreneurial desire, after seeing their parents and older siblings struggle in the workforce. <u>(1)</u><br />
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I agree with you on the issues of social acceptance of the young person’s mindset. I have a friend who is in his 70s and works for a local fabric design firm in our area. The company has a staff that consists of many Millennial aged women. These young women are choosing to live outside the area, many in Asheville. They say they roll up the streets at night in Hickory and they want to enjoy some nightlife. <br />
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So what are issues I think we can agree on that the younger generations are facing that need our societal focus and attention? 1) Burdensome college debt 2) Underemployment for America’s most educated generation 3) Unable to afford housing independence 4) Financial Fragility 5) Fewer and fewer Millennials are becoming Entrepreneurs 6) Mental Stress and Depression. <u>(2)</u><br />
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Younger people have a desire to be entrepreneurs, but their financial fragility, due to college debt and not having enough income to save, is limiting their capacity to own businesses. If we as a community can come up with ways to help these young people move forward with some of their dreams and to get established, then we can get some of them live here instead of the big cities. That will lead to growth as those seeds are cultivated into the future stakeholders and cornerstones of our community.<br />
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(1) Move Over Millennials, Here Comes Generation Z: Understanding the 'New Realists' Who Are Building the Future". Public Relations Tactics. Public Relations Society of America. 12/10/2015<br />
(2) The 10 Most Serious Problems Faced By Millennials – BestWork Inc.<br />
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<br />James Thomas Shellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04359970774315269896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2088603658552825500.post-88488819978518937782019-09-26T07:00:00.000-04:002019-09-26T18:49:24.954-04:00Foothills Digest - Fox & Hound Article - Summer 2018<span style="color: blue;">The following is the 4th Fox and Hound Article from
the Foothills Digest. It is the third article in which I collaborated
with Gabriel Sherwood. The topic is about understanding our community's position in the marketplace. The marketplace is a 3D multilevel Chess Board. It is tangible and intangible. It is local, National, and International in scope. It is personal and interpersonal in nature. In the context of this discussion, we develop ideas related to the details of the big picture.</span><br />
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Summer is here. It’s time for hot days and nights that never really cool down. Storms will always be around the corner to hopefully cool things off. Summer is that second part of life – young adulthood. You don’t want that party to end, but you know it has to. That is what the Millennials, by and large, are experiencing right now. The Millennial generation began around 1981 and is said to have ended around 2000, so they are 18 to 37 years old. Older folks might remember back then. You will see why these people, in the Summer of their lives, are the focus of this Fox and Hound article. Our community needs some more of that Summer perspective back in its DNA…<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #990000;"><u><b>(The Hickory Hound: Thom Shell Intro)</b></u></span></span><br />
To set our region up for future economic success, we have to have plans, a Vision, and understand our position in the marketplace. If there is no difference in what you do, offer, or produce compared to competing interests, you will not succeed. If the target audience does not understand or recognize the value of your product, then you will lose out to more competent competitors.<br />
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Simply put, our goal should be to pinpoint our unique strengths and leverage them in every way we possibly can. Focus on the basics of these strengths. Don’t assume that others understand the value. Our target audience cannot be taken for granted. Success will come from matching our product with what they demand.<br />
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If sustainable growth comes from selling your unique assets and their value, then we need to take a look at what we are offering and understand, in 2018, what people want from the community they are going to reside in.<br />
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Looking at a recent survey by the Urban Land Institute, a worldwide non-profit organization dedicated to community sustainability and growth, with regards to Americans: 1) The vast majority say they are satisfied with their community’s quality of life, 2) 42% of people (mostly older) want to live in a rural area or small town 3) Millennials are the most dissatisfied generation relating to homes, housing options, and community quality of life -- 78% say they are likely to move in the next 5 years, 4) 75% of Americans want access to fresh, healthy food.<br />
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Previously, I’ve related the many educational and cultural amenities we have in our region. Appalachian State University lies directly in our footprint, five other UNC-system schools are an hour away, and we have several other excellent community colleges and private universities within our region. We also have many other inexpensive, self-educational resources that are easily accessible to the populace. Can we improve our community education capacity? Certainly, and we should, but there are plenty of resources here for individual empowerment.<br />
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Millennials have become what the Baby Boomers have been in our society. They are now the largest populace in the labor force and the largest customer demographic in the marketplace. One in three workers, in America, are Millennials. Another recent survey from the World Economic Forum looks at what Millennials desire from business. Over 40% of young people think sense of purpose/societal impact is one of the most important criteria when considering career opportunities. They want businesses to be a force for positive change.<br />
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In our community, we have basically lost a disproportionate amount of our young people at a time when they are having the most impact on the economics of American society – and that impact will continue to grow. What does that portend for our future, if not addressed? How do we reverse the trend and embrace the Millennials?<br />
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Let’s look at some of the above to make some suggestions: 1) By and large, Millennials don’t want to live in a rural area. We must learn to adapt, embracing change and growth. 2) We must interconnect and build relationships with the major cities in our immediate vicinity. 3) Business leaders are going to have to think community, not just their personal self-interests, when it comes to business. 4) We need to find a way to get Millennials into home ownership, which leads to community buy-in. 5) Let’s facilitate the creation of a socially conscious agriculture and food network in our region to address issues of health and nutritional vulnerability.<br />
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Many people tell me nothing’s gonna change. We don’t have a choice. Survival!<br />
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America in 2015: A ULI Survey of Views on Housing, Transportation, and Community - http://uli.org/wp-content/uploads/ULI-Documents/America-in-2015.pdf<br />
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Here’s what millennials really want from business, and why – World Economic Forum – Shakir Akorede - September 12, 2017 - https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2017/09/heres-what-millennials-really-want-from-business/<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #990000;"><u><b>(The Fox: Gabriel Sherwood Intro)</b></u></span></span><br />
Each little town and city in the United States is a country unto itself in some ways. Each has unique attributes and advantages, and though some are shared, each place adds a flair all its own. As our area continues redevelopment to improve the quality of life for our citizenry, we should always look to understand and take advantage of such opportunities. We have mentioned in previous conversations our clear advantages to draw on for growth, so this could be a long conversation. <br />
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Let’s continue to encourage growth in the healthcare, education, and manufacturing sectors by pursuing renovation and innovation. The cost of land and power is relatively low and we can continue lowering the latter with more investment in renewables. Marketing our available buildings at very competitive rates, aligned with modernization of the power system and the new investments already underway, will give us the advantage in recruitment and retention. We already have solar farms in the area to set us apart and that could expand given our open land and plentiful roofs. Why not plan for solar panels on every warehouse and building, and the teaching of solar installation along with other trade certifications at CVCC and local high schools? <br />
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Why not a cooperative push between public and private entities to be more energy independent, with investments intending to raise the funds necessary to lower our operating costs and raise our conveniences? The historic storm in Hickory in October left some of our neighbors without power for a week, and our business for several days. A solar panel on every roof would offer at least some juice in the morning. That efficiency and independence is valued by everyone, I think, and if we make investments together we will attract people across the board and help the businesses of multiple generations expand. <br />
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As we have discussed, the recent focus of National Geographic regarded Hickory as “the” destination for “Hipsters.” A solar powered region would be more of a draw for younger folks and industries, as well as access to diversity and a less processed lifestyle. We are well within driving distance of Charlotte, Boone, and Asheville. Our region already has hundreds of hiking trails and multiple lakes and that doesn’t hurt either. We have access to all the shopping one could need, cultural centers in our cities, and even chickens in the backyard too. That appeals to people, as do farmers markets and restaurants that serve more natural selections from local and organic farms. <br />
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Let’s embrace the attention and continue to move towards more of a community concept in our food supplies, including gardens at every school, so future generations will have the skills needed to be more healthy and independent. These things will be noticed, especially if we advertise them to folks from many walks of life who value local products and progress. <br />
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Our local economy has recovered slowly from the losses in many industries, and we are dealing with an acute opioid epidemic here. Let’s turn that unique challenge into an advantage as we heal our area with more health professionals and alter our legal outlook on the issue. Let’s focus on mental health, investment, and access to opportunity. This will help tremendously and improve the quality of life for everyone. <br />
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Escapism is a natural reaction to feelings of helplessness that come from economic collapse, poverty, and disconnection from normality. We can do something about that with investment in each other and shared opportunities. Though manufacturing jobs began to rise again during the last administration, and continue, there are still many who don’t feel that access. <br />
What do you think?<br />
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<u><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #990000;"><b>Thom question to Gabriel</b></span></span></u><br />
Gabriel, I can relate to what you are saying in your commentary. As a middle aged Conservative, I have faced the evolution and flux in our economy over this past generation through my working career. Much of what I envisioned as a youngster simply vanished and I have had to adjust accordingly. They say, “Pain makes you stronger, Fear makes you braver, and Heartbreak makes you wiser.”<br />
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I like what you say about the Drug addiction in our community. It isn’t just an “Opioid Crisis” as some would like to simplify it as. It is about “Escapism.” Once again, we see the disconnect. We have many, who consider themselves Conservative, who look to solutions through fear, intolerance, and punishment and think that is going to solve this issue in short order. What are we going to do arrest everyone? Has that ever worked? Remember Prohibition?<br />
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It seems to me that you are talking about long term solutions and that is what I enjoy gaining perspective on. I like to think of myself as a person that doesn’t automatically dismiss things. You know I’m not here for debate as much as conversation. This isn’t a point-counterpoint discussion, to me, so please feel free to continue your thoughts about what you think we need to see for a successful evolution towards the future of our community…<br />
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<u><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: #990000;">Gabriel response to Thom</span></b></span></u><br />
We can certainly improve our educational capacity, as CVCC and Lenoir Rhyne are proving with their growth. I recently had a conversation with administrators from CVCC and they were very excited about the K-64 program. It offers opportunities for buy-in to our community for those who may not go off to university, but also don’t have the access they need here. These students in High School and College will have the opportunity to train for a trade, manufacturing, or service career, while also building a relationship with a local business in the industry, like a traditional apprenticeship. This will create a well-educated labor pool, with the skills needed for a modern economy.<br />
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Business and the market are a force for positive change, if we don’t allow fiduciary responsibility to kill a person because she got some acne, as happened to a woman with breast cancer who was denied coverage before good intentioned government enforced requirements for coverage. Good government promotes the general welfare and should defend an honorable level of existence for all citizens of our nation. We can do better in those regards, in the eyes of those millennials as well.<br />
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According to census estimates, as recently as July of 2017, Catawba County’s population was around 155k, and 22.6% are under 18, while the county has an estimated 15.9% poverty rate. That’s 35,000+ young people we can plan for soon, and that’s estimated to be over 5,500 children in poverty in our one county. These midrange jobs, and access to them as we both agree on, are vital to our movement out of our youth retention slump and the health of our nation in many ways.<br />
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Touching the subject of healthcare. If the young leaving is not addressed, we become a retirement community whose young are in the service industry or the manufacturing sector or in medical taking care of the older folks. Let’s also push hard to recruit young medical professionals and utilize CVCC’s teaching hospital and maximize our extensive medical infrastructure. Investment in our local public schools and institutions of higher learning are vital for educating those who will stay -- and we have unique opportunities for study to expand soon.<br />
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If we can get trade school education offered, we will see an influx of people come here to prepare for understaffed industries. Plumbing, Manufacturing, Medical, and soon Construction will be taught locally with a pathway from high schools. Education opens doors…even when it’s education in hanging doors.<br />
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Catawba County Census - https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/catawbacountynorthcarolina/PST045217<br />
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<u><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #990000;"><b>Thom’s response to Gabriel</b></span></span></u><br />
Yes Gabriel, each region of the U.S. has its own unique characteristics. There is a Russian Political Science Professor Igor Panarin who says that the U.S. will eventually Balkanize into separate regions because of our differences. A similar scenario is delved into in the trilogy of books “The Hunger Games”. Such dystopic visions are rooted in historical evidence. When differences aren’t properly managed and people aren’t accepting of realities, then troubles are sure to follow.<br />
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I’m on board with your summation about the drug crisis in our community. This is not a law enforcement issue. This is a health issue and should be treated as such. As I have gotten older, I’ve been a caregiver for my Grandmothers and now I have to assist my mother sometimes. I have taken them to the doctors. I have seen the people who attend Physical Therapy, Rehab, and pain clinics. This is a subject I haven’t seen politicians address.<br />
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There is an obesity epidemic in our community. So many people are in bad shape and seeking relief. It’s a lot easier to pop a pill or get a shot than to lose weight. People compound the issue by not moving and not eating properly. If you are in bad shape when you are younger, chances are it won’t get better as you age. The elderly and their prescription pill cocktails are a real problem in the community. The “Cops Episode” Trailer Park busts are nothing compared to the sad reality of what our older folks are experiencing… and honestly I don’t even think that most of them realize it.<br />
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I find it interesting that our opening statements both addressed an interest in food issues. It’s all related. We have “Food Deserts” in our community where people don’t have access to wholesome, nutritional foods. I like the idea of gardens at the local schools. Maybe students could participate a few days a year preparing food in the school cafeteria. We certainly need to teach kids about food preparation, nutrition, and health at a young age and get them on the right track headed into adulthood.<br />
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I’m also onboard on the alternative energy issue. I think we certainly need to build a bridge to energy independence as we evolve to modern realities. Conservative politicians have been much too dismissive of energy issues out of political convenience. Conservation (Conserve) is supposed to be part of Conservatism. The goal should be to make our lives better. Doing nothing does nothing.James Thomas Shellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04359970774315269896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2088603658552825500.post-28159024361689785002019-09-17T09:07:00.000-04:002019-09-17T09:07:18.194-04:00Foothills Digest - Fox & Hound Article - Spring 2018<span style="color: blue;">This is the 3rd Fox and Hound Article from the Foothills Digest. It is the second article in which I collaborated with Gabriel Sherwood. The topic is about Developing a "Vision" for our community. Creating a Vision is essentially the initial process in developing the objectives of an Economic Development plan.</span><br />
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<i><b>In Spring, hope springs eternal. There is a fresh optimism that the new growth around us will lead to abundance and prosperity. It seems we see a disconnect all around us, when we have so much to offer one another. Older people have wisdom that younger people need as they follow in the footsteps down life’s path. The younger folks bring the freshness and energy needed to continue building upon the structure of society. The goal of mankind should be to make this place better. We all have to work together to make that happen. We need to appreciate one another. We need to understand one another. We need to connect.</b></i><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #990000;"><u><b>(The Hickory Hound: Thom Shell Intro)</b></u></span></span><br />
My goal in discussing this Fox and Hound material is dedicated to a thread associated with Economic Growth. The initial discussion related to my thoughts about our area’s need for a comprehensive Economic Development plan. I talked about a plan defined by transparency, accountability, and establishing benchmarks that helps build trust with the citizens. <br />
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The next discussion, I addressed “Vision” for our area, trying to relate that we need to change how we view communities in the big picture. Our region, rural in nature, will succeed better by relating ourselves not as Smalltown Americana, but as several small to mid-sized communities interconnected through similar, mutual interests having a population of over a half a million people.<br />
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Now, I want to talk about aligning with the marketplace. In my opinion, there is somewhat of a disconnect between what currently defines the communities of our region and where communities with robust economic circumstances stand. <br />
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What constitutes the modern marketplace? 1) The Marketplace is the everyday world of trade and/or economic activity. 2) The Marketplace is where intangible values compete for acceptance; as in the marketplace of ideas. 3) The Marketplace is the interpreter of supply and demand equilibrium.<br />
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Marketplaces are constantly changing. The Modern Marketplace isn’t the formal infrastructure where people gather for trade, as it could be interpreted in days gone by. In fact the internet has proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that concrete, mortar, and steel aren’t necessary. In the Modern Marketplace, you still must have human engagement, at some level, to have a market.<br />
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Whether it is an individual, company, or community, an economic participant cannot grow effectively and efficiently, if it isn’t fully connected and engaged with the marketplace. You must constantly engage your customers to understand their needs (demand). If those who you are looking to attract don’t perceive value in your product, then you will lose them to competent competitors.<br />
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<b>Growth comes from customer demand. </b>Demand is understood by discovering a customer’s unmet needs. Current purchases don’t necessarily reflect future opportunity. Recognizing your current position in the marketplace requires you to understand the frustrations, attitudes, and unmet needs in the market. Proactively, you must develop your organization, products, and priorities keying on customer engagement to meet customer needs and resolve frustrations.<br />
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As an example, I have been to various community meetings and events where public officials painted the rosiest of rosy scenarios about where their community stands economically, socially, and culturally; in other words, the community’s position in the marketplace. I get it, this comes part in parcel with leadership, status, and how one justifies their authority, but it does not necessarily correlate to economic reality. It does not necessarily correlate to economic success. Remember what I told you in my “Vision” article, “Economic growth correlates to quality of life.”<br />
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<b>There is a disconnect between area leadership and their understanding of the younger generations in the community</b>. Community leadership is mostly of the Baby Boom generation. We are told about all of the community activities we have to offer and I can’t disagree. We are also told that younger people (think Millennials) say there isn’t much to do and that is why they go to Charlotte, Asheville, Raleigh, etc. for excursions.<br />
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We look at the statistics and see the obvious loss (and lack of engagement) of the younger population in our community through this generation, while tellin’ everyone “nuthin’ could be fin-ah than this part of Carolina.” To me it’s obvious, if we want to attract younger folks, we’ve got to find out what they need and start addressing the problem.<br />
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</b></u> <span style="color: #990000;"><u><b><span style="font-size: large;">(The Fox: Gabriel Sherwood Intro) </span></b></u></span><br />
Agreed. There is a disconnect between the older population here and the younger generations, largely in conceptualization regarding the changing realities of our economy in relation to memories of a much different time. When you ask those neighbors of ours in that content age range and demographic, they are often less likely to support strong minimum wage mandates. I don’t assume folks didn’t work hard to gain their successes, I only ask the older generations to realize they may have been starting from a different spot. Not saying folks haven’t experienced hardships, but the cost of the education that fueled much of their success was substantially lower than our students face today. There is also the compensation non-college educated folks are getting now as compared to then, and that is a huge issue on this topic. <br />
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When I hear of the marketplace I think of buying power, and that leads me to consider wages. One thing that makes younger folks leave are wages and lack of opportunity for increases. I waited tables for years here, while at CVCC and making 2.13 per hour plus tips, and more than once have gone home with 20 bucks or less. Because I was a single parent, there were also nights a plenty when I paid to work. I served at one place where a chef who prepared meals for our wealthiest neighbors, while struggling with tooth pain and other issues due to no insurance, could barely support his family. <br />
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Had I not lived in Public Housing while getting an education it would not have been enough to maintain my family, and it certainly wasn’t enough to be upwardly mobile. I know at least five people that left because our service economy here didn’t pay enough to service their bills or maintain them while they tried to stay, all of them mid to late 20’s in age. If one reads the review sites and looks up Hickory we can taut a great lineup of corporate salaries with an average just above 41 thousand. Great tech and logistics companies, lots of manufacturing , and our medical industry that is quite developed for a city our size... but jobs for those younger folks don’t keep them around if they don’t pay living wages. I have multiple friends who weren’t college bound and wanted to work, and their options for hourly wages are better in the larger cities. <br />
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We do have some of the jobs to attract Hipsters, and a culture burgeoning to do so as well, and we are better for it. But, the average young person needs a market that is accessible. That’s both in a physical nature and about our lack of a strong public transportation system, and in the income disparities around us that keep some of us looking for ways out. Access is key to engagement. If we don’t give younger people jobs to pay their bills and ways to get them there without each person parking a car on the street, we aren’t offering the kind of access the average will stay for. <br />
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A strong push towards a living wage for our area would not only help those here, but show others that we are concerned not only with jobs, but that those jobs can lift our citizens access to all marketplaces. Of course, there are bills in the NC General Assembly that increase the state’s minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2021, but HB2 a couple years ago also had the effect of freezing local minimum wage increases. A push against that law may be required, because frankly...we don’t want to wait another three or four years to start offering a living wage, and that’s assuming either bill passes the NCGA for a governor to sign.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #990000;"><u><b>Thom Question and Gabriel response</b></u></span></span><br />
Gabriel, besides raising the minimum wage and social issues, economically speaking, what can we do to wake our area more attractive to the younger folks? <br />
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Well, and I have mentioned this once before, we need young tradespeople ‘round here. I work with a growing plumbing company that wants to expand into total home services and the people just aren’t here to fill the jobs. CVCC is going to have a free hall soon, so why not try for plumbing, HVAC, and electrician training courses? Then internships with locals looking for young and trainable tradespeople. We can also make a statement if we focus on recruiting female tradespeople, because we have a lot of interest around here. <br />
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Also, how about entrepreneurial incentives and guaranteed startup loans at lower rates for entrepreneurs that stay here after graduating CVCC or LR? When folks have some ownership in an area, they stay and build things. Perhaps an organization dedicated to supporting not only new young business owners, but also a plan that could solve two problems at once. We could treat our empty buildings like the discount travel sites treat empty hotel rooms, and rather than have them sit there empty...allow legitimate businesses the opportunity to rent to own at a low rate. This could allow businesses on the verge of expansion the opportunity to grow with a bit of a financial safety net <br />
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There are a couple of warehouses around town that we would take and start using immediately if it were not for the process of purchasing and investing in upgrades, because we know many of them will need other investments. This is restrictive to companies that can afford to purchase, but not to invest, or the other way around. If businesses on the verge of growth could move in, and increase to a financed loan after a time, that would offer a grace period and get the buildings occupied. These ideas would take investment from established businesses and local government.. .but when we raise the water level, our pond gets bigger and more folks can fit in it.<br />
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What do you think about raising the investment expectation our business community should make in our citizenry? It won’t be easy, progress often isn't. but it’s one way to show we care about a lot of our younger folks around here who have seemingly been left behind by the success of precious generations.<br />
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</b></u></span> <span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #990000;"><u><b>(Thom response to Gabriel)</b></u></span></span><br />
Yes Gabriel, there is a disconnect and lack of understanding about a lot of things these days. When it comes to these issues, I’m just not into the label thing and can’t keep up with all the categories. Economically speaking, I know I’ve heard many of the folks that have moved into our area talk about the low cost of living as a major reason why they moved here. It’s inexpensive compared to larger metropolitan areas. They’ll flat out tell you they also like the lack of hustle and bustle of those larger cities. But folks, hustle and bustle is the result of economic commerce.<br />
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There is a flip side to that equation that our older newcomers many times fail to recognize. That inexpensive cost of living many times comes at the expense of those trying to earn a living.<br />
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Truly, I understand your angst about wanting to have the minimum wage become a living wage. In my background profession (Restaurant/Hospitality), we employees many times aren’t getting fairly compensated for the skills we acquire. There isn’t much difference between the pay of an entry level restaurant employee and someone with decades of experience.<br />
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I just don’t think we get to better compensation levels with artificial wage constructs; higher minimum wage mandates lead to less help being hired, more workload for each worker, frazzled brains, frazzled nerves, mistakes, lower quality services and products, and burn out as you attempt to do more and more work with less and less help. Personally, I understand the need for a minimum wage, but at some point that minimum wage can rise to become more of a hindrance than a help. It can rise to the point where entry level workers don’t get hired and also keeps the experienced workers from getting the merit based pay raises they deserve.<br />
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What I think will help wages is a better business environment. More people able and willing to open businesses will lead to competition. Competition between businesses leads to innovation, when fulfilling the needs of the marketplace. Competition for labor will lead to higher wages. We had hustle and bustle, in this community in the 1990s, with the internet revolution spurring worldwide fiber-optic infrastructure layout. Our fiber-optic boom created the highest employment level in our community’s history and led to the highest wages and wage growth we’ve ever seen.<br />
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Yes, government can do things to better facilitate an economic growth environment, such as creating “Business Improvement Districts” and facilitating microfinance mechanisms. This helps those who don’t have the financial capability get innovative ideas/products/services off the ground. I just don’t think government will solve all the issues with the marketplace. People and their needs create the marketplace. James Thomas Shellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04359970774315269896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2088603658552825500.post-61389840258000552652019-09-14T22:28:00.001-04:002019-09-14T23:25:33.435-04:00Foothills Digest - Fox & Hound Article - Winter 2018The following is the beginning of a multi-part series in which the discussion involved Economic Development in our area. Cliff Moone stepped aside and Gabriel Sherwood took his place as the Fox. Gabriel has been heavily involved in the Democrat Party of Catawba County.<br />
