Columbia Talent Magnet Project

Rock the vote, wild west style, TONIGHT at the Mayoral Showdown (doors open at 6:30 p.m., 701 Whaley)

2010-03-22T10:42:00.000-04:00

'Rock the vote, wild west style, TONIGHT at the Mayoral Showdown (doors open at 6:30 p.m., 701 Whaley)'

Let's Showcase Our Talent to Help Bring Google Fiber to Columbia, SC!

2010-03-15T03:08:00.000-04:00

What is Google doing and what does it seek to achieve?

Imagine sitting in a rural health clinic, streaming three-dimensional medical imaging over the web, and discussing a unique condition with a specialist in New York. Or downloading a high-definition, full-length feature film in less than five minutes. Or collaborating with classmates around the world while watching live 3D video of a university lecture. Universal, ultra high-speed Internet access will make all this, and more possible. They've urged the FCC to look at new, and creative ways to get there in its National Broadband Plan – and now they're announcing an experiment of their own.

Google is planning to build, and test ultra-high speed broadband networks in a small number of trial locations across the country. They'll deliver Internet speeds more than 100 times faster than what most Americans have access to today with 1 gigabit per second, fiber-to-the-home connections.

As a first step, they're putting out a Request for Information (RFI) to help identify interested communities. They welcome responses from local government, as well as members of the public from now until March 26th.

Their goal is to experiment with new ways to help make Internet access better, and faster for everyone. Here are some specific things that they have in mind:

* Next generation apps: They want to see what developers and users can do with ultra high-speeds, whether it's creating new bandwidth-intensive "killer apps" and services, or other uses we can't yet imagine.

* New deployment techniques: They'll test new ways to build fiber networks; to help inform, and support deployments elsewhere, they'll share key lessons learned with the world.

* Openness and choice: They'll operate an "open access" network, giving users the choice of multiple service providers. And consistent with their past advocacy, they'll manage their network in an open, non-discriminatory, and transparent way.

Like their WiFi network in Mountain View, the purpose of this project is to experiment and learn. Network providers are making real progress to expand and improve high-speed Internet access, but there's still more to be done. They don't think they will have all the answers – but through their trial, they hope to make a meaningful contribution to the shared goal of delivering faster and better Internet for everyone.

We have until March 26 to get our nominations in and prove to Google that Columbia is worthy of their ultra-high speed broadband network, and here's how you can help:

1. Submit a nomination:
http://www.google.com/appserve/fiberrfi

2. Become a fan on Facebook and invite your friends:
http://www. facebook.com/googlecolumbiasc

3. Encourage local government officials to submit government responses:
http://www.google.com/appserve/fiberrfi/public/options

4. Post “Google Columbia, SC” to your social media statuses on March 22, as part of our viral campaign: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=391650430148
Google Columbia, SC

5. Create a YouTube video telling Google why they should bring Google Fiber to Columbia, SC using the tagline “Famously Hot. Surprisingly Fast.” Submit it with your nomination and upload it to our YouTube group. If you know local celebrities that can help with this, please let us know!
http://www.youtube.com/googlecolumbiasc

There are many promising young leaders in Columbia. Who will you nominate as one of the Top 40?

2009-10-21T14:47:00.000-04:00

Know an overachiever under 40? Nominate a Midlands business star making a mark with professional success and community involvement. The nominee must primarily conduct business in the 10 counties of the Midlands* and be under 40 years of age as of January 1, 2010. Deadline for nominations is Friday, October 30, 2009; winners will be published in the Monday, January 25, 2010 edition of The State.

http://www.thestateonline.com/20under40

Get Involved. Join COR. Win an iPhone.

2009-08-19T09:05:00.001-04:00

Join or renew your membership to enter to win an iPhone!

How do I enter?
Enter to win an iPhone during Columbia Opportunity Resource’s membership renewal campaign, which runs through September 30, 2009. All you have to do is be one of the first 25 to join or renew your membership before October 1, 2009. We will draw a winner once 25 new members have joined or renewed their membership. For additional information, please contact membership@ourcor.org.

Cost of Membership:
$20 student, $35 individual

Enter today:
http://tinyurl.com/joinCOR

Already a member?
RSVP to the Facebook event and invite your friends and we'll draw a winner for a $50 gift certificate to the Columbia restaurant of their choice!
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=135540595638

What are we giving away? An actual iPhone or a gift certificate?
We are giving the winner an Apple gift certificate for $199. This can actually be used to purchase any apple good/service that you would like.

COR is dedicated to making Columbia a better place to live, learn, work, and play.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | June 29, 2009

2009-06-29T02:09:00.000-04:00

CONTACTS:
Greg Hilton - 803.606.4440
C. Grant Jackson - 803.733.2513
info@columbiatalent.com

A Road Map To A Talent-Powered Economy
Attracting the Best and Brightest to Columbia

The Columbia Talent Magnet Project is challenging the Columbia region to launch “a thousand initiatives” to help build a talent-powered economy in our region by focusing on engaging, attracting, and retaining young mobile knowledge workers.

To inspire the community to take action, the project’s partners have published a report outlining five key recommendations developed in concert with the Southern Growth Policies Board for building a talent-powered economy in the Columbia region:

- Create a Unified Vision
- Develop a Cadre of Young Leaders
- Connect Undergraduate and Young Professionals to the Community.
- Enhance Communication Vehicles, Especially Those Targeted at Young People
- Foster an Entrepreneurial Environment and Spirit in the Community

“A Road Map To A Talent-Powered Economy: Attracting the Best and Brightest to Columbia,” a report by the Columbia Talent Magnet Project and the Southern Growth Policies Board, was released today.

The Columbia Talent Magnet Project partners include Navigating from good to Great and the Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce, EngenuitySC, New Carolina – S.C.’s Council on Competitiveness, COR – Columbia Opportunity Resource, and the Columbia Metropolitan Convention & Visitors Bureau. The project is managed by EngenuitySC.

The report and recommendations grew out of an effort launched by the Columbia Talent Magnet Project and the Southern Growth Policies Board in 2008. The first phase of that initiative was a web-based survey in the fall of 2008 on the issue of attracting and retaining talent in the region. More than 1,000 people responded to that survey, the results of which were used as the basis for the first Columbia Talent Forum in November.

More than 130 invited guests ranging from area college students to business executives to government leaders gathered for the forum at Trustus Theatre to discuss the survey and brainstorm ways to attract and retain talent in Columbia.

The forum was facilitated by the Southern Growth Policies Board which drew its recommendations from that conversation.

"As cities across the country struggle to attract the young talent they need to be competitive, the collaborative effort of Columbia has the potential to be a national model. It is wonderful to see so many organizations and people working together to improve their community,” said Ted Abernathy, executive director of the Southern Growth Policies Board.

On tap are several key projects the Columbia Talent Magnet team will be developing including a Midlands Young Professionals Organizations Alliance; a region-wide entrepreneurs network and a pilot regional internship program.

While the Columbia Talent Magnet team is developing its own projects, the report is an effort to catalyze action among many community groups to “launch a thousand initiatives.”

“We’re excited about the prospect of taking Columbia’s activities to the next level by harnessing the creative potential of our citizens and leaders from the civic, social, higher education, and business community. Community and economic development is a team sport and we need everyone to step up to plate…at every level,” said Greg Hilton, project manager for EngenuitySC.

The project’s partners are working to foster collaboration among universities, colleges, community leaders and the business community to create a dynamic interaction that will increase the participation of the next generation of individuals entering the workforce and the community.

A copy of