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This is a six part series in which we discuss Developing a Vision for our community, aligning to the realities of the marketplace, leveraging our community's unique strengths, inspiring people to innovate and change, and articulating how we connect with and influence people to move here and do business in our area.<br />
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Essentially it is a series of discussions about how we look to develop a better, healthier ecosystem for our community.<br />
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<span style="color: #990000;"><u><b>Article Intro</b></u></span><br />
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First of all, I would like to congratulate Carmen on winning the Edison Project for 2017. I, Thom Shell, was a part of the Future Economy Council group, created by Danny Hearn of the Catawba County Chamber of Commerce that spoke to the “Vision” of such a contest for start-ups and innovators in our community. We all must thank Garrett Hinshaw - President of Catawba Valley Community College, Bill Parrish - formerly of the Small Business and Technology Development Center, Sid Connor - formerly Director of the NC Center for Engineering Technologies, and Jeff Neuville and Tom Shea local Business Developing Entrepreneurs (and others) who all came together to establish, implement, and mentor this program.<br />
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These and other endeavors can help our area move forward. We should all take an interest in such initiatives and support them in whatever way we can. You may not realize that, just by reading this magazine, you are helping support several local entrepreneurs, innovators, and creative people in our community. I hope that you will spread the word about this interesting magazine. We need to support the true assets of our community. <br />
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The subject matter of this Fox and Hound opinion article is about “Vision” for our region. It is an open ended discussion and here are some ideas about our future.<br />
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<span style="color: #990000;"><u><b>(The Hickory Hound: Thom Shell Intro)</b></u></span><br />
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“Vision” for our community? … Something that I have elaborated on before on my site “The Hickory Hound.” What are our objectives? Where do we want to be in 5, 10, to 25 years as far as Economic, Cultural, and Social Development?<br />
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<b>One</b> - I truly believe the backbone of progress is based upon the necessity to engage and encourage the broadest possible dialogue with the largest number of people possible. Society is strongest when there is an active, informed citizenry. A small pool of participants tends to limit initiative and stagnate ideas, ultimately leading to a small closed circuit group acting in their own self interests with the public interest taking a backseat.<br />
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<b>Two</b> - Economic growth correlates to quality of life. Over the past several years, I have taken a trip down to the Eastern half of the State to visit family that live east of Fayetteville. This journey involves the most heavily travelled driving routes in this State and I have observed what is the reality of economic division in what is the ‘Tale of Two States’ in North Carolina.<br />
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The northern route I-40/I-85 corridor has been developed rapidly over the past 25 years. From Winston-Salem to Raleigh, it is hard to tell where one city ends and the next begins. Raleigh is the fastest growing metropolitan area in our State. The I-95 corridor from Raleigh to Fayetteville is growing by leaps and bounds. The southern route involves Charlotte, which has always done its own thing pretty well. Most of the other areas in North Carolina, including the Northwest Foothills, have been left behind by the narrow focus of the decision makers in the State and Federal governments.<br />
Three – No investment equals no growth. Look at your personal life. You have to make investments to have personal growth. You have to buy food to live. You have to have shelter. You have to have health and hygiene. Of course, there are two types of investments – good and bad.<br />
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One thing is for sure, Charlotte’s population has nearly doubled over the past 25 years. Charlotte, with over 800,000 people, is now larger than Atlanta. Charlotte has been good at taking care of Charlotte and our area is going to have to get good at taking care of our interests. Generally speaking we have nine counties that have the same interests – Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Watauga, and Wilkes. We are a much more rural area than the City of Charlotte, but together this area has a population of over 500,000.<br />
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The bottom line is that our area deserves more attention. We have a great University in Appalachian State and we have access to several technical schools. What is important is that our area must become more interconnected.<br />
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What I envision is a Regional Economic Development Corporation that incorporates all of these Northwestern North Carolina counties. This entity would coordinate the overall economic interests of our entire area. The counties would no longer be competing amongst themselves for viable projects. They would begin working together to compete against larger markets, such as Charlotte and Raleigh. I would also like to see a consolidation of the various Chambers of Commerce in the region. In my opinion, we don’t need a separate Chamber of Commerce in every county. It just isn’t viable. Each county would have representatives and headquarters within these entities to ensure they are properly represented, but they would coordinate towards the big picture.<br />
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Of course there is more, but I believe these are good initial steps towards building a solid, constructive foundation for our future.<br />
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<span style="color: #990000;"><u><b>(The Fox: Gabriel Sherwood Intro)</b></u></span><br />
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<u><b>Economics </b></u><br />
Though not technically in Northwestern North Carolina, Catawba County is a waystation between that region and the piedmont’s economic activity. Our economy is invariably linked to those regions we connect as neighbors and we should see our futures as intertwined. Withinvestment in the area by 21st century industries and infrastructure, and local governments advocating for citizen interests without reserve, the diversity of our young population will stay and expand the economic capacity.<br />
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There are ways we can capitalize on our neighboring county’s successes, we just need potential companies and our citizenry to find common ground here to build on. Economic opportunity must reach everyone, and the whole of our diverse population should be respected and supported in efforts of growth as well. Our public transportation systems are basic and limiting, which is a hindrance to both our citizenry and attracting more progressive industry. Among our goals should be public transportation options to allow mobility of our masses to meet the needs that are only a few miles away, and options for efficient travel to and from the Charlotte area.<br />
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With the completion of the 485 loop and the recent improvements to highway 16 the trip from Charlotte’s Douglas International Airport to the heart of Catawba County is quicker than ever, which makes us a prime target for corporate investment. Aline along the highway 16 route to connect to Charlotte’s Lynx Light Rail would open doors for commuters to live cheaper here and invest city salaries in our communities.We have inexpensive land that is connected to the Northwest region and the national roadways with I-40, we have inexpensive energy that includes some from renewables, we have a young and diverse population, we have varied recreation opportunities, and we have moderate weather. All we need are a few more options for industrial growth and an efficient means for our workforce to move around.<br />
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Because we are a forward looking area…potential companies, our communities, and our educational centers, are working on some of it already.<br />
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<u><b>Education</b></u> <br />
The Hickory, Morganton, Lenoir, area was recently rated as the 8th least educated in the nation. One reason we don’t attract such investment in modern economic activity is a need for skilled workers in varied fields. We have one of the most advanced centers for medical education in the simulated hospital at Catawba Valley Community College, which now sees 25% of its enrollment come from county high school students. The college’s recent investments in the expansion of their manufacturing and furniture programs can help us rebuild some of the ground lost to outsourcing. The center for modern manufacturing techniques will tune up those jobs in the region and the Furniture Academy will help solidify the presence of one of our oldest industries.<br />
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The Northwestern region also boasts great centers for higher learning, but their resort and tourist economies don’t support the graduates for the most part. Charlotte and other cities traditionally get the new blood, but we can change that by getting more of the most sought after industries to settle outside of city expenses. CVCC has had a Cyber Security program, its return should be lobbied for. In recent years, Cyber Security’s open positions are going unfilled nationally and there are 80-100k jobs begging for qualified candidates in Baltimore and some other cities. Let’s have Western NC become a home from Cyber Security Education and service, along with its national security investments, and bring a couple thousand professional positionsin the 40-80k range to air conditioned rooms across the NW and Foothills.<br />
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If we build it, they will come…both the companies looking for less expensive overhead and the graduates of CVCC, App. State, and UNCA.<br />
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<u><b>Social </b></u><br />
Though we expanded diversity and mixed the political ideologies a bit in recent elections, we saw less than 20% turnout. We will need to improve that if we really want everyone bought into a vision. How about demographic targeting with real incentives, like an expansion of our power systems to include solar on all store and warehouse roofs? If we want to get attention and make it easier for younger folks to invest in property and add to the community, bill North Western NC as the lowest energy in the state. Not to mention…keep things going the next time a tornado waltzes by.<br />
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We haveyoung African American communities, we have young Latino communities, we have young Asian communities, we have a strong LGBTQ communities, and plenty of Conservatives and Liberals who sit together and talk like people of good will do. Hickory hosts a Free Thinkers Convention each year welcoming Atheists from all over the world, surrounded by many churches of many faiths, so we have a great melting pot of ideas and cultures. I think we have the civic will and social tolerance to make these things happen.<br />
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That is a great strength of Catawba County, North Western North Carolina, and the state as a whole. Let’s be sure, that our little corner, no one gets left behind. <br />
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Gabriel Sherwood<br />
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<span style="color: #990000;"><u><b>Thom Shell questions for Gabriel</b></u></span><br />
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Gabriel, since I pretty much agreed with what you addressed in your open summary on “Vision”, please tell us what you think the younger generations are going to need to make our region a viable option for living and desirable quality of life issues? Please, as a Millenial, define our area’s present reality from your perspective/point of view… <br />
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<span style="color: #990000;"><u><b>Gabriel Answers Thom's Questions</b></u></span><br />
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Yes, congratulations to Carmen for the recognition of her work and skill, to Foothills Digest for the acclaim. Thanks also to James for his insightful reporting and work for the area and our neighbors. To your question: Access is key to growth, and according to research from 2014 less than 25% of 16-year-old’s in the US had their licenses. That’s a 46% drop from 30 years earlier, and those in their 20’s were nearly 20% less likely to drive. Whether this is fuel cost issues, auto cost issues, licensure requirements, or whatever, the point is clear…younger people need transportation options. As may have been noted in your writings on Hickory Hound, the mass transit systems within the county are quite constricting.<br />
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After losing a business in Charlotte during the recession, my daughter and I spent a few years in public housing in Hickory. So, we relied on public transportation for a while, and had I not had friends with cars and the skills to get hired in specialty services we could still be there. The bus system really doesn’t cover much of our area’s housing, and though the lines cover main thoroughfares, lower income folks and young people lack access to much of the economic activity. Not to mention the hours of operation. Also, and sadly, during early voting days each year the voting place for the citizens of Maiden is the Newton Main Library. For those with no transportation, and no bus that connect the downtowns, many of those citizens can’t make it.<br />
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There are grants available for transportation expansion from both the federal government and the state, with millions available to an innovative approach, so let’s put folks to work getting other folks to work. How about contracts with transportation companies to subsidize fares for cabs, which can charge 10 bucks to go 5 miles in some cases, or perhaps the expansion and regulated use of services like Uber? This expands fleets and drivers, gets young people to work and school, and makes a statement about access and its impact when we see the resulting economic activity? This model is intended for Catawba County, and other counties in the NW NC region must work with their demographics and needs, but I think it could be an option for some.<br />
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In many ways, the young people of the area have been let down. Reeducation and training after the loss of industry wasn’t incentivized locally and access wasn’t prioritized, though it is now being worked on for certain citizens, many aren’t feeling it. As you have mentioned in regards to CVCC, and thanks for your efforts there too, investments have been made in the future. I would advocate a more open trade education, though. I am the Business Manager of a Plumbing Company, and I would love a few plumbing courses, or a certificate program in ours and other trades. But, that’s what we are here for, to observe and inform and advocate reasonable goals…would you advocate for that as well? <br />
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There are a lot of young people here who feel separated, and little ownership in our communities. I recently spoke to government classes at CVCC and noticed in one of them that most of the class was in the largest seat section to the left of me, while the five African American students sat to themselves on the right of me. Though I am a few years senior to a Millennial, these folks were right there in the age range and demographic to feel the impact of the decimation of the strong middle-class model in favor of “Voodoo Economics” and dog whistle politics. Other groups, like our Latino citizens, our LGBTQ community, and even some secular students in very religious parts of our area, are feeling a bit more directly targeted of late. This won’t engender a desire to stay, though many of us are trying to encourage the will to work towards change the old-fashioned way. With the patience, character, and the work ethic, of Western North Carolina.<br />
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How should we go about connecting the economic centers of Northwestern NC and Catawba County with Charlotte in order to bring companies to a future suburban area? Public transportation investment, or attracting private enterprise…preferably both? How about a Hyper-loop…It’s possible, if far fetched?<br />
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How should we most effectively engage our population and activate its diverse base? Public events management, educational outreach, outside recruiting…?<br />
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<span style="color: #990000;"><u><b>Gabriel Sherwood questions for Thom. </b></u></span><br />
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1. How should we go about connecting the economic centers of Northwestern NC and Catawba County with Charlotte in order to bring companies to a future suburban area? Public transportation investment, or attracting private enterprise…preferably both? How about a Hyper-loop…It’s possible, if far fetched? <br />
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2. How should we most effectively engage our population and activate its diverse base? Public events management, educational outreach, outside recruiting…?<br />
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<span style="color: #990000;"><u><b>Thom Answers Gabriel's Questions</b></u></span><br />
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Gabriel, I cannot disagree with anything you have proposed. 100%, I agree that we must interconnect ourselves with neighboring communities and the region at-large. Whether we like it or not, we are a part of Charlotte. As a person with direct connections to Charlotte, I appreciate the growth Charlotte has experienced over this generation. Charlotte has grown from a regional to a national and is becoming an international city right before our eyes.<br />
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With regards to your question/statement regarding direct transportation connectivity to Charlotte, I could not have said it better myself. On the Hickory Hound, I spoke of this direct light rail link into Charlotte - <a href="https://thehickoryhound.blogspot.com/2009/01/light-rail-to-charlotte-one-investment.html">Light Rail to Charlotte: One Investment Worth Making – January 25, 2009</a>.<br />
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That article also involved the connection of Amtrak high speed rail between Charlotte and Atlanta. The region we live in is a Megalopolis that stretches from Birmingham, Alabama and Memphis, Tennessee in the West to Raleigh in the East. As a whole, the Piedmont Atlantic Megaregion has a population of over 25 million people. It includes Interstates 40 and 85 and encompasses several major cities interconnected through a major backbone of transportation connectivity. We must engage our region.<br />
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I have also wanted to see passenger rail service reinstituted from Asheville to Salisbury with a stop in our area. Gabriel, we are not alone in wanting to see this happen. Locally, our State Representative Jay Adams promoted the idea of renovating the Caldwell County rail line. This would have gone a long way towards redeveloping the sub-corridor that runs from Hickory to Lenoir. If not renovated through rail, the line could be paved and a tram could be run along that path. It could also become associated as an artery for open greenspace pedestrian and bicycle travel.<br />
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As far as encouraging industry and people to become a part of our area, we must look at what we are presently and honestly accept the reality – no buzzwords, no catchphrases, no propaganda. I believe we have failed our young people in this community. Area leadership must be willing to open their minds to possibilities, accept people for who they are, be willing to engage and work well with others, and then decide where we want to be in 5, 10, 25 years… Then develop a plan accordingly with detailed steps, transparent processes, benchmarks, and accountability measures to move us towards our objectives.<br />
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--------------------------------------James Thomas Shellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04359970774315269896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2088603658552825500.post-89287892861004395312019-09-10T19:25:00.000-04:002019-09-10T19:32:19.381-04:00Foothills Digest - Fox & Hound Article - Fall 2017I haven't posted on here in nearly two years. I had some self-reflective upheaval in my life a couple of years ago and something had to give with regards to time. The loss of a good friend in Richard Garrison made me take a good hard look at my life. He was one of many friends who I had lost in a period of two years that played a part in the content of this site. When you get in a rut, you don't have to keep diggin' the hole.<br />
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I haven't stopped writing or having opinions related to the issues we have discussed here. Carmen Eckard started a magazine along about the time I stopped posting here. When I stopped posting here, I had already submitted my first content to the Foothills Digest. I asked Carmen for permission to post those quarterly articles here and she encouraged me to do so. People have encouraged me to get back on this site and get things goin' again. I never intended to stop posting. It just happened. I can't promise to deliver the prolific content of the past, but I will do my best to start posting again.<br />
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If you haven't checked out Carmen's magazine you should. It is awesome and that isn't just my biased opinion. It is an award winner -- <b><a href="http://foothills.media/digest/">The Foothills Digest</a></b><br />
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In our initial Fox and Hound article, Cliff Moone and Thom Shell give their viewpoints on Economic Development in our region. The focus of the article is on Economic Regeneration and how it is necessary for us to creatively reinvent who we are as we move forward through the 21st Century. Hickory, the largest city in the Northwest Foothills, is in many ways the Economic Hub and gateway of the region. The various communities of our region face the same issues. The loss of so much of our manufacturing base, changes in how we are now defined socio-economically and culturally, and how do we evolve to remain relevant in an ever-changing landscape. Hickory provides the backdrop for the debate about how best to move forward...<br />
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<span style="color: #990000;"><u><b>(The Hickory Hound: Thom Shell Intro)</b></u></span><br />
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Since 2000, our region, here in Northwestern North Carolina has faced a great many economic challenges. We haven’t grown very much in population and the economy has never fully recovered from the hits it took following the implementation of several International Trade agreements at the start of the new century and the great financial crisis of 2008.<br />
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Our region is experiencing many of the pains that similar U.S. Industrial/Manufacturing cities have gone through in the present generation. “Legacy Cities,” as these communities are defined, relied on industrial production to provide their economic base. Unfortunately, they have seen their manufacturing capacity diminish greatly. As a result of the economic flux, these communities have seen reduced real estate property demand lead to diminished property values and in some cases abandonment. This has presented many challenges to municipal governments (and their resources), constraining their ability to deal with burgeoning economic and social predicaments.<br />
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But what should be understood is our region, and its various communities, has many assets that can be catalysts for regeneration; including vital downtown areas, stable and historic neighborhoods, transportation networks, educational assets, medical centers, and rich artistic and cultural resources. In regenerating our area, we must capitalize on these assets and relate their value, while renovating our local economic engine.<br />
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What’s First? We have to have a real plan!<br />
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In our regional corridor (Megalopolis), a true success story is Greenville-Spartanburg, South Carolina. Upstate South Carolina has seen many successes over the past 25 years related to its recruitment of BMW to build an automotive plant in the area. This has led to the formation of an “Economic Cluster” of automotive-related businesses. This did not occur through happenstance. Upstate South Carolina interests began exploring BMW recruitment possibilities years before it happened.<br />
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Upstate South Carolina leaders did not bemoan the lack of trained/experienced workforce and by all accounts, BMW did not care either. When the plant opened in 1994, 60,000 people had applied for 1,000 jobs. Since then, BMW has invested about $10 billion and created 9,000 direct jobs — not counting the indirect jobs related to automotive manufacturing. BMW has also invested in the local technical college system to enhance the concept of pre-employment training of potential workforce. The “halo effect” and positive publicity related to the BMW experience is something money could not buy.<br />
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In Hickory, $40 million in Bond Referendums were approved in 2014. The City Officials’ plan was pitched to businesses well before it was proposed to citizens. This plan had basically no input from Hickory’s citizenry. The subsequent years have lacked the energy displayed in the referendum election process and lacked the accomplishment of any meaningful transformative objectives.<br />
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We need input from the community’s people to develop a forward "Vision" and a strategy to implement it. The Vision’s goals need to be purposeful; not a rearranging of the status quo. An audit, assessing market realities, should be performed to develop a foundation for a rooted economic/financial plan that helps implement the Vision. The plan should take into account the area’s present residents and potential attracted newcomers. The plan should be creative, fundamentally sound, and have specific details about the elements that will lead to the expected outcome.<br />
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Plan objectives should be deliberated openly and honestly from all perspectives. Setting up transparency processes, accountability measures, and defined benchmarks ensure the plan is followed and builds trust. This leads to community buy-in and the support necessary to face difficult tasks head-on.<br />
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Like Greenville, plans and targeted investment are important; but much of what we need, money cannot buy. Our most important asset is our people.<br />
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<span style="color: #990000;"><u><b>The Fox: Cliff Moone Intro</b></u></span><br />
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When you attend as many civic events as I do, you frequently hear presentations on economic development in the Hickory Metro Area. Eventually, you get the impression that the operating premise for economic development is “throw as many ideas as you can up against the wall and see what sticks.” I intentionally overstate, admitting I write not as an economist or economic development expert, but as an attentive citizen and dedicated promoter of the region for which Hickory is the hub. Still, from my perspective, the “throw it all against the wall and see what sticks or works” approach may be better than it sounds. <br />
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Clearly, any notion of economic development in all its facets is an exact science seems obviously flawed. Otherwise, most businesses wouldn’t fail within their first ten years; otherwise, we could predict precisely under what exact conditions recessions and expansions will occur; otherwise, successful economic development could be accomplished by formula. This is not to say that economic planners, economists, or even political leaders don’t have any knowledge or experience that applied appropriately won’t help spur successful economic growth. <br />
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Today, there’s an abundance of data regarding the conditions under which economic growth is most likely to occur. For example, we know tax policy can have a definite impact, so too, the regulations government places on businesses, whether to limit fraud or for consumer protection, so too, whether appropriate infrastructure is put in place. Additionally, incentives offered by state or local governments can influence economic development. But you don’t have to be an expert to know that no one of these or other “condition setters” is automatically determinative as an input to get the desired output of economic growth. Even something as nebulous as a positive, hopeful outlook versus a negative, “it can’t be done” outlook can make a difference.<br />
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Which brings me to the main point this non-expert, sixty-eight-year-old observer would like to suggest to the critics of the bond projects, the efforts of the area EDC, the Chamber of Commerce’s work in economic development, or the Hickory City Manager’s recently proposed vision to move our city and metro area forward from “recovery” to “prosperity”: When nobody has a “magic bullet,” a shotgun is a really good weapon of choice. When you need a multi-faceted, non-singular solution, no one aspect of any “plan” will bring you to the promised land. It takes a lot of ideas and a lot of folks trying many things to achieve success. <br />
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In the midst of the Great Depression, after over three years of waiting for recovery to just happen, a new President, FDR, initiated what he termed the “New Deal.” The operating principle of that New Deal was every idea is welcome and we’ll try anything and almost everything. We’ll keep what works and we’ll discard what doesn’t. It mostly worked, not everything, but despite what revisionist historians will assert, the New Deal approach lifted a country frozen in fear, defeat, and despondency back on its feet and on a path to economic recovery.<br />
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Most critics of the recent economic development proposals for the Hickory Metro Area I’ve encountered have argued something like “a City Walk or a River Walk won’t bring permanent, sustainable jobs.” Others have critiqued the 1764 Project as being too removed from Hickory or have critiqued some other specific piece of the plans being proposed. Others have suggested that the planning process itself has been out of order, diminishing the potential effectiveness for attracting new businesses. <br />
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These critiques have some merit. I suggest none I’ve heard are so crucially serious as to derail the potential success of what development professionals, business leaders, our political leaders, and the voters have envisioned and initiated. Admittedly, I’m an optimist, but notwithstanding that every plan, every vision has flaws, I remain excited and on board with our multi-faceted, “build it and they will come,” now is the time, better try something, and let’s see what sticks adventure toward a better economic future.<br />
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<span style="color: #990000;"><u><b>Thom Shell questions for Cliff</b></u></span><br />
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Cliff, I agree that Economics is an inexact science. Your proposal, the shotgun approach, is valid if the ideas process comes through a group of diverse individuals from different social and cultural backgrounds, but coming from an individual (or small, closed-circuit group), it reminds me of what we call in the restaurant business, “Winging It,” which is what we do when we aren’t prepared and we improvise to get through a moment.<br />
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I would like to ask: 1) Even if we do follow the shotgun approach, shouldn’t we set benchmarks and metrics to define a program’s success or failure? 2) Given that the people of the community are putting their full faith and trust in Community Leadership in this endeavor, isn’t part of the leadership role to define the “Vision” and its objectives? As a member of Hickory’s Bond Commission, here is your opportunity to tell us specifically what we are doing in all of this to bring about more jobs and increased prosperity in our area?<br />
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<span style="color: #990000;"><u><b>Cliff Moone response to Thom</b></u></span><br />
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Thom, I generally agree with your description of what happened here since 2000. That's a pretty well-established history. I also concur with you about our assets and much of what you have to say about a "vision" and "plan."<br />
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Where we diverge in our views is when you start asserting that we have had "no input from citizens" on the Bond projects. First, we had and continue to have some public hearings and discussions at City Council before putting the Bond Referendum to a vote. Then the citizens voted. Since then, the Bond Implementation Commission has met at least quarterly (and subcommittees even more often) all of which were open to the public. The Commission itself (and its individual members) is a conduit of and for citizen input on an ongoing basis. Members of the Commission also serve limited terms so new members are often being added. <br />
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So, my question is what is your evidence that citizen input has been or is lacking in this aspect of our economic development plan?<br />
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Second, your comment about the projects now in process "have lacked the energy displayed in the referendum..." reflects a concern I, as a Commission member has voiced on several occasions. Despite some small efforts to keep the public informed about the progress of the projects, not enough has been or is being done in this area in my view. However, those who are well acquainted with where things are in the implementation process are aware that we are right where we are supposed to be as we move toward our first "groundbreaking" in 2018. <br />
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What would you propose as ways to better keep the public attuned to the progress being made and to keep people "energized"?<br />
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I also agree that our "most important asset is our people." One aspect of economic development neither of us really addressed in our articles is the education of our citizenry for 21st-century jobs. According to the data from the Chamber of Commerce here, there are more than 3000 unfilled positions in our MSA, due primarily to the lack of appropriately trained workers. <br />
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What specifically do you suggest ought to be done educationally to enhance the preparation of our citizens for the present and future?<br />
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<span style="color: #990000;"><u><b>Thom Shell response to Cliff</b></u></span><br />
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With respect to citizen input, my evidence comes from Hickory City Leadership three years ago, when they said, “they only wanted ‘positive people’ serving on the ‘Bond Commission’.” To me, the subsequent lack of energy after the voting process is because the vast majority of the people in the community don’t feel like they are a part of these projects. The evidence speaks for itself.<br />
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The critical thinking process nets the best results. They put the cart before the horse. It seems, city officials decided what they were going to do and created a process to implement it, instead of creating a process to decide what we needed to do to move our economy into modern realities. <br />
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Unfortunately, trust is not the default setting in our community, because of how we have been governed in the past. Where is the transparency website that we were promised (and the public paid for) right after this referendum was passed. Mayor Wright championed this and it should be done to honor him. Transparency processes, accountability measures, and defined benchmarks ensure plans are followed and builds trust.<br />
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With respect to the Chamber’s hypothetical jobs, that’s just the Chamber being the Chamber. Their job is to represent their shareholders, and that’s really local big businesses. Established big businesses want to say they aren’t hiring ‘because people aren’t qualified.’ If the demand were there, they would find a way to fill the positions. When BMW chose Greenville, neither they nor South Carolina officials said anything about workforce quality. They had 1,000 jobs, 60,000 people applied, and they filled ‘em. <br />
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How does it behoove us to constantly denigrate our workforce? Our History has shown the ability to train a workforce and have them be very productive. Over time, BMW has invested multi-millions of dollars in pre-employment training at Upstate South Carolina’s technical colleges. I know some local businesses are dabbling in that today, but if big business wants the rewards, then it is the responsibility of big business to make that investment. It is a company’s responsibility to train its workforce.<br />
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With regard to education, the responsibility of the public is to make sure that children have a solid foundation of fundamentals and to make sure adults can enhance themselves through libraries and public education and arts infrastructure. That’s one thing we’ve gotten right around here. Will we continue to make those investments? I certainly hope so.James Thomas Shellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04359970774315269896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2088603658552825500.post-40779080270102394552017-09-27T14:06:00.000-04:002017-09-27T14:54:04.623-04:00Hickory Metro's 2017 Economy versus Similar MSAs<br />
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Previously: <br />
<a href="http://thehickoryhound.blogspot.com/2017/09/hickory-metros-2016-economy-versus_4.html">Hickory Metro's 2017 Economy versus North Carolina MSAs</a><br />
<a href="http://thehickoryhound.blogspot.com/2017/08/hickory-legacy-community.html">Hickory, a Legacy Community</a><br />
<a href="http://thehickoryhound.blogspot.com/2017/08/hickory-creativity-and-killa-cs-of.html">Hickory, Creativity, and the Killa C's of Economic Regeneration</a><br />
<a href="http://thehickoryhound.blogspot.com/2017/08/hdr-letter-to-editor-time-to-come.html">HDR Letter to the Editor: 'Time to come together on economic development'</a><br />
<a href="http://thehickoryhound.blogspot.com/2017/08/letter-to-editor-weve-been-selling.html">Letter to the Editor: We've been selling. People aren't buying.</a><br />
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<span style="color: red;"><i>Sorry I have fallen behind in getting this series out. I will hopefully speed up the process going forward through completion. </i></span><br />
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In this, the second part of the series, we compare similar <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Table_of_United_States_Metropolitan_Statistical_Areas">Metropolitan Statistical Areas</a> (MSA) that rank closest to our own (Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton MSA) in terms of population. As I showed in the previous article <a href="http://thehickoryhound.blogspot.com/2017/09/hickory-metros-2016-economy-versus_4.html">comparing Hickory's MSA to other Metropolitan area's within our State</a>, we rank number 147 statistically in the country. Here I have included in this analysis, the 5 markets larger and 5 markets smaller than our own.<br />
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In terms of rank, we look at the nation's 142nd largest statistical market Montgomery, Alabama and then, Trenton, New Jersey, Eugene, Oregon, Naples-Immokalee-Marco Island, Florida, Ann Arbor, Michigan, Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, North Carolina, Huntington-Ashland, West Virginia-Kentucky-Ohio, Ocala, Florida, Fort Collins, Colorado, Rockford, Illinois, and finally the nation's 152nd largest market Kalamazoo-Portage, Michigan.<br />
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When we look at these similar metropolitan areas, the populations range from a high end of (Montgomery, Alabama) 374,536 to a low end of (Kalamazoo, Michigan) 326,589. With a population of 365,497, even though we are the median population within this group, we are far closer to the largest population than the smallest, we are 2.5% smaller than Montgomery, Alabama and 11.9% larger than Kalamazoo, Michigan. <br />
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The population growth, since 2010, of these similar cities range from a high of (Naples, Florida) 13.65% to a low of (Rockford, IL) -2.88%. Out of these 10 cities, eight had higher population growth rates than Hickory -- two worse. Two of these communities (Naples and Fort Collins, Colorado) had growth rates above 10% and three (Ann Arbor, Michigan; Ocala, Florida; Eugene, Oregon) had growth rates above 5%.<br />
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When looking at MSA ranks, Hickory fell 4 positions in ranking. The communities that fell the most were Montgomery, Alabama and Rockford, Illinois, which fell 5 spots from the 137th largest MSA to the 142nd largest and 146 to 151 respectively. Hickory was next worst falling 4. Huntington-Ashland, West Virginia-Kentucky-Ohio lost 3 spots. Trenton, New Jersey and Kalamazoo, Michigan fell 2 spots. Ocala, Florida remained in the same position. Eugene, Oregon gained a spot. Ann Arbor, Michigan gained 2 spots. Naples, Florida gained 6 spots. And Fort Collins Colorado climbed the most (9 spots).<br />
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The United States population has grown 4.6% since 2010. Of the 11 communities looked at in this article, 5 of these communities grew more than that and 6 grew by less than that. 4 of these communities had negative growth rates (Montgomery, Hickory, Huntington, and Rockford).<br />
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I have also included data, in the statistics below, from the <a href="http://bestcities.milkeninstitute.org/bestcities2008.taf">Milken Institute</a>. Again, this is a factor that Richard Florida used to determine his creativity index that I alluded to in the previous articles <a href="http://thehickoryhound.blogspot.com/2009/07/hickory-lack-of-creativity.html">Hickory -- A Lack of Creativity?</a>. <span style="font-weight: bold;">"The Milken Institute/Greenstreet Real Estate Partners Best Performing Cities Index ranks U.S. metropolitan areas by how well they are creating and sustaining jobs and economic growth. The components include job, wage and salary, and technology growth. The full report can be downloaded </span><a href="http://www.milkeninstitute.org/publications/publications.taf?function=detail&ID=38801171&cat=resrep" style="font-weight: bold;">here</a><span style="font-weight: bold;">."</span><br />
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The cities within our correlated size rank as high as Fort Collins, CO's 8th and Naples, FL's 17th down to Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH's 196th out of 200. Hickory's MSA is ranked next to last within this group at 167 out of 200.<br />
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When looking at U-3 unemployment, Fort Collins, CO has an unemployment rate of 2.9% as a low for the group and Rockford, IL has a high of 11.1%. Hickory ranks right at the median for the group with an Unemployment rate of 5.2%. This number fluctuates more than any of the other statistics, because it is produced monthly and constantly revised.<span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><br />
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When looking at the Well-Being statistic, once again we see Naples and Fort Collins receiving high marks, #1 and #11 respectively. Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC is next to last in the Gallup Sharecare Well-Being study of 189 MSAs. Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH is the third worst in the nation. Fort Smith, Arkansas ranks as the worst of the Well-Being studied communities. We will see them later in this series. <span class="hs_cos_wrapper hs_cos_wrapper_meta_field hs_cos_wrapper_type_rich_text" data-hs-cos-general-type="meta_field" data-hs-cos-type="rich_text" id="hs_cos_wrapper_post_body"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 1em;">The nation's lowest community for regular exercise in 2016 was </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 1em;">Hickory–Lenoir–Morganton, NC</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 1em;">.</span></span><br />
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In terms of income, the Hickory area ranks next to last amongst these studied communities. Naples, FL ranks #1 in this category with a median income of $78,473 -- by far the largest in this category. The next largest income is Trenton, New Jersey's at $51, 803. Hickory's income level ($35,406) is currently 45% of Naples. In terms of income growth, Hickory's growth is sixth out of the eleven cities in this category, but at 15.48%, it is closer to the high of Fort Collin's 19.2% than the low of Trenton's 2.33%. If we factor the two statistics together, one would be most impressed with Ann Arbor Michigan ($51,400 and 14.36% growth)and Fort Collins, Colorado ($45,318 and 19.2% growth).<br />
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When we look at the characteristics of these communities, we see that two of these communities are State Capitals (Montgomery and Trenton) and only one community has a largest city, Hickory, that is not the community's county seat.<br />
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Overall in looking at the economic quality of these communities, Naples, Fort Collins, and Ann Arbor are doing very well. Naples is a coastal retirement community. During the time I have been working on this summary, we have seen Naples hit by Hurrican Irma. Irma's after effects will have a multi-billion dollar effect on that community. Naples will always be vulnerable to such possible natural disasters. Fort Collins and Ann Arbor are the home to two major universities (Colorado State University and the Univesity of Michigan), which have helped in the modernization of both cities economies. There are many major technical companies that have located to those areas to take advantage of the research nature of both of those campuses.<br />
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It seems that through the study of the first to segments of this series that we are seeing that income level is directly correlated to the economic and health quality of communities. One can make chicken and egg arguments, but that is pretty much irrelevant, because if you have such a scenario, then you are going to have to work from both ends to fix it. Clearly, we see Hickory and Huntington (WV) ranking in the bottom quartile in both Milken and Gallup-Sharecare (Healthway statistics). Montgomery (AL) is also in the bottom quartile with the second worst income growth and in the bottom half of incomes, which shows a stagnating economy. Rockford (IL) is in much the same boat, with a negative population growth, income in the bottom half of this group, and industrial job losses. <br />
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<span style="font-size: 85%;">Stats below:<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">5-Year Job Growth </span>- Metropolitan area job growth relative to the United States average between 2002 and 2007. U.S. average = 100.0<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">5-Year Wages & Salaries Growth</span> - Salary and Wage disbursements growth relative to the United States average between 2001 and 2006. U.S. average = 100.0<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">5-Year Relative High Tech GDP Growth</span> - High tech sector output growth relative to the United States average between 2002 and 2007. U.S. average = 100.0</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;"> </span><br />
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<span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">142 <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montgomery,_AL_Metropolitan_Statistical_Area" title="Montgomery, AL Metropolitan Statistical Area"><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif";">Montgomery, AL Metropolitan Statistical Area</span></a> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">vs 2010 MSA rank: -5 </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Pop: 2010 (374,536) - 2016 (373, 922) = <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>-.16%</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Milken 2009: (102)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>-<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2013: (182) - 2017: (166)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">U3 Unemployment (January): 2009: (10.0) - 2017: (6.0) </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Gallup Healthway - 2013: (119)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>-<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2016: (180)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">5-yr Job Growth (10-15)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Score: 93.67 Rank: 187<br />
5-yr Wages & Salaries Growth <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(09-14) Score:: 87.71 Rank: 193<br />
5-yr Relative HT GDP Growth <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(09-14) Score: 108.97 Rank: 31<br />
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="color: #c00000;">Largest City</span></u></i> – Montgomery, Alabama, Pop. 201,568, as of 2016, is the Capital of Alabama and county seat of Montgomery county.</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
<br />
<b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="color: #c00000;">Higher Education</span></u></i></b> – public universities Alabama State University, Troy University (Montgomery campus), and Auburn University-Montgomery, private colleges/universities Faulkner University, Huntingdon College, and ABA-accredited law school Thomas Goode Jones School of Law<br />
<br />
<b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="color: #c00000;">Economy and Employers</span></u></i></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Montgomery's central location in Alabama's Black Belt has long made it a processing hub for commodity crops such as cotton, peanuts, and soybeans. Due to its location along the Alabama River and extensive rail connections, Montgomery has and continues to be a regional distribution hub for a wide range of industries. Since the late 20th century, it has diversified its economy, achieving increased employment in sectors such as healthcare, business, government, and manufacturing. Today, the city's Gross Metropolitan Product is $12.15 billion, representing 8.7% of the gross state product of Alabama.[56]</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">According to Bureau of Labor Statistics data from October 2008, the largest sectors of non-agricultural employment were: Government, 24.3%; Trade, Transportation, and Utilities, 17.3% (including 11.0% in retail trade); Professional and Business Services, 11.9%; Manufacturing, 10.9%; Education and Health Services, 10.0% (including 8.5% in Health Care & Social Assistance); Leisure and Hospitality, 9.2%; Financial Activities, 6.0%, Natural Resources, Mining and Construction, 5.1%; Information, 1.4%; and Other services 4.0%. Unemployment for the same period was 5.7%, 2.5% higher than October 2007.[57] The city also draws in workers from the surrounding area; Montgomery's daytime population rises 17.4% to 239,101. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Montgomery serves as a hub for healthcare in the central Alabama and </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Belt_%28region_of_Alabama%29" title="Black Belt (region of Alabama)"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Black Belt</span></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> region. Hospitals located in the city include Baptist Medical Center South on South East Boulevard, Baptist Medical Center East next to the campus of </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auburn_University_Montgomery" title="Auburn University Montgomery"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Auburn University Montgomery</span></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> on Taylor Road, and Jackson Hospital, which is located next to </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Oak_Park_%28Montgomery%29&action=edit&redlink=1" title="Oak Park (Montgomery) (page does not exist)"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Oak Park</span></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> off interstate 85. Montgomery is also home to two medical school campuses: Baptist Medical Center South (run by </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Alabama_at_Birmingham" title="University of Alabama at Birmingham"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">University of Alabama at Birmingham</span></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">) and Jackson Hospital (run by Alabama Medical Education Consortium).</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;"><u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Largest Employers</span></u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> - Maxwell Gunter Air Force Base (12,280), State of Alabama (11,639), Montgomery Public Schools (4,524), Baptist Health (4,300), Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama (3,100), ALFA Insurance Companies (2,568),<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>City of Montgomery (2,500), MOBIS Alabama (1,400),<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jackson Hospital & Clinic (1,300), Koch Foods (1,250), Wind Creek Casino & Hotel Wetumpka (1,200), Rheem Water Heaters (1,147), GKN Aerospace (1,000),<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Baptist Medical Center South (980), Regions Bank (977), U.S. Postal Service (900), Creek Casino Montgomery (850), Glovis Alabama (832), Alabama State University (792), Montgomery County Commission (700), Alabama Power Company (660), Alorica (660)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Largest City: Montgomery (Pop. 200,022) is the Capital of Alabama and the county seat of Montgomery county.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="background: yellow; font-size: 10.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-highlight: yellow;">143 </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trenton,_NJ_Metropolitan_Statistical_Area" title="Trenton, NJ Metropolitan Statistical Area"><span style="background: yellow; font-size: 10.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-highlight: yellow;">Trenton, NJ Metropolitan Statistical Area</span></a><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> </span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">vs 2010 MSA rank: -2</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Pop: 2010 (366,513) - 2016 (371,023) = +1.23% </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Milken 2009:(46)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>-<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2013:(18) - 2016:(72)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">U3 Unemployment (January): 2009: (6.9) - 2017:(4.1) </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Gallup Healthway - 2013: (127)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>-<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2016: (80)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Per Capita personal income<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2008: ($xxx)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2015: ($xxx) = xxx</span></span></div>
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5-yr Job Growth (10-15) Score: 99.66<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rank: 89<br />
5-yr Wages & Salaries (09-14) Growth Score: 99.97<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rank: 57<br />
5-yr Relative HT GDP Growth (09-14) Score: 98.81 Rank: 88<br />
Population Growth since 2010: +1.23%</span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Largest City</span></u></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> – Trenton, NJ, Pop. 84,056, as of 2016, is the Capital of New Jersey and county seat of Mercer county.</span></b></span></div>
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</span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="color: #c00000; font-size: 10.0pt;">Higher Education</span></u></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"> </span></i><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">- </span><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Princeton University, Institute for Advanced Study, Rider University, The College of New Jersey, Thomas Edison State College and Mercer County Community College</span><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"><br />
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</span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="color: #c00000; font-size: 10.0pt;">Economy and Employers</span></u></i><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"><br />
</span><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">The state of New Jersey</span><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"><br />
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</span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="color: #c00000; font-size: 10.0pt;">Public Transportation</span></u></i><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"> - </span><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Mercer county (Trenton-Ewing, NJ) hosts several </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Jersey_Transit" title="New Jersey Transit"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">New Jersey Transit</span></a><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> stations, including </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trenton_%28NJT_station%29" title="Trenton (NJT station)"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Trenton</span></a><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">, </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamilton_%28NJT_station%29" title="Hamilton (NJT station)"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Hamilton</span></a><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">, and </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Princeton_Junction_%28NJT_station%29" title="Princeton Junction (NJT station)"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Princeton Junction</span></a><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> on the </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northeast_Corridor_Line" title="Northeast Corridor Line"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Northeast Corridor Line</span></a><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">, and </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Princeton_station_%28NJT%29" title="Princeton station (NJT)"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Princeton</span></a><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> on the </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Princeton_Branch" title="Princeton Branch"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Princeton Branch</span></a><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">.</span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercer_County,_New_Jersey#cite_note-57"><sup><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">[57]</span></sup></a><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SEPTA" title="SEPTA"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">SEPTA</span></a><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> provides rail service to </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Center_City,_Philadelphia" title="Center City, Philadelphia"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Center City</span></a><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philadelphia" title="Philadelphia"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Philadelphia</span></a><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> from </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trenton_%28NJT_station%29" title="Trenton (NJT station)"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Trenton</span></a><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> and </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Trenton_Line_%28SEPTA%29" title="West Trenton Line (SEPTA)"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">West Trenton</span></a><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">. Long-distance transportation is provided by </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amtrak" title="Amtrak"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Amtrak</span></a><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> train service along the </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northeast_Corridor" title="Northeast Corridor"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Northeast Corridor</span></a><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> through the </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trenton_Transit_Center" title="Trenton Transit Center"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Trenton Transit Center</span></a><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>NJTransit's </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/River_Line_%28New_Jersey_Transit%29" title="River Line (New Jersey Transit)"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">River Line</span></a><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> connects Trenton to </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camden,_New_Jersey" title="Camden, New Jersey"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Camden</span></a><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">, with three stations in the county, all within Trenton city limits, at </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cass_Street_%28River_Line_station%29" title="Cass Street (River Line station)"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Cass Street</span></a><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">, </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamilton_Avenue_%28River_Line_station%29" title="Hamilton Avenue (River Line station)"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Hamilton Avenue</span></a><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> and at the Trenton Transit Center.</span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercer_County,_New_Jersey#cite_note-58"><sup><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">[58]</span></sup></a><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mercer County's only </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commercial_airport" title="Commercial airport"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">commercial airport</span></a><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">, and one of three in the state, is </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trenton-Mercer_Airport" title="Trenton-Mercer Airport"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Trenton-Mercer Airport</span></a><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> in </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ewing_Township,_New_Jersey" title="Ewing Township, New Jersey"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Ewing Township</span></a><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">, which is served by </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frontier_Airlines" title="Frontier Airlines"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Frontier Airlines</span></a><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">, offering nonstop service to and from points nationwide.</span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercer_County,_New_Jersey#cite_note-59"><sup><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">[59]</span></sup></a><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Public transportation within the city and to/from its nearby suburbs is provided in the form of local bus routes run by New Jersey Transit. SEPTA also provides bus service to adjacent Bucks County, Pennsylvania.</span><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></span></h3>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">144<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montgomery,_AL_MSA" title="Montgomery, AL MSA"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; text-decoration: none;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="mso-field-code: "HYPERLINK \0022https\:\/\/en\.wikipedia\.org\/wiki\/Eugene\,_OR_Metropolitan_Statistical_Area\0022 \\o \0022Eugene\, OR Metropolitan Statistical Area\0022";"><u><span style="background: yellow; color: blue; font-size: 10.0pt;">Eugene, OR Metropolitan Statistical Area</span></u></span></span></a><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> </span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">vs 2010 MSA rank: +1</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Pop: 2010 (351,715) - 2016 (369,519) = +5.06%</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Milken 2009: (81)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>-<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2013: (195)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>-<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2016: (90)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">U3 Unemployment (January): 2009: (12.3) - 2017: (4.6)</span></span></div>
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5-yr Job Growth (10-15) Score: 98.67 Rank: 111<br />
5-yr Wages & Salaries Growth<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(09-14) Score: 96.17 Rank: 126<br />
5-yr Relative HT GDP Growth (09-14) Score: 84.73 Rank: 167<br />
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<span style="font-size: 85%;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Largest City</span></u></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> – Eugene, Oregon, Pop.166,575, as of 2016, is the county seat of Lane County. </span></b></span></div>
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<b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="color: #c00000;">Higher Education</span></u></i></b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">– Eugene is home to the University of Oregon. Other institutions of higher learning</b> include Northwest Christian University, Lane Community College, New Hope Christian College, Gutenberg College, and Pacific University's Eugene campus.<br />
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<b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="color: #c00000;">Economy and Employers</span></u></i></b><br />
The US Forest Service manages 48% of the lands within the county boundaries. The federal land, which can not be taxed, previously generated hundreds of millions of dollars in logging-derived support for government, but that support was sharply reduced when various environmental regulations curtailed logging by approximately 78%.[Wikipedia - 25] </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">(Top Employers)</span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> - PeaceHealth Medical Group (5,500), University of Oregon (5,406), U.S. Government (1,575), City of Eugene (1,369), Springfield School District <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>(1,283), Lane County (1,279), State of Oregon (1,229), Eugene School District 4J (1,163), Lane Community College (1,009), McKenzie-Willamette Medical Center (895)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Public Transportation</span></u></i></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> - </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lane_Transit_District" title="Lane Transit District"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Lane Transit District</span></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> (LTD), a </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_transportation" title="Public transportation"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">public transportation</span></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> agency formed in 1970, covers 240 square miles (620 km<sup>2</sup>) of Lane County, including </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creswell,_Oregon" title="Creswell, Oregon"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Creswell</span></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">, Cottage Grove, </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Junction_City,_Oregon" title="Junction City, Oregon"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Junction City</span></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">, </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veneta,_Oregon" title="Veneta, Oregon"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Veneta</span></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">, and </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_River,_Oregon" title="Blue River, Oregon"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Blue River</span></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">. Operating more than 90 buses during peak hours, LTD carries riders on 3.7 million trips every year. LTD also operates a </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bus_rapid_transit" title="Bus rapid transit"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">bus rapid transit</span></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> line that runs between Eugene and Springfield—</span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emerald_Express_%28EmX%29" title="Emerald Express (EmX)"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Emerald Express (EmX)</span></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">—much of which runs in its own lane. LTD's main terminus in Eugene is at the </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eugene_Station" title="Eugene Station"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Eugene Station</span></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">. LTD also offers </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paratransit" title="Paratransit"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">paratransit</span></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">145 <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naples-Immokalee-Marco_Island,_FL_Metropolitan_Statistical_Area" title="Naples-Immokalee-Marco Island, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area"><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif";">Naples-Immokalee-Marco Island, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area</span></a> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">vs 2010 MSA rank:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>+6</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Pop: 2010 (321,520) - 2016 (365,136) = +13.65%</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Milken 2009: (155)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>-<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2013: (83)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>-<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2016: (17) </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">U3 Unemployment (January): <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2009: (9.6) - 2017: (5.2) </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Gallup Healthway - 2013: (7)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>-<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2016: (1)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Per Capita personal income<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2008: ($xxx)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2015: ($xxx) = xxx</span></span></div>
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5-yr Job Growth (10-15) Score: 111.66 Rank: 6<br />
5-yr Wages & Salaries Growth (09-14) Score: 101.88 Rank: 14<br />
5-yr Relative HT GDP Growth (09-14) Score: 109.64 Rank: 299</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Largest City – Naples, FL, Pop. 21,845, as of 2016, is the county seat of Collier county.</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;"><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Economy and Employers</span></u></i></b><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">–<br />
The economy of Naples is based largely on tourism and was historically based on real estate development and agriculture. Companies based in Naples include Alavista Solutions, Beasley Broadcast Group and ASG Software Solutions, in addition to numerous small businesses. Due to the wealth present in Collier County, Naples is also home to many small non-profit organizations. The surrounding Naples metro area is home to major private employers. Fortune 1000 company Health Management Associates, technology company NewsBank.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">LARGEST EMPLOYERS</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Naples Community Hospital (4,000), Ritz-Carlton-Naples (1,110), Garquilo Inc. (1,110), Arthrex Inc. (1,056), Collier County’s Sheriff’s office (1,029), Home Team Inspection Svc. (900), Publix Super Markets (800), Marriott (700), Naples Grande Beach Resort (700), Downing Frye Realty (550)<br />
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<b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="color: #c00000;">Public Transportation</span></u></i> </b>- Naples boasts a new public transportation system that is part of Collier Area Transit (CAT). The buses run five scheduled services Monday through Saturday from 6:00 am to 7:00 pm. Buses do not run on Sundays, New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, July 4, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">146<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ann_Arbor,_MI_Metropolitan_Statistical_Area" title="Ann Arbor, MI Metropolitan Statistical Area"><span style="background: yellow; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-highlight: yellow;">Ann Arbor, MI Metropolitan Statistical Area</span></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">vs 2010 MSA rank: +2</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Pop: 2010 (344,791) - 2016 (364,709) = +5.78%</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Milken 2009: (191)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>-<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2013: (87) - 2016: (58)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">U3 Unemployment (January): 2009: (6.8) - 2017: (3.1)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Gallup Healthway - 2013: (8)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>-<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2016: (27)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Per Capita personal income<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2008: ($xxx)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2015: ($xxx) = xxx</span></span></div>
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5-yr Job Growth (10-15) Score: 99.72 Rank: 87<br />
5-yr Wages & Salaries Growth (09-14) Score: 98.11 Rank: 84<br />
5-yr Relative HT GDP Growth <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(09-14) Score: 106.61 Rank: 43<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /> <br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Largest City - Ann Arbor, MI, </span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pop.120,782, as of 2016, is the county seat of Washtenaw County.</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></b></span></div>
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<b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="color: #c00000;">Higher Education</span></u></i></b><br />
University of Michigan, Concordia University - Ann Arbor, a campus of the University of Phoenix, and Cleary University, Washtenaw Community College , Eastern Michigan University. Ave Maria School of Law<br />
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<b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="color: #c00000;">Economy and Employers</span></u></i> </b><br />
The University of Michigan shapes Ann Arbor's economy significantly. It employs about 30,000 workers, including about 12,000 in the medical center.[59] Other employers are drawn to the area by the university's research and development money, and by its graduates. High tech, health services and biotechnology are other major components of the city's economy; numerous medical offices, laboratories, and associated companies are located in the city. Automobile manufacturers, such as General Motors and Visteon, also employ residents.[59]</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Top Employers</span></u></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">University of Michigan (30,835),<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Trinity Health (7,169), General Motors Milford Proving Grounds (3,750),<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ann Arbor Public Schools (1,907), VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System (2,459), Faurecia North America<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(1,850),<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Eastern Michigan University (1,617), Integrated Health Associates (IHA) (1,268), Washtenaw County Government<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(1,260), Thomson Reuters<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(1,200)<br />
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<b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="color: #c00000;">Public Transportation</span></u></i> </b>- The Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority (AAATA), which brands itself as "TheRide," is the public transit system serving the Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti, Michigan, area.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">147<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton,_NC_Metropolitan_Statistical_Area" title="Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area"><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif";">Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area</span></a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">vs 2010 MSA rank: 0</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Pop: 2010 (365,497) - 2016 (364,187) = -.36%</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Milken 2009:(185)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>-<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2013:(190) - 2016: (167)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">U3 Unemployment (January): 2009: (13.4) - 2017: (5.2)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Gallup Healthway - 2013:(185)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>-<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2016:(188)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Per Capita personal income<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2008: ($xxx)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2015: ($xxx) = xxx</span></span></div>
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5-yr Job Growth (10-15) Score: 94.61 Rank: 180<br />
5-yr Wages & Salaries Growth (09-14) Score: 94.28 Rank: 158<br />
5-yr Relative HT GDP Growth (09-14) Score: 112.25<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rank: 23<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="color: #c00000;">Largest City</span></u></i> – Hickory, NC,</b></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Pop. 40,567, as of 2016, is in Catawba County.</span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> <br />
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<b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="color: #c00000;">Higher Education</span></u></i></b> – Lenoir-Rhyne University, Appalachian State – Hickory, Catawba Valley Community College, Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute, Western Piedmont Community College<br />
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<b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="color: #c00000;">Economy and Employers</span></u></i></b> - The furniture industry in Hickory is not as strong as in the decades previous, but still a primary component in the area economy. Currently the area is home to many leading manufacturers of furniture, fiber optic cable, and pressure-sensitive tape.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Public Transportation</span></u></i></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> - <b>Greenway Public Transportation</b> offers bus service to the cities of </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conover,_North_Carolina" title="Conover, North Carolina"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Conover</span></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">, </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hickory,_North_Carolina" title="Hickory, North Carolina"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Hickory</span></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">, and </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newton,_North_Carolina" title="Newton, North Carolina"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Newton</span></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">.<br />
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<span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">148 <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huntington-Ashland,_WV-KY-OH_Metropolitan_Statistical_Area" title="Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH Metropolitan Statistical Area"><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif";">Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH Metropolitan Statistical Area</span></a> <b><span style="color: #3333ff;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">vs 2010 MSA rank: -4</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Pop: 2010 (364,908) - 2016 (359,588) = -1.46%</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Milken 2009: (149)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>-<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2013: (189) - 2016: (196)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">U3 Unemployment (January): 2009: (6.8) - 2017: (6.8) </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Gallup Healthway - 2013: (189)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>-<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2016: (187)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Per Capita personal income<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2008: ($xxx)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2015: ($xxx) = xxx</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">5-yr Job Growth (10-15) Score: 91.39 Rank: 194<br />
5-yr Wages & Salaries Growth (09-14) Score:: 91.88 Rank: 181<br />
5-yr Relative HT GDP Growth (09-14) Score: 80.08 Rank: 184<br />
Population Growth since 2010: -1.46%</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Largest City</span></u></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> - <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Huntington Pop 48,113, as of 2016,</span> is a city in </span></b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cabell_County,_West_Virginia" title="Cabell County, West Virginia"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Cabell County</span></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> in the </span></b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._state" title="U.S. state"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">U.S. state</span></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> of </span></b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Virginia" title="West Virginia"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">West Virginia</span></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">. It is the </span></b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/County_Seat" title="County Seat"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">county seat</span></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> of Cabell County, and largest city in the </span></b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huntington-Ashland,_WV-KY-OH_Metropolitan_Statistical_Area" title="Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH Metropolitan Statistical Area"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH Metropolitan Statistical Area</span></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">, sometimes referred to as the Tri-State Area.</span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
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<b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="color: #c00000;">Higher Education</span></u></i></b> <br />
Ashland Community and Technical College, Collins Career Center, Huntington Junior College, Marshall University, Morehead State University at Ashland, Mountwest Community and Technical College, Ohio University Southern Campus<br />
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<b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="color: #c00000;">Economy and Employers</span></u></i></b><br />
The MSA is nestled along the banks of the Ohio River within the Appalachian Plateau region. The area is most often referred to locally as the Tri-State region.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Largest Employers - Marshall University, St. Mary's Hospital, Marathon Ashland Petroleum, Cabell-Huntington Hospital, AK Steel, Applied Card Systems, CSX Huntington, U.S. Corps of Engineers, Alcon Surgical, Client Logic, Cabell Co., Board of Education, GC Services, VA Medical Center, Special Metals, Walmart, DirecTV, Steel of West Virginia, Heiner's Bakery, JH Fletcher & Co, Pritchard Electric Company<br />
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<b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="color: #c00000;">Public Transportation</span></u></i> –</b><br />
TTA is the Tri-State Transit Authority, which provides bus service in the Huntington, West Virginia and Ironton,Ohio urban area. Ashland, Kentucky, which is served by the Ashland Bus System (ABS), has limited TTA service to and from Ironton, Ohio.<br />
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<span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">149 <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ocala,_FL_Metropolitan_Statistical_Area" title="Ocala, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area"><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif";">Ocala, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area</span></a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">vs 2010 MSA rank: 0</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Pop: 2010 (331,298) - 2016 (349,020) = +5.35%</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Milken rank: 166<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pop. 373,922</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Milken 2009: (104)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>-<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2013: (161)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>-<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2016: (130)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">U3 Unemployment (January): 2009:(12.1) - 2017:(6.4)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Gallup Healthway - 2013: (127)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>-<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2016:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>138</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Per Capita personal income<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2008: ($xxx)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2015: ($xxx) = xxx</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Milken rank: 130 Unemp = 13.4% Pop. 349,020<br />
5-yr Job Growth (10-15) Score: 99.23 Rank: 98<br />
5-yr Wages & Salaries Growth (09-14) Score: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>92.51 Rank: 175<br />
5-yr Relative HT GDP Growth (09-14) Score: 97.00 Rank: 102<br />
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<span style="font-size: 85%;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Largest City</span></u></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> - Ocala </span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Pop.</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> </span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">57,468, as of 2016, is the county seat of Marion County.</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;"><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Higher Education</span></u></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;"><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">College of Central Florida, Rasmussen College, Webster College</span></b></span></div>
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<b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="color: #c00000;">Economy and Employers</span></u></i> – </b><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Ocala is the headquarters of Emergency One, a worldwide designer and manufacturer of fire rescue vehicles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Today, Marion County is a major world thoroughbred center with over 1200 horse farms, including about 900 thoroughbred farms, totaling some 77,000 acres (310 km2). Ocala is well known as a "horse capital of the world."[wiki 10]<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ocala is one of only five cities (four in the US and one in France) permitted under Chamber of Commerce guidelines to use this title, based on annual revenue produced by the horse industry. 44,000 jobs are sustained by breeding, training, and related support of the equine industry, which generates over $2.2 billion in annual revenue.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;"><u><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Top Employers</span></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Marion County Public Schools (6,070),<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Munroe Regional Medical Center (2,648),<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>State of Florida (2,600),<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Walmart<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(2,370),<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ocala Regional Medical Center & West Marion Community Hospital<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(2,200),<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Publix <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>(1,488),<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Marion County Government (1,368),<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>AT&T<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(1,000),<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>City of Ocala (989),<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lockheed Martin (981)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;"><b><u><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Public Transportation</span></u></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">SunTran - Bus Transit system </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">150<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Collins,_CO_Metropolitan_Statistical_Area" title="Fort Collins, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area"><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Fort Collins, CO Metropolitan Statistical<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Area</span></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">vs 2010 MSA rank: +9</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Pop: 2010 (299,630) - 2016 (339.993) = +13.47%</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Milken 2009: (22)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>-<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2013: (20) <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- 2017: (8)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">U3 Unemployment (January): 2009:(5.8) - 2017:(2.9)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Gallup Healthway rank - 2013:(3)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2016:(11)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Per Capita personal income<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2008: ($xxx)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2015: ($xxx) = xxx</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Milken rank -192 Unemp = 9.1% Pop. 339,993<br />
5-yr Job Growth (10-15) Score: 106.59 Rank: 21<br />
5-yr Wages & Salaries Growth (09-14) Score:: 106.01<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rank: 19<br />
5-yr Relative HT GDP Growth (09-14) Score:: 93.70 Rank: 123<br />
Population Growth since 2010: +13.47%<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="color: #c00000;">Largest City</span></u></i> - Fort Collins<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Pop.</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> </span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">164,207, as of 2016, is the county seat of Larimer County.</span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></span></div>
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<b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Higher Education</i></b><br />
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<b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="color: #c00000;">Economy and Employers</span></u></i> </b>–<br />
Fort Collins' economy has a mix of manufacturing and service-related businesses. Fort Collins manufacturing includes Woodward Governor, Anheuser-Busch, and Otterbox. Many high-tech companies have relocated to Fort Collins because of the resources of Colorado State University and its research facilities. Hewlett Packard, Intel, AMD, Avago, Beckman Coulter, National Semiconductor, LSI, Rubicon Water and Pelco all have offices in Fort Collins. Other industries include clean energy, bioscience, and agri-tech businesses.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>http://www.coloradoan.com/story/money/2015/12/18/fort-collins-largest-primary-employers/77496904/</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Advanced Energy Industries ( 300-400), <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Advanced Micro Devices (125), Anheuser-Busch(525), Avago Technologies (1,300), Brinkman Partners (106), CA Technologies (221), CACI International (---), CBW (110),<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Connell Resources (215), Forney Industries (200), HP, Inc. and HP Enterprises (1,200-1,500), In-Situ (130), Intel (350), Martin Marietta Materials (100), Neenan Co. (125), New Belgium Brewing Co. (406), Odell Brewing Co. (101),<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Otter Products (600),<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Phase 2 Co. (---), Qualfon Data Services Group (720),<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Schneider Electric (---), Tolmar (608), Water Pik (150), Wolf Robotics (120), Woodward (1,200) </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Colorado State University (6,948 employees), Poudre Valley Health System (3,020), Poudre School District (3,014), City of </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Collins,_CO" title="Fort Collins, CO"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Fort Collins, CO</span></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> (1,864), Larimer County (1,467), Columbine Health Systems (1,200), McKee Medical Center (950)</span></span></div>
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<b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="color: #c00000;">Public Transportation</span></u></i> </b>- </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Transfort (Fort Collins Public Bus System) - Fort Collins has an excellent public bus system and CSU students, faculty and staff get to ride it for free! The student ID you receive when you arrive at CSU is also your bus pass. The Transfort hours vary but the buses usually run Monday through Saturday from 6:30am-10:30pm. Check out the new MAX bus rapid transit system and the campus shuttle, Around the Horn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Zipcar - Whether you need a car for a few hours to run errands or the whole day, you can use Zipcar. They're parked right on campus. With Zipcar, you never have to worry about car payments, maintenance, gas or insurance.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">151 <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rockford,_IL_Metropolitan_Statistical_Area" title="Rockford, IL Metropolitan Statistical Area"><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif";">Rockford, IL Metropolitan Statistical Area</span></a><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Milken rank -142 Unemp = 8.7% Pop. 339,376</span><br />
vs 2010 MSA rank: -5</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Pop: 2010 (349,431) - 2016 (339,376) <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>= -2.88%</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Milken 2009: (174)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>-<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2013: (145)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>-<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2016: (125)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">U3 Unemployment (January): 2009: (13.8) - 2017: (11.1)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Gallup Healthway - 2013:(177)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>-<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2016:(178)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Per Capita personal income<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2008: ($xxx)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2015: ($xxx) = xxx</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">5-yr Job Growth(10-15) Score: 97.02 Rank: 139<br />
5-yr Wages & Salaries Growth (09-14) Score:: 96.50 Rank: 116<br />
5-yr Relative HT GDP Growth (09-14) Score:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>99.81<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rank: 79<br />
Population Growth since 2010: -2.88%<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="color: #c00000;">Largest City</span></u> </i>– Rockford, IL, Pop. 147,651, as of 2016, is the county seat of Winnebago county.</b> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Higher Education</span></u></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Rockford Business College, Rockford College, Rock Valley College, and St. Anthony College of Nursing. In addition, it hosts several satellite branches of other schools, including Judson College (based in Elgin), Northern Illinois University (based in DeKalb), Rasmussen College[3], and the University of Illinois College of Medicine (based in Chicago).</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Economy and Employers</span></u></i></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> –</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The Rockford economy has suffered since the decline of the manufacturing industry in the late 1980s. In February 2009, The Wall Street Journal published a series of stories on Rockford and its mayor focusing on various challenges faced by the city, including higher unemployment and lower education levels of workers compared to some cities. The airport is home to United Parcel Service's second largest air-hub. The Chicago Rockford International Airport is presently ranked as the twenty-second largest cargo airport in the nation when measured by landed weight.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;"><u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Top Employers</span></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Rockford Public School District (4,800),<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Chrysler (Belvidere Assembly Plant - 4,700),<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Swedish American Hospital (2,600),<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rockford Health System (2,500),<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>UTC Aerospace Systems (2,200),<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>(2,000),<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>United Parcel Service (2,000),<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>County of Winnebago (1,602),<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Woodward (1,200),<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>City of Rockford (1,135)<br />
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<span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">152<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kalamazoo-Portage,_MI_Metropolitan_Statistical_Area" title="Kalamazoo-Portage, MI Metropolitan Statistical Area"><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Kalamazoo-Portage, MI Metropolitan Statistical Area</span></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">vs 2010 MSA rank: -2</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Pop: 2010 (326,589) - 2016 (336,877) = +3.15%</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Milken 2009: (189)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>-<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2013: (184)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>-<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2016: (102) <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">U3 Unemployment (January): 2009: (8.4) - 2017: (4.4)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Gallup Healthway - 2013:(108)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>-<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2016:(119)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Per Capita personal income<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2008: ($xxx)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2015: ($xxx) = xxx</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Milken rank: 52 <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unemp = 9.2% <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pop. 336,877<br />
5-yr Job Growth (10-15) Score: 96.65 Rank: 144<br />
5-yr Wages & Salaries Growth (09-14) Score:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>96.34<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rank: 122<br />
5-yr Relative HT GDP Growth (09-14) Score:: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>87.1<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rank: 157<br />
Population Growth since 2010: +3.15%<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="color: #c00000;">Largest City</span></u></i> - Kalamazoo<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Pop.</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> </span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">164,207, as of 2016, is the county seat of Kalamazoo County.</span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></span></div>
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<b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="color: #c00000;">Higher Education</span></u></i></b><br />
Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo College, Kalamazoo is home to Kalamazoo Valley Community College, Davenport University, and Kalamazoo Area Mathematics and Science Center (KAMSC). Construction of the new Kalamazoo Valley Community College Culinary and Allied Health campus.<br />
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<b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="color: #c00000;">Economy and Employers</span></u></i></b><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In 2007, Kalamazoo was named to Fast Company (magazine)'s 'Fast 50: Most Innovative Companies 2007',[33] in recognition of the city's Community Capitalism approach to revitalize the economy. In 2012 Kiplinger's Personal Finance ranked Kalamazoo fourth of the Ten Best Cities for Cheapskates.[34] The city was named in NerdWallet.com's 2014 'Top 10 Best Cities for Work-Life Balance'.[35][36]</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Pfizer (6,100), Bronson Hospital<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(3,000),<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>National City Bank (2,922),<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Western Michigan University (2,887),<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Borgess Health Alliance (2,410),<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Meijer, Inc. (2,400),<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kalamazoo Public Schools<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(2,300),<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Portage Public Schools <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>(2,300),<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Stryker Corporation (hospital equipment - 1,400),<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kalamazoo Valley Community College (1,100)</span></span></div>
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James Thomas Shellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04359970774315269896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2088603658552825500.post-50452730493601984902017-09-04T20:49:00.000-04:002017-09-27T14:45:53.428-04:00Hickory Metro's 2017 Economy versus North Carolina MSAs<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/> <w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> <w:Word11KerningPairs/> <w:CachedColBalance/> </w:Compatibility> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">This article is a continuation of the last series I did eight years ago, <a href="http://thehickoryhound.blogspot.com/2009/08/hickory-time-to-put-puzzle-together.html">Hickory - Time to put the Puzzle together</a>. Here, I compare all of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Table_of_United_States_Metropolitan_Statistical_Areas">Metropolitan Statistical Areas</a> within the State of North Carolina. </span><span style="line-height: 115%;">In looking at the comparison data between the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton Metropolitan Statistical Area and the other MSAs in North Carolina, we see that our MSA ranks 9<sup>th</sup> in terms of population. With the second worst growth rate, an actual loss of .36% of the area’s population base, we see that we have fallen 4 spots (to #147) in terms of our MSA rank in the United States. </span><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Out of 15 defined MSAs in our State, Hickory ranks 14<sup>th</sup> in terms of growth with a loss of .3% of its population. Only Rocky Mount has worse growth, losing 3.3% of its population. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Since 2010, The State of North Carolina’s population has grown by just shy of 9% with a population of over 10.3 million people. The Raleigh, Charlotte, Durham, and Wilmington areas grew by double digits during that period.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">As of 2016, Hickory is the largest city in the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton MSA and Catawba County, the county in which Hickory resides, is by far the largest county in the metro area so we shall call it the Hickory MSA. Hickory (Pop. 40,567) is more that twice the size of both Lenoir (Pop. 17,973) and Morganton (Pop. 16,665). Catawba county's population is over 154,000, while Burke’s is around 90,000 and Caldwell County has about 83,000. The new addition of Marion and McDowell county as part of our MSA come in with populations of 7,849 and around 45,000 respectively.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Our state's MSA populations range from a high end of the nation's 22nd largest MSA, Charlotte, with a population of 2,474,314 to a low end of Goldsboro, North Carolina with a population of 124,150. We have many diverse populations within our state. The largest MSA population growth, since 2010, was (Raleigh) at 15.5%, while Rocky Mount lost 3.3% of its population. Out of the 10 largest MSAs, all grew but one. Only Hickory did not grow. Raleigh, Charlotte, Wilmington, and Durham continued the double digit increases they had seen since 2000. Hickory's growth rate was the second worst amongst major metros in North Carolina. Winston-Salem and Fayetteville had the next smallest growth rates at over 3%.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">The <a href="http://bestcities.milkeninstitute.org/bestcities2008.taf"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-fareast;">Milken Institute</span></a> is a nonprofit, nonpartisan think tank determined to increase global prosperity by advancing collaborative solutions that widen access to capital, create jobs and improve health. They do this through independent, data-driven research, action-oriented meetings, and meaningful policy initiatives. In their study defining America’s Best Performing Cities, they do an analysis in two segments, the top 200 MSAs and 124 small markets. There are 9 NC metro areas that fall within the Large Market analysis. The smallest of the large MSAs in North Carolina is Wilmington with an MSA population of 282,573. It is the 167th largest market in the United States. It's MSA has been redefined since I last did this analysis, but Wilmington has grown by 10.86% in six years (2010-2016). </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">The defined data I looked at for comparison includes MSA Population rank, Population growth from 2010 to 2016, Milken Best Performing Cities ranking, Gallup-Heathway ranking, Per Capita Income in 2008 and 2016, and Income growth from 2008 to 2016. Milken rankings look at the local, modern business environment of the various MSAs in the U.S. The Gallup-Healthway study looks at the quality of overall health in an MSA. Per Capita Income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. It is calculated by dividing the area's total income by its total population. There are others keys into looking at the overall viablity of a community, but I believe that the defined data are good reference points to look at in judging the Macroeconomic viability of a community.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">The Gallup Healthways Well-being index has been recently renamed the <a href="http://www.gallup.com/poll/106756/galluphealthways-wellbeing-index.aspx">Gallup-Sharecare Well-Being</a> Index and it will be the largest collection of data related to the health and wellbeing of large populations ever assembled. This information will lead community leaders, policy makers, and employers to make decisions positively affecting the health and wellbeing of millions of people.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">The Gallup-Sharecare Well-Being Index is designed to be the Dow Jones of health, giving a daily measure of people's wellbeing at the close of every day. With a daily measure, determining the correlation between the places where people work and the communities in which they live, and how it impacts their wellbeing, is now possible. Additionally, the index will increase an understanding of how those factors impact the financial health of corporations and communities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The research and methodology underlying the Well-Being Index is based on the World Health Organization definition of health as "not only the absence of infirmity and disease, but also a state of physical, mental, and social wellbeing."</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Unfortunately, the Hickory MSA has ranked at or near the bottom in all of these defined categories for years, we do see some glimmers of a chance to move forward. As I pointed to above, we have lost population. Hickory's Milken ranking is 167, which is in the bottom quartile of the MSA's looked at. Our numbers have increased substantially since ranking in the bottom 10 of the study for years. Raleigh is ranked #6, Charlotte is ranked #12, and Wilmington is ranked #54. These cities have all seen times when they have been ranked in the top 10 over the past decade. The Gallup-Healthway study has ranked us in the Bottom 10 of healthy cities since its inception in the earlier part of this decade. At present, we are ranked next to last in the overall quality of health compared to other cities in the United States. Durham, Asheville, and Raleigh are in the top 50 and Charlotte is #54. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">The optimistic side is that although we remain at the bottom in terms of income, we have come a long way. Hickory is no longer at or near the bottom of unemployment numbers and it ranks #1 in terms of income growth in the State of North Carolina. In 2008, Hickory’s average income was 66% of the highest MSA income, which was Charlotte’s at over $44k. In 2016, Hickory’s income is 73% of top dog Raleigh’s $48k average income. Hickory’s incomes have risen by 15.5% during this timeframe. The low incomes of 2008 could be because of the issues that Hickory was having transitioning out of its heavy, low-skill manufacturing production economy during the first decade of the new century. Now that we have also lost many younger folks in the 18-45 age bracket (productive labor force group), that labor supply reduction with a manufacturing capacity that has stabilized is going to mean that companies are going to have to pay more for workers. Not only that, the evolution towards technical jobs that require more skills will demand higher wages, but Hickory still has a ways to go in relation to the incomes seen elsewhere.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">When we look at our larger MSAs, which qualify as national cities, Charlotte and Raleigh as examples, they have seen an influx of the exact younger demographic populations that Hickory has lost. Wages increased some in Raleigh, but were down in Charlotte. The influx of the productive demographic past the point of growth in labor demand is keeping wages in check. Raleigh has seen more wage growth than Charlotte, because most economic growth was centered around the growth in the governmental sector during the years of the Obama Administration. Charlotte lagged, because of the problems with the Banking/Financial sector during the crisis of 2008. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Similarly, other communities in this State that had suffered a lack of income growth in the first part of the last decade were the ones that made the greatest strides forward since 2008. Like Hickory, they have a long way to go to catch up.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">We need to realize that we face challenges that larger cities don’t. Those communities have broader economies and more diverse industries based upon Economies of Scale. A larger city, like Charlotte or Raleigh, is afforded more resiliencies, because while one sector of their economy may suffer in recessionary periods, another may not suffer as much and may even do well. This is because of the multitude of large employers located in their area. Hickory has been mainly manufacturing for over 100 years and that manufacturing was mainly in textiles and furniture with only a handful of large companies. These two industries saw huge job losses since the turn of the new century. When those larger companies laid off hundreds of workers in 2008, it ballooned our unemployment rate and the issues that lay there-in. Our area thought it had properly diversified with the addition of several companies associated with telephony and fiber-optics, but the evolution of those industries created some flux in our economy in the latter part of the past decade. Much of the economic employment woes that we saw a decade ago have stabilized, but we have not been able to gain traction towards sustained growth. That is the reason why we must continue to renovate the local economy.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">40 years ago, we were on a positive growth path. Our local airport was viable and Interstate 40 had just opened. We had viable retail sectors in the city’s core and along Highway 70 in the southwest section of Hickory. Through our community’s economic evolution, we have seen those areas stagnate or decline. We have spent several millions of dollars towards the revitalization of our Downtown area, but many feel it could do better and the investment hasn’t netted the results expected. The Hickory Regional Airport is a shadow of what it once was and many feel that it could be so much more and it is a poster child (represents) for wasted economic opportunity.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Below is information showing each of North Carolina’s MSA, their characteristics, and statistics. You will see their populations, population growth, Milken Statistics, Unemployment Statistics from the last recession to January of this year, Gallup-Healthway rankings, per capita income, Largest City, Higher Education opportunities, Economy and Employers, and their public transportation system.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><a href="https://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/blog/morning-edition/2014/07/north-carolinas-10-major-airports-rankedby.html"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">North Carolina's 10 major airports, ranked by corporate jet activity</span></a> – </span></b><span style="line-height: 115%;">Triangle Business Journal - <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>July 8, 2014<b><span style="mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"> </span></b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">1. Asheville Regional Airport: 30 corporate aircraft among a total of 158 planes based at the airport.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">2. It’s a tie: Piedmont Triad International Airport in Greensboro: 27 corporate aircraft, 356 total; and Wilmington International Airports: 27 corporate aircraft, 155 total.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">4. Raleigh-Durham International Airport in Morrisville: 23 corporate aircraft, 702 total.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">5. Coastal Carolina Regional Airport: 22 corporate aircraft, 140 total.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">6. Charlotte Douglas International Airport: 21 corporate aircraft, 541 total.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">7. <a href="https://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/search/results?q=Albert%20J.%20Ellis%20Airport">Albert J. Ellis Airport</a> in Richlands: 17 corporate aircraft, 74 total.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">8. Fayetteville Regional Airport: 15 corporate aircraft, 175 total.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">9. Concord Regional Airport: 14 corporate aircraft, 161 total.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">10. Pitt Greenville Airport: 10 corporate aircraft, 124 total.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><u><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">International Airports</span></u></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Charlotte-Douglas</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Raleigh-Durham</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Piedmont-Triad (Greensboro)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Wilmington</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><u><span style="line-height: 115%;">Commercial Service Regional Airports</span></u></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Asheville</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Coastal Carolina (New Bern)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Fayetteville</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Albert J. Ellis (Richlands, Jacksonville)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Pitt-Greenville</span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">22 <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia,_NC-SC_Metropolitan_Statistical_Area" title="Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC Metropolitan Statistical Area"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC Metropolitan Statistical Area</span></a></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">vs 2010 MSA rank: +2<br />
Pop: 2010 (2,217,012) - 2016 (2,474,314) = +11.61%</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Milken: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2009:(47)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>-<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2013:(27) <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2016: (12)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">U3 Unemployment (January): 2009: (10.9) - 2017: (5.1)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Gallup Healthway rank - 2013:(56)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>-<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2016:(54)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Per Capita personal income<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2008: ($46,576)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2015: ($44,935) = -3.52%</span></div>
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5-yr Job Growth (10-15) Score: 106.47 Rank: 23<br />
5-yr Wages & Salaries Growth (09-14) Score: 108.13 Rank: 11<br />
5-yr Relative HT GDP Growth (09-14) Score: 102.83<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rank: 62</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Largest City</span></u></i></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> – Charlotte, NC,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pop. 842,051, as of 2016,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>is the county seat of Mecklenburg County <br />
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<b><i><u><span style="color: #c00000;">Higher Education</span></u></i></b><br />
University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Johnson C Smith University, Queens University of Charlotte, Central Piedmont Community College (Central Campus), King's College, Johnson & Wales University, Carolinas College-Health Science, Carolinas Medical Center, The Art Institute of Charlotte, New Life Theological Seminary, Pfeiffer University-Charlotte, devry University, Keller Graduate School of Management, Keller Graduate School of Management, ITT Technical Institute, Brookstone College of Business, University Park Creative Arts, University of Phoenix - Charlotte Campus, ECPI College of Technology, Strayer University, Tech Skills Charlotte, Wake Forest Babcock Graduate School of Management, Charlotte school of Law, davidson College (20 miles north of center city).<br />
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<b><i><u><span style="color: #c00000;">Economy and Employers</span></u></i> </b>- Charlotte has become a major U.S. financial center, and the nation's largest financial institution by assets, Bank of America, calls the city home. The city was also the former corporate home of Wachovia until its purchase by Wells Fargo in 2008; Wells Fargo continues to operate Wachovia as a wholly-owned subsidiary, with its east coast headquarters in Charlotte. Bank of America's headquarters, along with other regional banking and financial services companies, are located primarily in the uptown financial district. Thanks in large part to the expansion of the city's banking industry, the Charlotte skyline has mushroomed in the past two decades and boasts the Bank of America Corporate Center, the tallest skyscraper between Philadelphia and Atlanta. The 60-story postmodern gothic tower, designed by renowned architect Cesar Pelli, stands 871 feet tall and was completed in 1992.<br />
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<b>The following Fortune 500 companies are headquartered in the Charlotte metropolitan area</b>, in order of their rank: <b>Bank of America, Lowe's</b> in suburban Mooresville, <b>Nucor</b> (steel producer), <b>Duke Energy, Sonic Automotive, Family Dollar, Goodrich Corporation, and SPX Corporation</b> (industrial technology). Other major companies headquartered in the Metro Charlotte include <b>Time Warner Cable</b> (formerly a business unit of Fortune 500 company Time Warner), <b>Continental Tire North America</b> (formerly Continental/General Tire),<b> Muzak, Belk, Harris Teeter, Meineke Car Care Centers</b>,<b> Lance, Inc, Bojangles', Carlisle Companies, LendingTree, Compass Group USA, Food Lion,</b> and<b> the Carolina Beverage Corporation </b>(makers of Cheerwine, Sun Drop, and others) in suburban Salisbury, North Carolina. Charlotte is home to several large shopping malls, with Carolina Place Mall and SouthPark Mall being the largest. Also, neighboring Gastonia is home to the Parkdale Mills world headquarters. Concord Mills Mall is also the largest shopping outlet in the state and one of the largest in the nation and single biggest draw in NC and its exterior is lined with many trendy colorful restaurants that parallel Myrtle Beach.<br />
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<b>Charlotte is also a major center in the US motorsports industry</b>, with NASCAR having multiple offices in and around Charlotte. Approximately 75% of the NASCAR industry's employees and drivers are based within two hours of downtown Charlotte. Charlotte is also the future home of the NASCAR Hall of Fame, expected to be open May 10, 2010, a week prior to the Sprint All-Star Race. The already large presence of the racing technology industry along with the newly built NHRA premier dragstrip, zMAX Dragway at Concord, located just north of Charlotte, is influencing some of the top professional drag racers to move their shops from more expensive areas like California to the Charlotte area as well. The recently announced small racetrack at the former Metrolina Fairgrounds location which is at Sunset and Statesville Roads is expected to bring more local racing to the area along with a skate park, shoppes, restaurants and an upscale hotel will offer recreation of many types. Located in the western part of Mecklenburg County is the National Whitewater Rafting Center, consisting of man-made rapids of various degrees and is open to the public year round.<br />
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The center city/uptown area of Charlotte has seen remarkable growth over the last decade. Numerous residential units continue to be built uptown, including over 20 skyscapers either under construction, recently completed, or in the planning stage. Many new restaurants, bars and clubs now operate in the Uptown area. Several projects are transforming the Midtown Charlotte/Elizabeth area.</span></div>
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<b><i><u><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Public Transportation</span></u></i></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> – (Charlotte) - CATS operates light rail transit, historical trolleys, express shuttles, and bus service serving Charlotte and its immediate suburbs. The LYNX light rail system comprises a 9.6-mile line north-south line known as the Blue Line. Bus ridership continues to grow (66% since 1998), but more slowly than operations increases which have risen 170% in that same time when adjusted for inflation.[47] The 2030 Transit Corridor System Plan looks to supplement established bus service with light rail & commuter rail lines as a part of a system dubbed LYNX.<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /> <br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /> </span></div>
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</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">43 <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Research_Triangle" title="Research Triangle"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Raleigh, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area</span></a> </span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
vs 2010 MSA rank: +5</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Pop: 2010 (1,130,490) - 2016 (1,302,946) = +15.25%</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Milken 2009:(10)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>-<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2013:(13)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>-<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2016(6)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">U3 Unemployment<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(January) 2009:(9.8)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>-<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2016:(5.3) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Gallup Healthway rank - 2013:(19)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>-<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2016:(48)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Per Capita personal income<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2008: ($44,582)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2015: ($48,411) =<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>+8.59%</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">5-yr Job Growth (10-15) Score: 106.90 Rank: 18<br />
5-yr Wages & Salaries Growth (09-14) Score: 107.65 Rank: 12<br />
5-yr Relative HT GDP Growth (09-14) Score: 113.46<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rank: 22<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /> <br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /> </span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Largest City</span></u></i></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> – Raleigh,</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Pop.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> 458,880</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">, as of 2016, is the County seat of Wake County and the Capital of North Carolina</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Higher Education</span></u></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Campbell University, Central Carolina Community College, Duke University, Durham Technical Community College, Louisburg College, Meredith College, North Carolina Central University,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">North Carolina State University, Piedmont Community College, Shaw University, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and The College at Southeastern, St. Augustine's College, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Vance-Granville Community College, Wake Technical Community College,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">William Peace University</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Economy & Employers</span></u></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">The Research Triangle, commonly referred to as simply The Triangle, is a region in the Piedmont of North Carolina in the United States, anchored by North Carolina State University, Duke University, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and the cities of Raleigh and Durham and the town of Chapel Hill...<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anchored by leading technology firms, government and world-class universities, medical centers and schools, the area's economy has performed exceptionally well. Significant increases in employment, earnings, personal income, and retail sales are projected over the next 15 years...<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The region's growing high-technology community includes such companies as IBM, SAS Institute, Cisco Systems, NetApp, Red Hat, EMC Corporation, and Credit Suisse First Boston. In addition to high-tech, the region is consistently ranked in the top three in the U.S. with concentration in life science companies. Some of these companies include GlaxoSmithKline, Biogen Idec, BASF, Merck & Co., Novo Nordisk, Novozymes, and Pfizer. Research Triangle Park and North Carolina State University's Centennial Campus in Raleigh support innovation through R&D and technology transfer among the region's companies and research universities (including Duke University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill).</span></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Largest Employers</span></u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> - Research Triangle Region (http://www.researchtriangle.org/regions/research-triangle-region)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">State of North Carolina <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>(24,739), Wake County Public School System (17,572), <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Red Hat <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>(9,800),<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>North Carolina State University (7,730),<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>WakeMed (7,607),<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rex Hospital (4,800),<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wake County (4,272),<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>City of Raleigh (3,811), Progress Energy (2,500), First Citizens BancShares (1,703),<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Duke Raleigh Hospital (1,700)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Others - BASF Crop Protection, BASF Plant Science LP, Bayer CropScience LP, Biogen IDEC, Cisco Systems, Credit Suisse, Fidelity Investments, GlaxoSmithKline, IBM, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, NetApp, RTI International, Syngenta Biotechnology, Talecris Biotherapeutics, United States Environmental Protection Agency</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Public Transportation</span></u></i></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> - Public transportation in and around Raleigh is provided by Capital Area Transit (CAT), which operates 38 bus fixed routes and a historic trolley line within the city, and also by Triangle Transit. From 1995 the cornerstone of Triangle Transit's long-term plan was a 28-mile rail corridor from northeast Raleigh, through downtown Raleigh, Cary, and Research Triangle Park, to Durham using DMU technology. There were proposals to extend this corridor 7 miles to Chapel Hill with light rail technology. However, in 2006 Triangle Transit deferred implementation indefinitely when the Federal Transit Administration declined to fund the program due to low ridership projections.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /> <br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /> </span></div>
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</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">75 <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greensboro-High_Point,_NC_Metropolitan_Statistical_Area" title="Greensboro-High Point, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Greensboro-High Point, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area</span></a></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">vs 2010 MSA rank: -2<br />
Pop: 2010 (723,801) - 2016 (756,139) = +4.47%</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Milken: 2009:(154)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>-<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2013:(135) <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2016: (121)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">U3 Unemployment (January): 2009: (10.3) - 2017: (5.1)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Gallup Healthway rank - 2013:(120)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>-<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2016:(116)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Per Capita personal income<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2008: ($35,340)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2015: ($39,263) = +11.1%</span></div>
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5-yr Job Growth (10-15) Score: 96.96 Rank: 141<br />
5-yr Wages & Salaries Growth (09-14) Score: 96.33 Rank: 123<br />
5-yr Relative HT GDP Growth (09-14) Score: 99.45<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rank: 83</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Largest City</span></u></i></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> – Greensboro, NC, Pop. 287,027, is the county seat of Guilford county<br />
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<b><i><u><span style="color: #c00000;">Higher Education</span></u></i></b> – Institutes of higher education - University of North Carolina at Greensboro, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, Bennett College for Women, Greensboro College, Guilford College, Guilford Technical Community College, Elon University School of Law, (For-profit universities) Brookstone College, ECPI College of Technology, DeVry University, Strayer University<br />
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<b><i><u><span style="color: #c00000;">Economy and Employers</span></u></i></b><br />
Notable companies headquartered in Greensboro include the <b>Honda Aircraft Company, Lorillard Tobacco Company, VF Corporation, Volvo Trucks of North America, RF Micro Devices, the International Textile Group, NewBridge Bank, Cook Out, Biscuitville,</b> and <b>Gilbarco Veeder-Root</b>. Greensboro is also a "center of operations" for the insurance company <b>Lincoln Financial Group</b>. Although traditionally associated with the textile and tobacco industries, Greensboro leaders are working to attract new businesses in the nanotech, high-tech and transportation/logistics sectors. The University of North Carolina at Greensboro and North Carolina A&T State University opened a joint research park, <b>Gateway University Research Park</b>. Downtown Greensboro has experienced construction investment in recent years with developments such as NewBridge Bank Park, and residential developments and office construction. In 1998,<b> FedEx </b>chose to build and operate a $300 million mid-Atlantic air-cargo and sorting hub at Piedmont Triad International Airport.</span></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Largest Employers</span></u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> (More than 1,000 employees) - </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Guilford County Schools, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cone Health, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>City Of Greensboro, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>UNC Greensboro, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>US Postal Service,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Guilford County, High Point Regional Health System, Wal-Mart Associates Inc, United Parcel Service Inc.,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Harris Teeter,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>NC A&T State University, Thomas Built Buses Inc,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Volvo Group North America Llc,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>BB&T, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Labcorp , Key Resources Inc ,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>City Of High Point ,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Lincoln National Life Ins Co, R F Micro Devices, Inc, Guilford Technical Community, Bank Of America,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Food Lion,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gilbarco Inc, Proctor & Gamble Mfg. Co, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Polo Ralph Lauren Corp<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="color: #c00000; font-size: 10.0pt;">Public Transportation</span></u></i></b><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"> - Greensboro is served by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piedmont_Triad_International_Airport" title="Piedmont Triad International Airport">Piedmont Triad International Airport</a>, which also serves the nearby cities of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_Point,_North_Carolina" title="High Point, North Carolina">High Point</a> and Winston-Salem as well as the surrounding Piedmont Triad metropolitan region. Piedmont Triad International is the third busiest airport in North Carolina, averaging 280 takeoffs and landings each day. PTI was a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airline_hub" title="Airline hub">hub</a> for the now defunct <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skybus_Airlines" title="Skybus Airlines">Skybus Airlines</a>…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amtrak" title="Amtrak">Amtrak</a>'s daily <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crescent_%28Amtrak%29" title="Crescent (Amtrak)"><i>Crescent</i></a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carolinian_%28train%29" title="Carolinian (train)"><i>Carolinian</i></a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piedmont_%28train%29" title="Piedmont (train)"><i>Piedmont</i></a> trains connect Greensboro with the cities of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_City" title="New York City">New York</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philadelphia" title="Philadelphia">Philadelphia</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baltimore" title="Baltimore">Baltimore</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington,_D.C." title="Washington, D.C.">Washington, D.C.</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richmond,_Virginia" title="Richmond, Virginia">Richmond</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raleigh,_North_Carolina" title="Raleigh, North Carolina">Raleigh</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlotte,_North_Carolina" title="Charlotte, North Carolina">Charlotte</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlanta" title="Atlanta">Atlanta</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birmingham,_Alabama" title="Birmingham, Alabama">Birmingham</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Orleans" title="New Orleans">New Orleans</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Amtrak trains, taxis, local and long-distance buses arrive and depart from the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._Douglas_Galyon_Depot" title="J. Douglas Galyon Depot">J. Douglas Galyon Depot</a>, also known as Greensboro station, at 236-C East Washington Street. Originally constructed in the early 1920s, the station and depot were renovated in 2004.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">The <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greensboro_Transit_Authority" title="Greensboro Transit Authority">Greensboro Transit Authority</a><sup><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greensboro,_North_Carolina#cite_note-77">[72]</a></sup> offers public bus service throughout the city, including a service called Higher Education Area Transit, or HEAT, which links downtown attractions to area colleges and universities. Regional public transportation throughout the metropolitan area is coordinated by PART, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piedmont_Area_Regional_Transportation" title="Piedmont Area Regional Transportation">Piedmont Area Regional Transportation</a>.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">The Greensboro Greenway is a bike trail that is being constructed to encircle downtown Greensboro. It will connect to other trails and lead out to the Bur Mill Park area and further.</span></span></div>
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</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">97<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Durham-Chapel_Hill,_NC_Metropolitan_Statistical_Area" title="Durham-Chapel Hill, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Durham-Chapel Hill, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area</span></a></span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> <br />
vs 2010 MSA rank: +7</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Pop: 2010 (504,357) - 2016 (559,535) = +10.94%</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Milken 2009:(6)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>-<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2013:(60) <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2016: (85)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">U3 Unemployment (January): 2009: (7.3) - 2017: (4.8)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Gallup Healthway rank - 2013:(32)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>-<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2016:(21)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Per Capita personal income<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2008: ($44,484)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2015: ($45,723) = +2.79%</span></div>
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5-yr Job Growth (10-15) Score: 100.40 Rank: 81<br />
5-yr Wages & Salaries Growth (09-14) Score: 96.46 Rank: 118<br />
5-yr Relative HT GDP Growth (09-14) Score: 80.47<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rank: 183</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Largest City</span></u></i></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> – Durham, NC<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pop. 263,016 as of 2016 is the county seat of Durham county<br />
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<b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="color: #c00000;">Higher Education</span></u></i></b><span style="color: #c00000;"> </span>- Duke University, North Carolina Central University, Durham Technical Community College, The Art Institute of Raleigh-Durham.<br />
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<b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="color: #c00000;">Economy and Employers</span></u></i></b><br />
10 largest employers - Duke University & Medical Center, International Business Machines, Durham Public Schools, GlaxoSmithKline, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina, NORTEL Networks, Durham City Government, Lenovo Group, Ltd., Veterans Administration Medical Center, RTI International, Inc.<br />
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<b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="color: #c00000;">Public Transportation</span></u></i></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u> </u></i>- the Durham Area Transit Authority (DATA) bus system. Triangle Transit bus - Triangle Transit (known formerly as the Triangle Transit Authority, or TTA). Triangle Transit offers scheduled, fixed-route regional and commuter bus service between Raleigh and the region's other principal cities of Durham, Cary and Chapel Hill, as well as to and from the Raleigh-Durham International Airport, Research Triangle Park and several of the region's larger suburban communities.<br />
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Public transportation within the city and to/from its nearby suburbs is provided in the form of local bus routes run by New Jersey Transit. SEPTA also provides bus service to adjacent Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Duke University also maintains its own transit system, Duke Transit operates more than 30 buses with routes throughout the campus and health system. Duke campus buses and vans have alternate schedules or do not operate during breaks and holidays. From 1995 the cornerstone of Triangle Transit's long-term plan was a 28-mile rail corridor from northeast Raleigh, through downtown Raleigh, Cary, and Research Triangle Park, to Durham using DMU technology. There were proposals to extend this corridor 7 miles to Chapel Hill with light rail technology. However, in 2006 Triangle Transit deferred implementation indefinitely when the Federal Transit Administration declined to fund the program.<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /> <br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /> </span></div>
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</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">83 <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winston-Salem,_NC_Metropolitan_Statistical_Area" title="Winston-Salem, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Winston-Salem, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area</span></a></span></b><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">vs 2010 MSA rank: -2</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Pop: 2010 (640,595) - 2016 (662,079) = +3.35%</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Milken: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2009:(92)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>-<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2013:(136) <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2016: (104)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">U3 Unemployment (January): 2009: (9.9) - 2017: (5.2)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Gallup Healthway rank - 2013:(94)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>-<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2016:(141)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Per Capita personal income<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2008: ($36,810)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2016: ($40,217)</span></div>
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5-yr Job Growth (10-15) Score: 98.21 Rank: 118<br />
5-yr Wages & Salaries Growth (09-14) Score: 98.29 Rank: 81<br />
5-yr Relative HT GDP Growth (09-14) Score: 99.67<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rank: 80<br />
Largest City – Winston-Salem, NC<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pop. 242,203 as of 2016 is the county seat of Forsyth county<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /> <br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /> </span></div>
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<b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Higher Education</span></u></i></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> –<br />
Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem State University, University of North Carolina School of the Arts, Salem College, Piedmont Baptist College, Winston-Salem Bible College, Forsyth Technical Community College<br />
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<b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="color: #c00000;">Economy and Employers</span></u></i></b> –<br />
It is the location of the corporate headquarters of the R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, Inc., Branch Banking and Trust Company (BB&T), TW Garner Food Company (makers of Texas Pete), Reynolda Manufacturing Solutions,HanesBrands, Inc., Lowes Foods Stores, Southern Community Bank and ISP Sports. Wachovia Corporation was based in Winston-Salem until it merged with First Union Corporation in September 2001; the corporate headquarters of the combined company was located in Charlotte, until it was purchased by Wells Fargo in December 2008.<br />
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Although traditionally associated with the textile, furniture, and tobacco industries, Winston-Salem is attempting to attract new businesses in the nanotech, high-tech and bio-tech fields. Medical research is a fast-growing local industry, and Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center is the largest employer in Winston-Salem. Blue Rhino, the nation's largest propane exchange company and a division of Ferrellgas, is also headquartered in Winston-Salem. In December 2004, the city landed a deal with Dell, Inc. providing millions of dollars in incentives to build a computer assembly plant nearby in southeastern Forsyth County. However to date there is speculation of closing the plant due to mass layoffs. A portion of downtown Winston-Salem has been designated as the Piedmont Triad Research Park for biomedical and information technology research and development. Currently, the research park is undergoing an expansion, with hopes of jumpstarting the city's economy.</span></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Largest Employers</span></u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> (More than 1,000 Employees) - Winston Salem Forsyth County School, Wake Forest University Baptist, Forsyth Memorial Hospital Inc, Wake Forest University School Of Me, Novant Health Inc, Wake Forest Univ., City Of Winston Salem, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hanesbrands, Inc, Wal-Mart Associates Inc, BB&T, Wells Fargo Bank, Local Government, RJ Reynolds Tobacco Company, BE Aerospace Inc, Debbies Staffing Services, Forsyth Technical College, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Winston-Salem State University, Integon Corporation, Congruity HR, American Airlines Inc<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Public Transportation</span></u></i></b><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Winston-Salem Transit Authority (WSTA) has the responsibility of providing public transportation since 1972 after taking over the Safe Bus Company, Inc.. WSTA has 27 weekly routes, operating between 5:30am and 12:00 midnight Monday through Friday and from 6:30am through 6:30pm on Saturday , WSTA makes over 2 million passenger trips. The metropolitan area is connected by Piedmont Authority for Regional Transportation (PART).<br />
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</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">116<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asheville,_NC_Metropolitan_Statistical_Area" title="Asheville, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Asheville, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area</span></a></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">vs 2010 MSA rank: +2 <br />
Pop: 2010 (424,858) - 2016 (452,319) = +6.46%</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Milken: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2009:(75)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>-<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2013:(100) <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2016: (77)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">U3 Unemployment (January): 2009: (8.6) - 2017: (4.6)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Gallup Healthway rank - 2013:(140)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>-<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2016:(26)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Per Capita personal income<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2008: ($34,550)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2015: ($38,813) = +12.34%</span></div>
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5-yr Job Growth (10-15) Score: 100.52 Rank: 78<br />
5-yr Wages & Salaries Growth (09-14) Score: 97.40 Rank: 94<br />
5-yr Relative HT GDP Growth (09-14) Score: 97.31<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rank: 98<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /> <br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /> </span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Largest City</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> – Asheville, NC, Pop. </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">89,121 is the county seat of Buncombe county</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div>
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<b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Higher Education</span></u></i></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> –<br />
Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College, Brevard College (Brevard), Mars Hill College (Mars Hill), Montreat College (Montreat), South College (Asheville), Uversity of North Carolina at Asheville, Warren Wilson College (Swannanoa), Western Carolina University (Cullowhee)<br />
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<b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="color: #c00000;">Economy and Employers</span></u></i></b><br />
Asheville has a tourism based economy. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Largest Employers – <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(More that 1,000 employees) - Memorial Mission Hospital Inc, Buncombe County Board Of Education, Ingles Markets Inc, Veterans Administration, Biltmore Workforce Management Inc, County Of Buncombe, City Of Asheville, Wal-Mart Associates Inc, Community Carepartners Inc, Asheville Buncombe Technical College, Mission Medical Associates Inc (Other significant employers) - <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Grove Park Inn owned by Omni Hotels Management, Borg-Warner Turbo Systems<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
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<b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="color: #c00000;">Public Transportation</span></u></i> –</b><br />
The city operates <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asheville_Redefines_Transit" title="Asheville Redefines Transit">Asheville Redefines Transit</a>, which consists of sixteen bus lines<sup><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asheville,_North_Carolina#cite_note-97">[93]</a></sup> providing service throughout the City of Asheville and to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Mountain,_North_Carolina" title="Black Mountain, North Carolina">Black Mountain</a>, North Carolina.<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /> <br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /> </span></div>
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</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">139 <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fayetteville,_NC_Metropolitan_Statistical_Area" title="Fayetteville, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Fayetteville, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area</span></a></span></b><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
vs 2010 MSA rank: +3</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Pop: 2010 (366,383) - 2016 (380,389) = +3.82%</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Milken 2009:(31)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>-<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2013:(82) - <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2016: (180)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">U3 Unemployment (January): 2009: (8.7) - 2017: (6.8)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Gallup Healthway rank - 2013:(163)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>-<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2016:(159)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Per Capita personal income<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2008: ($31,905)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2015: ($36,460) = +14.28%</span></div>
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5-yr Job Growth (10-15) Score: 91.19 Rank: 195<br />
5-yr Wages & Salaries Growth (09-14) Score: 86.29 Rank: 196<br />
5-yr Relative HT GDP Growth (09-14) Score: 97.10<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rank: 100</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="color: #c00000;">Largest City</span></u></i></b> – Fayetteville, NC, Pop. 204,759 as of 2016, is the county seat of Cumberland County </span></div>
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<b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="color: #c00000;">Higher Education</span></u></i></b><br />
Fayetteville State University, Methodist University, Fayetteville Technical Community College<br />
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<b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="color: #c00000;">Economy and Employers</span></u></i> –</b><br />
<u>Largest Employers</u> (More than 1,000 employess) - Department Of Defense (Fort Bragg and Pope Air Force Base), Cumberland County Bd Of Education, Cape Fear Valley Health Systems, Wal-Mart Associates Inc, County Of Cumberland, Goodyear Tire And Rubber Inc, City Of Fayetteville, Veterans Administration, Fayetteville Technical Com College, Food Lion, Fayetteville State University (Other Significant Employers) – Purolator, Eaton Corporation</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Public Transportation</span></u></i></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> – The <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fayetteville_Area_System_of_Transit" title="Fayetteville Area System of Transit">Fayetteville Area System of Transit</a> (FAST) serves the Fayetteville and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spring_Lake,_North_Carolina" title="Spring Lake, North Carolina">Spring Lake</a> regions, with ten bus routes and two shuttle routes. FAST operates thirteen fixed bus routes within the city of Fayetteville. Service is between the hours of 5:45 am and 10:30 pm on weekdays, with reduced hours on Saturdays and no Sunday service. Most routes begin and end at the Transfer Center at 147 Old Wilmington Road in Fayetteville. Other transfer points are located at University Estates, Cross Creek Mall, Veterans Administration Medical Center, Bunce and Cliffdale Rds and Cape Fear Valley Medical Center…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlantic_Coast_Line_Railroad" title="Atlantic Coast Line Railroad">Atlantic Coast Line Railroad</a> Station, built in 1911, provides daily <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amtrak" title="Amtrak">Amtrak</a> service with northbound and southbound routes leading to points along the East Coast.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">147 <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton,_NC_Metropolitan_Statistical_Area" title="Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area</span></a></span><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
vs 2010 MSA rank: -4</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Pop: 2010 (365,497) - 2016 (364,187) = -.36%</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Milken 2009:(185)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>-<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2013:(190) - 2016: (167)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">U3 Unemployment (January): 2009: (13.4) - 2017: (5.2)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Gallup Healthway rank <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- 2013:(185)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>-<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2016:(188)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Per Capita personal income<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2008: ($30,661)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2015: ($35,406) = +15.48%</span></div>
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5-yr Job Growth (10-15) Score: 94.61 Rank: 180<br />
5-yr Wages & Salaries Growth (09-14) Score: 94.28 Rank: 158<br />
5-yr Relative HT GDP Growth (09-14) Score: 112.25<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rank: 23<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="color: #c00000;">Largest City</span></u></i></b> – Hickory</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Pop. 40,567, as of 2016, is in Catawba County.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> <br />
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<b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="color: #c00000;">Higher Education</span></u></i></b> – Lenoir-Rhyne University, Appalachian State – Hickory, Catawba Valley Community College, Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute, Western Piedmont Community College<br />
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<b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="color: #c00000;">Economy and Employers</span></u></i></b> - The furniture industry in Hickory is not as strong as in the decades previous, but still a primary component in the area economy. Currently the area is home to many leading manufacturers of furniture, fiber optic cable, and pressure-sensitive tape.</span></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Largest Employers</span></u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> (More than 1,000 employees) - NC Dept Of Health & Human Services (Burke), Public School System (Burke), Blue Ridge Healthcare Hospitals (Burke), Caldwell County Schools, Bernhardt Furniture Co Inc (Burke), Merchants Distributors Llc (Caldwell), Catawba County Schools, Catawba Memorial Hospital, Gkn Driveline Newton Llc (Catawba), Commscope(Catawba), DLP Partner Frye Hospital Llc (Catawba), Human Resources Dept (Catawba),<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Corning Optical Communications Llc (Catawba), Wal-Mart Associates Inc (Catawba), Baxter Healthcare Corp (McDowell), Mcdowell County Schools</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Public Transportation</span></u></i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> - </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">Greenway Public Transportation</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> offers bus service to the cities of </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conover,_North_Carolina" title="Conover, North Carolina"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Conover</span></a></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">, </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hickory,_North_Carolina" title="Hickory, North Carolina"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Hickory</span></a></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">, and </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newton,_North_Carolina" title="Newton, North Carolina"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Newton</span></a></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">. </span><i><span style="color: black; font-size: 10.0pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">Flex Route service in the Town of Taylorsville and Demand Response Service in the counties of Alexander, Burke, Caldwell, and Catawba.</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;"></span></i></h2>
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</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">167 <span style="color: #3333ff; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilmington,_NC_Metropolitan_Statistical_Area" title="Wilmington, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Wilmington, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area</span></a></span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
vs 2010 MSA rank: +8</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Pop: 2010 (254,884) - 2016 (282,573) = +10.86%%</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Milken: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2009:(34)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>-<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2013:(77) <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>-<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2016: (54)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">U3 Unemployment (January): 2009: (9.4) - 2017: (5.3)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Gallup Healthway rank - 2013:(124)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>-<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2016:(124)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Per Capita personal income<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2008: ($36,237)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2015: ($38,922) = +7.41%</span></div>
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5-yr Job Growth (10-15) Score: 101.33 Rank: 68<br />
5-yr Wages & Salaries Growth (09-14) Score: 96.03 Rank: 129<br />
5-yr Relative HT GDP Growth (09-14) Score: 110.17<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rank: 27</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="color: #c00000;">Largest City</span></u></i></b> - Wilmington, NC, Pop. 117,525, as of 2016, is the county seat of New Hanover County.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<span style="color: #c00000; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Higher Education</span></span></u></i></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> –<br />
University of North Carolina at Wilmington, Cape Fear Community College, Shaw University satellite campus<br />
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<b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="color: #c00000;">Economy and Employers</span></u></i></b><br />
Wilmington's industrial base includes electrical, medical, electronic and telecommunications equipment; clothing and apparel; food processing; paper products; and pharmaceuticals. Wilmington is part of North Carolina's Research coast,one of the Country's largest and most successful research parts and major center in the United States. Also important to Wilmington's economy is tourism and film production. Economists have forecast growth in the Greater Wilmington area to be the fastest in the state between 2004–2010, averaging 7%.<br />
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Located on the Cape Fear River, which flows into the Atlantic Ocean, Wilmington is a sizable seaport, including private marine terminals and the North Carolina State Ports Authority's Port of Wilmington. A major international seaport, the North Carolina International Port, is being planned down the river in Southport.</span></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Largest Employers</span></u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> - New Hanover Regional Medical Center, New Hanover County School System, UNC-Wilmington,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>PPD Development Llc, County Of New Hanover, Cape Fear Community College, Cellco Partnership, City Of Wilmington NC, Pender County Schools<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Other Significant Employers) – General Electric, Corning<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Public Transportation</span></u></i></b><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> –</span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
Public transit in the area is provided by the Cape Fear Public Transportation Authority.[14] , which operates fixed bus routes, shuttles, and a free downtown trolley under the brand name Wave Transit.<br />
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<b><span style="color: #009900;">124 Smallest Metros</span></b></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">227</span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacksonville,_NC_Metropolitan_Statistical_Area" title="Jacksonville, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jacksonville, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area</span></a></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">vs 2010 MSA rank: +2</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Pop: 2010 (177,772) - 2016 (187,136) = +5.27%</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Milken 2009:(--)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>-<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2013:(52) <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2016: (160)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">U3 Unemployment (January): 2009: (8.5) - 2017: (5.7)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Gallup Healthway - 2013:(--)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>-<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2016:(--)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Per Capita personal income<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2008: ($39,902)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2015: ($43,952) = +10.15%</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">5-yr Job Growth (10-15) Score: 94.02 Rank: 142<br />
5-yr Wages & Salaries Growth (09-14) Score: 94.02 Rank: 178<br />
5-yr Relative HT GDP Growth (09-14) Score: 102.63<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rank: 64</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Largest City</span></u></i></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> – Jacksonville, NC, Pop. 67,784, as of 2016, is the county seat of Onslow county.</span></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Largest Employers</span></u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> - Onslow County Board Of Education,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Department Of Defense (Camp Lejeune & MCAS New River),<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Marine Corps Community Services, Wal-Mart Associates Inc,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>County Of Onslow,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Onslow Memorial Hospital<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Public Transportation</span></u></i></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> – <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="color: #474747;">Jacksonville Transit operates several fixed-route services seven days per week</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">236 <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenville,_NC_Metropolitan_Statistical_Area" title="Greenville, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area">Greenville, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area</a></span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
vs 2010 MSA rank: +2</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Pop: 2010 (168,148) - 2016 (177,220) = +5.40%</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Milken 2009:(41)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>-<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2013:(13) <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2016: (91)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">U3 Unemployment (January): 2009: (9.6) - 2017: (5.8)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Gallup Healthway - 2013:(--)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>-<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2016:(--)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Per Capita personal income<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2008: 2008: ($32,949)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2015: ($37,042) = +12.42%</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">5-yr Job Growth (10-15) Score: 97.25 Rank: 92<br />
5-yr Wages & Salaries Growth (09-14) Score: 97.25 Rank: 43<br />
5-yr Relative HT GDP Growth (09-14) Score: 114.26<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rank: 166</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Largest City</span></u></i></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> – Greenville, NC, Pop. 91,495, as of 2016, is the county seat of Pitt county.</span></div>
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<b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="color: #c00000;">Higher Education</span></u></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">East Carolina University, Shaw University (satellite campus), Pitt Community College<br />
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<b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="color: #c00000;">Economy and Employers</span></u></i> –</b><br />
The health care community in Greenville is one of the largest in the state of North Carolina. DSM - creates innovative products and services in Life Sciences and Materials Sciences. NACCO Materials Handling Group, Alliance One International, TRC, Inc., ASMO Greenville of North Carolina. </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><a href="http://www.locateincarolina.com/majoremployers.aspx"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Other Pitt County Businesses</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Largest Employers – (More than 1,000 employees) - Vidant Medical Center, East Carolina University, Pitt County Board Of Education, Pitt Community College, Patheon Manufacturing Services Llc, Nacco Materials Handling Group Inc, Wal-Mart Associates, Inc, Pitt County<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Public Transportation</span></u></i></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> -The City of Greenville operates a mass transit bus system called Greenville Area Transit or GREAT.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">282 <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rocky_Mount,_NC_Metropolitan_Statistical_Area" title="Rocky Mount, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Rocky Mount, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area</span></a><br />
</span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">vs 2010 MSA rank: -18</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Pop: 2010 (152,392) - 2016 (147,323) = -3.33%</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Milken: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2009:(78)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>-<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2013:(169) <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2016: (192)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">U3 Unemployment (January): 2009: (12.4) - 2017: (7.4)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Gallup Healthway - 2013:(--)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>-<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2016:(--)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Per Capita personal income<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2008: ($31,821)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2015: ($36,459) = +14.57%</span></div>
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5-yr Job Growth (10-15) Score: 88.33 Rank: 196<br />
5-yr Wages & Salaries Growth (09-14) Score: 88.33 Rank: 193<br />
5-yr Relative HT GDP Growth (09-14) Score: 70.91<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rank: 165</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="color: #c00000;">Largest City</span></u></i></b> – Rocky Mount, NC, Pop. 55,466 as of 2016, is the largest city in Nash and Edgecombe counties.</span></div>
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<b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="color: #c00000;">Higher Education</span></u></i></b><br />
Post-secondary institutions include Nash Community College,Shaw University, North Carolina Wesleyan College and Edgecombe Community College<br />
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<b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="color: #c00000;">Economy and Employers</span></u></i> –</b><br />
Edgecombe Tarboro Bd Of Education, Qvc Rocky Mount Inc,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>City Of Rocky Mount,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hospira Inc, Nash-Rocky Mount Schools,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nash General Hospital,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Consolidated Diesel Co<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Other Significant Companies) -<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Hillshire Brands Company, Vidant Medical Center, Alorica Inc,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mclane Mid-Atlantic Inc, PNC Bank</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Public Transportation</span></u></i></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> – <span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-themecolor: text1;">Tar River Transit is a pubic transportation service providing affordable fixed-route bus service throughout the City of Rocky Mount, North Carolina and Rural General Public para-transit transportation for Nash and Edgecombe counties.</span></span><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">278 <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burlington,_NC_Metropolitan_Statistical_Area" title="Burlington, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Burlington, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area</span></a></span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> <br />
vs 2010 MSA rank: +9</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Pop: 2010 (151,131) - 2016 (159,688) = +5.66%</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Milken 2009:(75)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>-<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2013:(46) - 2016: (117)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">U3 Unemployment (January): 2009: (10.8) - 2017: (5.0)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Gallup Healthway - 2013:(--)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>-<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2016:(--)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Per Capita personal income<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2008: ($32,895)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2015: ($35,839) = +8.94%</span></div>
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5-yr Job Growth (10-15) Score: 96.63 Rank: 105<br />
5-yr Wages & Salaries Growth (09-14) Score: 96.63 Rank: 101<br />
5-yr Relative HT GDP Growth (09-14) Score: 94.68<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rank: 52</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="color: #c00000;">Largest City</span></u></i></b> – Burlington, NC, Pop. 52,709, as of 2016, is located in Guilford and Alamance counties.</span></div>
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<b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="color: #c00000;">Higher Education</span></u></i></b><br />
Elon University, Alamance Community College<br />
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<b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="color: #c00000;">Economy and Employers</span></u></i> </b>–<br />
LabCorp, one of the largest clinical laboratory companies in the world, has its headquarters and several testing facilities in Burlington. LabCorp is Alamance County's largest employer, employing over 3,000 people in the county. Honda Aero, a subsidiary of Honda, recently announced that it will move its corporate headquarters to Burlington and build a $27 million plant at the Burlington-Alamance Regional Airport where it will build its HF120 jet engines for use in very light jets. Biscuitville, a regional fast food chain, is based in Burlington. Burlington is also the operations headquarters for Gold Toe Brands, a manufacturer of socks. </span></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Largest Employers</span></u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> - Alamance-Burlington School System, Labcorp, Alamance Regional Medical Center, Elon University, Wal-Mart Associates Inc, Alamance County Government (Other Significant Employers) – GKN Automotive Components, Honda Power Equipment<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Public Transportation</span></u></i></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> – Link Transit is your local transportation partner, serving Burlington, Gibsonville and Alamance Community College.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>ACTA is a Public Authority established July 1, 2002 by the Alamance County Board of Commissioners under North Carolina General Statutes Chapter 160A, Article 25. The Authority is to provide transportation for the elderly, disabled, and general public in Alamance County. The Authority utilizes vans and buses which are ADA equipped, including wheelchair lifts, to assist persons with specialized needs.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">312 <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Bern,_NC_Metropolitan_Statistical_Area" title="New Bern, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">New Bern, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area</span></a></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">vs 2010 MSA rank: -4</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Pop: 2010 (126,802) - 2016 (126,111) = -.54%</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Milken 2009:(--)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>-<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2013:(--) - 2016: (153)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">U3 Unemployment (January): 2009: (--) - 2017: (--)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Gallup Healthway - 2013:(--)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>-<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2016:(--)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Per Capita personal income<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2008 ($36,051)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2015: ($39,975) = +10.88%</span></div>
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5-yr Job Growth (10-15) Score: 93.82 Rank: 148<br />
5-yr Wages & Salaries Growth (09-14) Score: 93.82 Rank: 175<br />
5-yr Relative HT GDP Growth (09-14) Score: 84.17<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rank: 105</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Largest City</span></u></i></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> – New Bern, NC, Pop. 30,101, as of 2016, is the county seat of Craven county.</span></div>
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<b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Higher Education</span></u></i></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
Craven Community College<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /> <br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /> </span></div>
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<b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Economy and Employers</span></u></i></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Largest Employers</span></u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> -<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Department Of Defense (MCAS Cherry Point), Craven County Schools, Craven Regional Medical Center, BSH Home Appliances Corporation (Other Significant Employers) – Moen, Marine Corp Community Services</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Public Transportation</span></u></i></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> – CARTS - The system operates a fleet of 32 vehicles, including specially modified vans to accommodate the elderly and/or handicapped and a variety of other vehicles such as standard vans, converted vans, mini-buses and sedans.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
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</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">315 <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goldsboro,_NC_Metropolitan_Statistical_Area" title="Goldsboro, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Goldsboro, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area</span></a> </span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">vs 2010 MSA rank: 0</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Pop: 2010 (122,623) - 2016 (124,150) = +1.25%</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Milken 2009:(--)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>-<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2013:(76) - 2016: (164)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">U3 Unemployment (January): 2009: (--) - 2017: (--)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Gallup Healthway - 2013:(--)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>-<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2016:(--)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Per Capita personal income<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2008: ($31,491)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2015: ($35,801)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>= +13.68%</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
5-yr Job Growth (10-15) Score: 91.04 Rank: 182<br />
5-yr Wages & Salaries Growth (09-14) Score: 91.04 Rank: 167<br />
5-yr Relative HT GDP Growth (09-14) Score: 90.56<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rank: 60</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Largest City</span></u></i></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> – Goldsboro, NC, Pop. 35,792, as of 2016, is the county seat of Wayne county.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
<b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="color: #c00000;">Higher Education</span></u></i></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><br />
</u></i>Wayne Community College, North Carolina Wesleyan College - Goldsboro campus<br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><br />
<b><span style="color: #c00000;">Economy and Employers</span></b></u></i><b> –</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Wayne County Board Of Education, Nc Dept Of Health & Human Services, Wayne Memorial Hospital Inc,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wal-Mart Associates Inc, County Of Wayne, Case Farms Processing Inc, Mount<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Other Significant Employers) – US Defense Department (</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seymour_Johnson_Air_Force_Base" title="Seymour Johnson Air Force Base"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Seymour Johnson Air Force Base),</span></a></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> Olive Pickle Company, Georgia-Pacific</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Public Transportation</span></u></i></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> – Goldsboro Wayne Transportation Authority (Gateway) – Bus System</span></div>
James Thomas Shellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04359970774315269896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2088603658552825500.post-43944928536895551022017-08-31T16:57:00.000-04:002017-09-04T23:06:45.867-04:00Hickory, a Legacy Community<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/> <w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> <w:Word11KerningPairs/> <w:CachedColBalance/> </w:Compatibility> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><br />
<span class="tgc"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">I have looked at several articles that fall within the time-frame of the past decade relating to our (Hickory) area’s Economic Development reality. The content summary related to cities that have experienced a similar plight to our community is pretty voluminous. We are not alone. These Cities/Metropolitan areas that have had a similar experience are called “Legacy Cities.” Legacy cities</span></span><span class="tgc"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> are older, industrial urban areas that have experienced significant population and job loss, resulting in high residential vacancy and diminished service capacity and resources. </span></span> <br />
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<span class="tgc"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Below are nine </span></span><span style="font-family: "baskervillemt" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">wide-ranging strategies that legacy cities need to adopt in order to move forward economically in the 21<sup>st</sup> Century. Along with these strategies, I have highlighted and related my personal opinion, giving suggestions as to how these strategies fit within Hickory’s economic and cultural reality.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Legacy - (Noun) - </span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">anything handed down from the past, as from an ancestor or predecessor.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b> (Adjective) - </b>of or relating to old or outdated computer hardware, software, or data </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> that, while still functional, does not work well with up-to-date systems. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">• <u><b>Rebuild the central core.</b></u> – combination of density and a walkable, urban texture with proximity to major institutions and employers creates significant opportunities for regeneration driven by residential redevelopment. This is likely to lead to other economic development opportunities. <span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">Have we not already invested huge amounts of capital in our city’s core? Are we making the right investments in City Center infrastructure?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">• <u><b>Sustain viable neighborhoods through targeted investments.</b></u> - Legacy cities contain many viable residential neighborhoods. While some of those areas have gained renewed vitality in recent years, many others have shown signs of physical deterioration and market decline. Sustaining these areas and building their attractiveness as neighborhoods of choice in their regions are critical tasks for legacy cities. <span style="background-color: yellow;">In Hickory, we have created a system of Neighborhood Associations to empower, mostly historical, neighborhoods within the City's governmental hierarchy. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="background-color: yellow;">We need to help these neighborhood's be more autonomous and make decisions for themselves even within the City's structure. Let's help these associations achieve 501-c3 non-profit status to raise monies to help do things in their neighborhoods. </span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="background-color: yellow;">With their new status, associations would be eligible to apply for state and federal grants - in their own name - as well as various state and national foundations that offer funding. But, perhaps the most unique funding opportunity is right within the neighborhood itself. Local businesses located in or adjacent to these neighborhoods would have a new way of giving back to the communities they serve. These businesses could now make tax-deductible investments in the local communities and help to directly meet the needs of their neighbors.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">• <u><b>Repurpose vacant land for new activities.</b></u> - The large inventory of vacant land and buildings in legacy cities is a valuable asset, and should be seen as such by local officials and their partners. By repurposing it for new uses, such land can become the springboard for building new quality places. <span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">Along the lines of reducing and re-using or recycling: How much vacant property/buildings are available? Is there a current suitable purpose for the property? What is its strategic value? </span></span></div>
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<span style="background: yellow; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">If there is an overabundance of property available, but currently little demand (now or for the foreseeable future), then it is best to demolish unneeded structures and clear land.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The most effective way to reduce the inventory of unneeded buildings is to not create more buildings until the current inventory is reduced -- doing this will help to maintain (and increase) the value of existing viable structures. </span></div>
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<span style="background: yellow; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">What is the value of repurposing a building and will the pay-off outweigh the costs in the long run. Versus building a new structure, which process will lead to the greatest pay-off for all parties involved?</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="background-color: yellow;">All parties involved equal the property owner, adjacent property owners, and the larger community (which may be providing economic incentives). </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">• <u><b>Use assets to build competitive advantages.</b> </u>– <span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">What are the economic and cultural assets of our community? We need to do a full audit of the properties and resources within the community to figure our what is working and what is not working. This is a key to developing a plan moving forward.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">• <b><u>Re-establish the central economic role of the city. </u></b>– Cities should focus on </span><span style="font-family: "baskervillemt" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">building export-oriented economies linked to the regional, national, and global networks, not only to build wealth and generate financial multipliers within the city, but to further their engagement with their regions in ways that will ultimately break down urban/suburban barriers and lead to greater regional integration. </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">What is the Brand of the Community? What is its mission? What is its purpose?</span><span style="background-color: yellow;"> What is the "Vision" of what we want to be.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">• <u><b>Use economic growth to increase community and resident well-being </b></u>-- <span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">Who needs help in the community? What areas need the most uplifting? What would you say are the most important areas of town that need to be addressed? What are the most important issues that need to be addressed?</span> <span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">Economically? Culturally?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">• <u><b>Build stronger local governance capacity and partnerships</b></u> -- <span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">How can we help government better understand the needs of the community? Governance is leadership and leadership must formulate intentional strategies to unlock</span></span><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> the potential of a city’s assets to bring about sustainable regeneration. You have to communicate with the people of the community and get them to buy-in and leadership must work to have understanding and trust as the community moves forward. “Strategic Incrementalism” begins with leaders sharing a vision of the city’s future and then making incremental, tactical decisions that will transform the status quo, while avoiding grandiose and unrealistic plans.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">• <u><b>Increase the ties between legacy cities and their regions</b></u> -- <span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">The cities within our Metropolitan area have to take a bigger role in our economic development. Hickory is the Hub and the largest city in our Metropolitan area. Hickory has to get on a path towards growth in population as well as economy and work in partnership with Morganton and Lenoir to build synergistic hubs of industry within the realities of the modern economy. We have to pull in the same direction and we also have to work within the framework of the larger cities that are experiencing growth within our region (Charlotte, Asheville, Winston-Salem).</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">• <u><b>Rethink state and federal policy toward legacy cities.</b></u> – <span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">We can’t control this, but we must promote how State and Federal policies have negatively impacted our area and work through our Congressional and State Representatives to change certain policies and to help create legislation that can help us to transition to the realities of the modern economy.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto auto;">-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto auto;"> A couple of publications helped me in the presentation of the information above</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto auto;"><b><a href="http://americanassembly.org/sites/default/files/download/publication/reinventing_americas_legacy_cities.pdf">Reinventing America’s Legacy Cities: Strategies for Cities Losing Population</a></b> - The American Assembly - Columbia University - March 2011 </span></span></span></div>
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James Thomas Shellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04359970774315269896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2088603658552825500.post-17245468106454739802017-08-30T01:21:00.000-04:002017-09-06T00:23:46.021-04:00Hickory, Creativity, and the Killa C's of Economic Regeneration<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/> <w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> <w:Word11KerningPairs/> <w:CachedColBalance/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 16.0pt;">The Hound is back:</span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Eight years ago I wrote a series of articles about where Hickory stood economically at the end of the 21<sup>st</sup> Century’s first decade. I spoke to many people who found relevance in the issues that I discussed at that time. We are living in a transitional age, a period transitioning out of the old industrial age and into an age of productivity that relies upon information technology and knowledge at its core. The old economy of industrial cities, like Hickory, was operated through top down management. The new, Knowledge Economy, depends upon individual empowerment. It has been a difficult transition for our community, but there are signs of a desire to change all around us.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Years removed from the decade of economic turmoil we experienced related to the international trade agreements and the 2008 Financial Crisis, we have moved passed the feelings of loss and abandonment. Most people have realized that life goes on and they figured out how to survive, while others are no longer with us, and then there are the young folks that don’t know any different. The young folks think the way that things are now is the way they have always been.<br />
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What our area went through economically has been life altering for many of our citizens. They have never gotten back to the levels of prosperity that they experienced through much of the 1980s and 1990s. There is a frustration related to the different world we live in today. People have come to accept the reality of a constantly changing world, what they don’t understand is Hickory’s position and status in that ever changing world. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Most people in the workforce understand that we are part of a new global reality. We have come to grips with the realization that our old job base, Manufacturing, as we knew it, is not coming back, but that does not mean that goods aren’t going to be produced. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hickory, and the surrounding area, has lost half of the industrial jobs from the peak of around 30 years ago. However, manufacturing is still an important part of our economy and more prevalent than in most other communities in the nation.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I think most people have come to grips with the reality that careers are no longer determined by specific and redundant tasks. In order to make money, individuals have to be better-rounded, adaptable, experienced in fundamental skills, and have the ability to multi-task. Most of the people I know have changed jobs over the past decade and many have changed jobs multiple times and some have seen a complete change of career. It’s an ever changing employment reality in the 21<sup>st</sup> Century. You aren’t allowed to get comfortable.</span></div>
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Richard Florida, who I have discussed previously on this site, developed philosophy about the new economy in his book <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Rise-Creative-Class-Transforming-Community/dp/0465024769"><span style="color: blue;">The Rise of the Creative Class</span></a>. He wrote, “<span style="color: #000099;">The key to economic growth lies not just in the ability to attract the creative class, but to translate that underlying advantage into creative economic outcomes in the form of new ideas, new high-tech businesses and regional growth.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The Hickory area has struggled to move towards this new economic paradigm, but those who have chosen to stay understand the new reality and they have adapted the best they can. We have many creative individuals in our community. We just have to find more outlets for them to express themselves and to find avenues for them to benefit from their creativity.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This is the beginning of an update of my series from eight years ago <a href="http://thehickoryhound.blogspot.com/2009/08/hickory-time-to-put-puzzle-together.html">Time to put the Puzzle together</a>. In looking at where we were and comparing it to now, we can see that our community has evolved, but more because it has been forced to and not because it chose to. There is still a division between Old Hickory and New Hickory.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Yes, I know that many do not like the term “Old Hickory.” I have never meant harm in saying that. Tell me, how else am I supposed to define it?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Like I said eight years ago, and I will reiterate today, this city has a lot going for it and with focus it can get back to growth, but we have to be honest about where we stand and willing to change the direction of this city to take advantage of its resources. We have lost many of our best and brightest young people and the numbers bear that out. While the middle-aged and elderly populations have grown substantially in the area, since 2000, the 18 to 45 age bracket has lost population drastically. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I said at the time, that it reminded me of a church that doesn't add younger members. It is sure to fail. The not so funny thing is that it has evolved to where many of the churches in our area are experiencing this very problem at this present time.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Hickory has only grown by 400 people in the past six years and the Metropolitan area has lost population. We have wasted time in not taking a hard core approach to turning this situation around. The writing is on the wall. The future viability of Hickory is at stake!</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The Killa C’s</span></u></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> of Economic Regeneration -<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </b>The Killer C’s can be Killa if you implement them and a Killer if you don’t.</span><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="color: red; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Change</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> - W<span class="oneclick-link">e must transform from the industrial economy to post industrial realities. Manufacturing and top-down control systems led to massive production and growth in society. Our society’s necessities were managed through the process of industrialization; including government, energy, education, food, healthcare, and the entire corporate process through increases in economies of scale, maximizing revenues, and reducing costs; thus maximizing profit to the fullest extent possible.</span></span><span class="oneclick-link"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The Industrialization process was never going to be sustainable. Because resources are not infinite and perpetual, unlimited growth is not realistic. </span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The new economy is based upon information and knowledge, but this doesn’t mean the end of production. People will have the same needs in life, those necessities are just evolving.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Economic evolution in the 21<sup>st</sup> Century has brought us to the reality of the necessity of certain constraints on modern development, such as minimizing energy use (or creating alternative sources of energy), minimizing/eliminating waste (pollution), and maximizing the health and wellness of people.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Every facet of the economy is being redeveloped with information technology and knowledge at its core. Solutions that have, and will, emerge in the knowledge economy operate very differently than old industrial models. The industrial economy was based on top down management of processes and resources. Today, cooperation and collaboration towards innovation and creativity have become a necessity in the production of goods and services.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The new age production economy (Knowledge Economy) has created tension with people vested in the Old Industrial Economy. The Old School economy is rooted in corporatism and large scale solutions. The reality of modern technology offers us the possibilities of homestead and neighborhood (local) based microsolutions, such as energy networks. An example is food, where we have seen industrialized, large-scale, subsidized production of basic foods, like corn and soy, versus a developing, smaller-scale, localized production of food on microfarms and distribution through their networks.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Though there will always be tension in an evolving society, this economic evolution is changing how things get done and constantly creating new opportunities to innovate products.</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="color: red; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></u></b><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="color: red; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Creativity</span></u></b><span style="color: red; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">– <span class="oneclick-link">the</span> <span class="oneclick-link">ability</span> <span class="oneclick-link">to</span> <span class="oneclick-link">transcend</span> <span class="oneclick-link">traditional</span> <span class="oneclick-link">ideas,</span> <span class="oneclick-link">rules,</span> <span class="oneclick-link">patterns,</span> <span class="oneclick-link">relationships,</span> <span class="oneclick-link">or</span> <span class="oneclick-link">the</span> <span class="oneclick-link">like,</span> <span class="oneclick-link">and</span> <span class="oneclick-link">to</span> <span class="oneclick-link">create</span> <span class="oneclick-link">meaningful</span> <span class="oneclick-link">new</span> <span class="oneclick-link">ideas,</span> <span class="oneclick-link">forms,</span> <span class="oneclick-link">methods,</span> <span class="oneclick-link">interpretations,</span> <span class="oneclick-link">etc.;</span> <span class="oneclick-link">originality,</span> <span class="oneclick-link">progressiveness,</span> <span class="oneclick-link">or</span> <span class="oneclick-link">imagination.</span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="color: red; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></u></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="color: red; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Capital</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> - Consists of anything that can enhance a person's power to perform economically useful work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span class="intro">There are five types of sustainable capital from where we derive the goods and services we need to improve the quality of our lives. Those 5 types of capital are Natural, Human, Social, Manufactured, and Financial capital. As a community, we need to identify our capital resources and assess what we can we do to be relevant within that framework of reality? </span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="color: red; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Capturing & Captivating the marketplace</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> – <span class="oneclick-link">We want to gain</span> <span class="oneclick-link">a grasp</span> <span class="oneclick-link">of</span> the marketplace by understanding our place within market realities, which will give us a better position of strength. Then we can utilize that information to <span class="oneclick-link">exert</span> our <span class="oneclick-link">influence</span> <span class="oneclick-link">over prospective investors in our community by gaining their attention</span>/<span class="oneclick-link">interest</span> in what we have to offer.<span class="oneclick-link"> </span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="color: red; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Coordination & Cooperation</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> – Legacy (Old Industrial) communities must <span style="color: black;">forge new partnerships with their counties, neighboring communities, their State, the federal government, and other economic entities aligning their efforts both vertically and horizontally.</span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="color: red; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Consolidation</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> – Efficiency needs to become a priority in reducing redundancies of process and maximizing the allocation of scarce resources.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="color: red; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Care</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> - (Maintaining/Sustaining) taking care of the capital and infrastructure we have, while evolving towards new realities, efficiently utilizing scarce resources. What good does it do to obtain new capital or build out new infrastructure, if other infrastructure falls into disrepair? This would be a misallocation of scarce resources.</span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I have added a Donation button to this site. It takes a lot of time and energy to write this material. Any contribution will be kindly appreciated. This isn't a career move or anything. If I get any money, I can assure you that I would use the money to write more and enhance the purpose and the mission of The Hickory Hound. Thank You. Peace Out.</span></i></div>
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</style> <![endif]-->James Thomas Shellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04359970774315269896noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2088603658552825500.post-11984234565211181362017-08-16T16:53:00.000-04:002017-08-16T16:55:07.661-04:00HDR Letter to the Editor: 'Time to come together on economic development'<div data-contents="true">
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<span data-offset-key="5tfrc-0-0"><span data-text="true">Jerry Willard was my Economic and Government teacher when I was in 9th grade (1980-81) at Newton-Conover Junior High School. A great mentor and role model to many in this community through the years.</span></span><br />
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<b><span data-offset-key="4hr87-0-0"><span data-text="true">Hickory Daily Record Letter to the Editor: ‘Time to come together on economic development’ - (August 16. 2017)</span></span></b></div>
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<span data-offset-key="8j3jf-0-0"><span data-text="true">Some years ago, I wrote a letter to the community through this forum to help us remember a founding principle of Catawba County’s birth and economic development.</span></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="5dhde-0-0"><span data-text="true">I highlighted the entrepreneurial spirit of our founders who found conditions, resources, and the strong work ethic which made our region grow and prosper.</span></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="9ssls-0-0"><span data-text="true">While I have seen and heard much in my time as an educator (now teaching in year 47) about economic development, I have yet to see a real plan that taps into that entrepreneurial spirit that made this area a great place to live.</span></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="8102k-0-0"><span data-text="true">As a component of a new plan, I advocate marketing to the nation and the world, “Young folks with great ideas for start-ups, we have buildings and plans to grow new businesses, provide you incentives, and a commitment to foster the Catawba Valley entrepreneurial spirit. Come on in.”</span></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="19v15-0-0"><span data-text="true">I call on leaders to make sure all stake holders have been included in the development and implementation of plans, and that all plans, especially those which have promised results from bond funding can be assessed for effectiveness?</span></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="ciig4-0-0"><span data-text="true">I feel we spend way too much time and money putting lipstick on pigs to attract the “big companies” rather than truly developing economic foundations.</span></span></div>
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<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="2i2u9-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="2i2u9-0-0"><span data-text="true">It’s time to focus on growing the culture and environment that made this a great place to live in the first place. It takes work, transparency, and a great plan to enhance a culture.</span></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="dse9b-0-0"><span data-text="true">We have a vibrant university in town, we have solid and well-focused public schools, we have growing and niche based private and parochial schools. We have a great place to live; but we don’t have a sound, researched-based economic development plan.</span></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="7ue4r-0-0"><span data-text="true">This is not a factor of not caring. We care, and our leaders care. I feel we just don’t have the knowledge, research, and models to make us more aware and more successful.</span></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="1c6fs-0-0"><span data-text="true">You know, Greenville, S.C. didn’t just happen. They had a highly sophisticated and transparent plan based on consensus goals with metrics for measuring success.</span></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="f717h-0-0"><span data-text="true">If this county and region has financial resources to support economic growth, it’s time to make sure those resources are part of a sound plan. A house built on lipstick and sand might make us feel pretty and that we are at the beach, but we know the results of such foundations; the Good Book tells us the same thing.</span></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="a6fjj-0-0"><span data-text="true">It’s time to come together on economic development with a little Christ-like humility on a plan that is researched-based, and that works for all of our citizens.</span></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="am2ul-0-0"><span data-text="true">It’s time for our citizens to ask some hard questions about economic development.</span></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="eshqq-0-0"><span data-text="true">Jerry Willard</span></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="ej6p5-0-0"><span data-text="true">Hickory</span></span></div>
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James Thomas Shellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04359970774315269896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2088603658552825500.post-48472947500071014342017-08-01T23:51:00.000-04:002017-08-02T08:18:13.197-04:00Letter to the Editor: We've been selling. People aren't buying.<span style="color: #990000;"><i>Below is my Letter to the Editor that was in Tuesday's (August 1, 2017) Hickory Daily Record - My mother encapsulated the thought about Hickory's 2017 Mayoral election when she told me, 'I read all of those press releases. It's like the same person wrote them.' I'm not here to cast aspersions about this issue. You can go read articles and threads from this website. It is all about the true, real Economic Development plan that this community has been in desperate need of for a long, long time.</i></span><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://thehickoryhound.blogspot.com/2009/10/fixing-hickory-narrowing-our-focus.html">*Hickory - The Fixing Hickory Series</a></li>
<li><a href="http://thehickoryhound.blogspot.com/2009/08/hickory-time-to-put-puzzle-together.html">*Hickory - Time to put the Puzzle together</a></li>
<li><a href="http://thehickoryhound.blogspot.com/2012/03/problems-and-solution-to-issues-we-face.html">*Problems and Solutions 2012</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.youtube.com/hickoryhound">HoundVision on YouTube</a></li>
<li><a href="http://thehickoryhound.blogspot.com/2012/02/hickory-hounds-new-media-bibliography.html">New Media Bibliography</a></li>
<li><a href="http://thehickoryhound.blogspot.com/2013/08/the-complete-platform-for-21st-century.html">Platform for a 21st Century Hickory</a></li>
<li><a href="http://thehickoryhound.blogspot.com/2012/09/references-to-where-we-are-today.html">References to where we are today</a></li>
<li><a href="http://thehickoryhound.blogspot.com/2010/07/reaffirnation-of-independece-of-united.html">The Reaffirmation of Independence</a></li>
</ul>
<span style="color: #990000;"><i>At tonight's City Council meeting City Manager Warren Wood talked about the creation of a plan for Long Term Economic Development. Essentially, there is going to be a new chain of command and accountability. God, I hope so, but this is about the people we elect more than the paid professionals. I'm on board with Warren, because I think he is open-minded about possibilities. </i></span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;"><i>For far too long, we've put the cart before the horse. Somebody in a position of authority would get a wild hair up their (#youknowwhere) and decide to run with it. That's the absolutely 100% wrong way to do things. Democracy can be uncomfortable, but when you get people of diverse circumstances to come together and hash out issues, then you come up with the best ideas, you get everyone to buy-in and pull in the same direction. It makes for a happier community even when circumstances are less than ideal. When you dictate policy through a top-down authoritative chain of command, then people feel <a href="http://www.gallup.com/poll/204536/naples-florida-remains-top-metro.aspx?g_source=Well-Being&g_medium=newsfeed&g_campaign=tiles">#miserable</a>.</i></span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="color: #990000;"><i>Like Warren pointed out tonight, we have some real opportunities and possibilities for Economic Development. This will not happen unless the elected leadership and the people who vote for them understand that we can't afford to continue with the S.O.S.O. (Same Ole Same Ole)... and folks we are still on the path of the same ole same ole, no matter what they say.</i></span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><i><br /></i></span><span style="color: #990000;"><i>Like I've said, I don't pretend to have all the answers. I don't think any one person does. I am willing to listen and I hope others will afford an open mind. If anyone wants to send me an e-mail about what they think would be a good idea, then please do so -- hickoryhound@gmail.com </i></span><br />
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I had another good friend pass away this week. Richard Garrison, a news reporter with WMNC in Morganton passed away due to complications from Diabetes. Richard would sit beside me at Council meetings and he was one of the people I spent hours speaking with. I will miss him greatly. He actually worked with my grandmother at WIRC radio back in the 1980s. She ran the swap shop at that time and it was one of Richard's first jobs in radio. We had a special bond because of that. Richard loved politics and he knew all kinds of stuff and he loved informing me about happenings around the area, the State, and basically everywhere. I called him Rickee, he'd laugh cause no one else called him that. Peace Be With You Rickee. You are now immortal.<br />
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Below is my letter. <br />
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Election season is upon us and in Hickory we see four contenders for Mayor. We've read press releases in this paper about why they are running, those reasons sound as if the same person wrote the summaries. They all tell us about job creation, attracting population, and building out infrastructure.<br />
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These candidates tell us that our economic problems have been related to issues with "Branding", our "Message", Marketing and "Selling" our community. Personally. I don't think our issues relate to all of that as much as what is the Substance of our message.<br />
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This community deserves specifics about each candidate's "Economic Development Plans" and their "Vision" moving forward. What are the objectives of their plan? How would they strategically implement it? Will they pledge to transparency and accountability measures? How will they work towards community buy-in? What will they define as success?<br />
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I believe that the candidate that can articulate the above is the person who could help bring businesses here.<br />
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Honestly, we don't have a sales problem in our community. Look at the decision makers in our community. They are all salespeople. They sell Insurance, Financial Services, Real Estate, Furniture, Hotel Rooms, etc. I'm not here to dismiss the capabilities of a good salesperson, but maybe we need to take a look at the other side of the Economic Equation.<br />
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In economics, the other side of the sales equation is demand. We live in a growing State. Since 2000, Charlotte's population has grown by more than 50%, Raleigh up 65%, Asheville up 30%, Wilmington up 55%.<br />
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In that time, Hickory's population is up by 8% and virtually nothing since 2010. For more than a decade, we've been working on branding, messages, and marketing. We've been spending a lot of public money on such initiatives. We've been selling. People aren't buying.<br />
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I understand that people want a positive message, but I think we really need a serious message. We don't need a "Me Too" message. We need a Mayor who understands the demand side of the equation. What do people and businesses want?<br />
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Catch Phrases and Buzzwords might make for comfort, but it isn't going to bring in big business or the masses. The future Mayor will have a choice to make. Is he going to go along for the ride or is he going to drive. I'm interested to find out.James Thomas Shellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04359970774315269896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2088603658552825500.post-49093188220435349392017-07-11T03:03:00.000-04:002017-07-11T03:03:45.842-04:00HDR Letter to the Editor Letter to the Editor - Dr. Ralph Griffith has legitimate concerns<span style="color: #990000;"><i>Below is my Letter to the Editor that was in Sunday's (July 9, 2017) Hickory Daily Record - They entitled the article "City needs to consider recent bond projects debate"... I wrote the letter because of some of the false premises that I read related to Dr. Griffith's resignation from the Bond Commission. The Bond vote passed and I am not going to belabor a three year old issue, but I believe that there is still room for discussion about the "Economic Development Plan" side of the story. We still need to look at it's objectives, the strategic implementation, the need for constant (re)evaluation of the plan, transparency, accountability measures, community buy-in, and the pay off - what will we define as success?.</i></span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="color: #990000;"><i>I don't pretend to have all the answers and I don't think any one person does. I also don't think people locked within a Daytight Compartment, that becomes an echo chamber, can come up with a plan that will be truly successful. Anyone can say something is successful, but will it be organically successful? Will it feel successful to most of the people of Hickory?</i></span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="color: #990000;"><i>What you need is to bring people from all backgrounds, cultural and economic, together where the thought is that no ideas are considered bad and/or looked down upon. Everyone has something to contribute in a real community. You shouldn't determine outcomes before you begin strategic processes. You shouldn't rig processes. You should use an open-minded, open-ended discussion of ideas to move forward with a strategic process that develops a plan through consensus, not dictates, that genuinely benefits the community (the entity) as a whole.</i></span><br />
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10 years ago, I was permitted to write a guest column, in this newspaper, about my view of the economic plight of this community. At that time, some of my statements were construed as a little less than congenial. Last week, I read how Professor Ralph Griffith, had resigned from the Bond Commission, because he did not agree with its progress and direction. It seems that Dr. Griffith is now being misconstrued as a rabble-rouser, because he isn't "All-In" on the message of the power structure that controls the City of Hickory.<br />
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Over this past week, I have listened and spoken with Dr. Griffith. I did not know him before, but I will tell you that he isn't a trouble maker. He has actually studied and taught Entrepreneurship and Economics and his goal is to help people in this community, where he lives and works. Personally, I have a degree in Finance from UNC-Wilmington and I have 30+ years of working experience in one of the few growing sectors of business in this community. I understand where he is coming from. We should look at the real, big picture.<br />
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Years ago, I was at the forefront of telling this community about its losses, including the loss of younger people. Initially, I was ignored, now much of what I spoke of has become commonly accepted.<br />
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What's the deal? I truly believe in order for our community to move forward towards viable economic growth, citizens need to demand a strategic plan to accompany the Bond Projects. This should have been in place prior to the referendum, instead of the "If you build it, they will come" trek that we have been taken down. City leaders talk about Greenville, South Carolina as a model to follow. First, Greenville got BMW, which led to all of their community development efforts. Greenville then developed a solid plan that is transparent and has accountability measures. That is what this community needs.<br />
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A narrative has been created that the "Bond Projects" are a done deal. The Bond Ordinance, as voted upon, specifically outlines "Other Projects." As much as some people may not like it, the ordinance allows for dialog on "Other Projects." Before we dive completely into the deep end, we may want to rethink our objectives in the $40 million bond issuance that this community is going to be on the hook for.<br />
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James Thomas Shell James Thomas Shellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04359970774315269896noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2088603658552825500.post-26096391266986143062017-05-13T00:51:00.000-04:002017-05-13T09:56:00.978-04:00Peace of Mind Devotion<i>I was placed in charge of delivering a devotion to my Church Council last Sunday and here it is. I know I haven't been writing. Just haven't felt the need, had the energy, or the calling. I would like to say that I am sorry about Mayor Wright. Prayers to him and especially his family. I hate that anyone loses their Peace of Mind to that extent. It's certainly been a tough couple of years. Peace and Blessings as we all move forward together through life. </i><br />
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<b>Peace of Mind Devotion</b><br />
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“So then faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.” Romans 10:17 (NKJV)<br />
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I have a hard time with my career. I love cooking, but I don't really like doing it to earn bucks, because I don't get to cook what I want. I'm a Hessian. I'm a hired gun. My skills aren't used to cook for connoisseurs of fine food. I'm cooking for eaters and eaters don't often care about Escoffier or the five Mother Sauces or cooking techniques or the timing involved in getting food just right. Dey Hongry and they want it right now.<br />
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As a chef, I have to be both a scientist and an artist. Heck, some people even expect me to be their nutritionist. I have to be creative, yet structured. I take my job seriously, because it is my career, but sometimes I just want to let go. It can be very frustrating and these days, because of current economic conditions it isn't very rewarding and me having a background in Finance, not having financial success equates to not being successful.<br />
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I don't sleep well, because I worry about how I might have messed up that night, said something bad or that might be misconstrued in the Heat of the Moment, performed below my personal expectations, which in my mind can be conjured up to be perfection, which we all know is impossible, but isn't that what is sold to us by our society -- "Mission Perfection" which is "Mission Impossible".<br />
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I am talking about stress. I worry, because I'm not sleeping and between Friday at 3pm to Sunday at 10pm, I'm going to be working 29 of those 56 hours. And I've got to keep chugging along, because I have to keep paying my bills and meeting my obligations. So I worry past tense, present tense, and future tense.<br />
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Philippians 4:6 says “ Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.” I try not to worry, but it creeps in. It's just part of my nature. But, I do pray and I do want and need God. That is why I'm here. I probably wouldn't be here, if I didn't have those worries. I want to be a good person.<br />
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Worry is part of our human nature. It is the consequence of our imperfect world brought about by ourselves and our surroundings dating back to original sin. We are the product of all of that and we carry it forward.<br />
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Our imperfect human nature always displays what it is to be separated from God. That divide usually appears in the emotions of fear and anxiety.<br />
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As a child of God, we are called to be faithful and devoted to God, not fearful and anxious towards ourselves. Personally, I have always believed that everything happens for a reason, not necessarily because of some form of predestination, but because of the lessons of life we all must learn and go through to create the synergies that make the whole of this world greater than the sum of its parts.<br />
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You remember Schleprock from the Flintstones. He always walked around with a cloud over his head. At times, I've been guilty of that. What if we all walk around like Schleprock, with clouds over our heads. We all face challenges. That is the reality of this world. We have a choice. God gives us that choice. The world isn't perfect. I do not say that we can make everyone positive, but the world isn't going to be perfectly negative either.<br />
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You might not understand this, but we are all farmers in this world. We plant seeds (ideas, actions, and mindsets). Our ideas, actions, and mindsets germinate, grow, and bear fruit. Does a plant bear one fruit? Think about that tree and all of the fruit it bears.<br />
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We can take our personal lessons, as individuals, and have wowsy, wowsy, woo-woo negative attitudes and if we affect change in that manner, then we are going to grow a dark world filled with exponential negativity or we can sow our seeds as problem solvers and have a can do spirit and reap a harvest of exponential positivity.<br />
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Where do our fears and anxieties come from? Generally they come from the unknown. In our mind, we create our own monsters. We conjure up those monsters from uncertainty and unknowns. Left to our own devices, we can turn an ant into a dragon.<br />
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How do we turn away from that? How do we tame that beast that our mind can become? Reach for certainty. Reach for the known. We know that God loves us. How many times are we told this in the Bible. Trust in God and know that he loves you. Think about God, when you are lonely in this world and think it is you versus the world. Your Faith can push back your anxiety and your fear. Fear will always be there, but you need to learn how to tame it -- to control it.<br />
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God has a plan for us. We can't see the future and we don't know what our harvest will bring, but I do believe we understand God's plan.<br />
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<b>Remember Philippians 4 verse 6</b><br />
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.<br />
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<b>Philippians 4: 7-10 goes on to tell us</b><br />
7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. 8 And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. 9 Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.<br />
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Remember that God will always be with us!James Thomas Shellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04359970774315269896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2088603658552825500.post-16399651502521469252017-01-03T20:19:00.003-05:002017-01-03T20:19:46.931-05:00Warren Wood will be new Hickory City ManagerWarren Wood, former Hickory Assistant City Manager, will assume the position of Hickory City Manager on April 10, 2017. Warren, as many of you know is a Hickory Native. He has been the City Manager of Waxhaw, NC for the past couple of years after leaving the Assistant City Manager position he had held in Hickory.James Thomas Shellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04359970774315269896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2088603658552825500.post-45054951070412970982016-12-06T20:49:00.000-05:002016-12-06T20:49:41.000-05:00On behalf of Billy Sudderth - Hickory City Council - December 6, 2016<br />
I stand here again tonight with a heavy heart over the loss of a friend and an associate. Billy Sudderth was a great man who went above and beyond the call of duty seeking justice and equality for people who have many times been forgotten and not accounted for in this community.<br />
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I came to meet Billy during the issue with the pools that were demolished by Hickory Incorporated back in 2011. I would like to thank this very body for helping bring together the circumstances that created the Citizens for Equity in Government movement during that time. If not for those circumstances, I wouldn't have gotten to know Billy Sudderth, Walter Witherspoon, Jesse McArthur and other gentlemen of Color and their perspective, the way that I was allowed to. I had associations with Larry Pope prior to that time, but these circumstances took our relationship to a whole new level.<br />
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When President-Elect Donald Trump has spoken about rebuilding the inner cities of our nation, which let's be honest, the poor state of inner cities has mostly effected minorities, he has stated that these minorities should give the populist movement a chance, because what has been going on is not working.<br />
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Eight men met at Starbuck's in Viewmont just to talk and come to an understanding about what we had seen. The gentlemen I mentioned above along with Joe Brannock, Harry Hipps, Cliff Moone, and myself were the precursor to what Mr. Trump espoused. 'What did we have to lose?'<br />
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This body didn't take us seriously at the time, but we all know that you learned to take us seriously.<br />
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But I'll get to Billy. Billy was the founder of the Citizens for Equity in Government. He's no longer with us and y'all haven't heard from the CEG in a while, but please do not mistake this and think that the CEG movement is no longer with us. It is very much alive in this room tonight. Billy and Larry are in this room with us tonight.<br />
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I was at Billy's funeral last week. It was another uplifting celebration of another man who lived a life for others. It was spoken from the Bible, Romans chapter 12, which is a Book about Man versus Government in relation to God:<br />
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The chapter is about Love in Action<br />
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16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.<br />
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17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone.<br />
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18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.<br />
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19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.<br />
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20 On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”<br />
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21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.<br />
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I don't think anyone in this room can say that Billy didn't show this body respect. Larry Pope and Billy Sudderth had different methods in dealing with the government here in Hickory. Larry would many times be openly militant and bristle with hostility standing at this podium. Billy was soft spoken, mild mannered, courteous, conciliatory, and overly respectful to this body.<br />
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Larry was told that it's easier to attract Bees with honey than vinegar and that was Billy's exact approach -- 'the attitude of gratitude' and both were summarily dismissed by this community.<br />
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The other day, Billy's pastor talked about fighting the power and doing the right thing. This was in reference to Ridgeview's relationship with y'all. I felt the energy, the room crackled, during this part of the service. The emotion was palpable.<br />
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You could feel Billy's spiritual presence in this moment. Billy always seemed to enjoy the struggle. Billy focused on the perpetual battle. I don't think he even cared about winning or losing. Larry Pope wanted to win. He always thought that one day we would win. He told me exactly that. Billy and Larry both thought that government would provide an eventual victory, if it ever came, probably through the court system. Personally, I don't consider the circumstance of a court ruling to ever be a victory.<br />
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Personally, I don't enjoy the struggle. Life is too short to struggle. I would openly ask Billy, Why do you expect the very government that is mutually viewed as an opponent to provide you an ultimate victory?<br />
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Billy would reply in his cool manner, "HaHa... I know man. I know." You have to go into a battle with an expectation of victory. You have to fight to win.<br />
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But, I can never pretend that I went through what gentlemen like Billy and Larry went through and completely understand their perspective.<br />
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Billy's pastor the other day said you gotta love yourself before you can love others. What I learned from Billy is that you've gotta love your neighbors before you can love yourself. Billy and Larry took the hit to their personal being and welfare to move the ball forward. They were sincere team players. They were sincere community members. They were leaders. It was never about them. It was always about others.<br />
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God has always used imperfect people, imperfect actions, imperfect processes to demonstrate his power. Billy was that person... Larry was that person... I am that person on this night.<br />
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Numerically this is an ending year 2+0+1+6 = 9. The end of so many things. Next year is a beginning year 2+0+1+7 =10... 1+0 = 1 ... a new beginning. It is time for a fresh start. It is time for reconciliation.<br />
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Billy came before this body over the past couple years seeking your help in building a Multi-Cultural Resource Center in Ridgeview next to the library. Billy looked at this Multi-Cultural Resource Center as a way of our local government reconciling with Ridgeview for what happened with the swimming pools. I don't know where that issue stands, but let's give Billy and this project the respect it deserves. Billy showed you respect, let's have mutual respect.<br />
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At some point in time, I hope we can give him a spiritual victory that he didn't get to enjoy when he was physically present.<br />
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Feel the Power... Do the right thing.James Thomas Shellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04359970774315269896noreply@blogger.com0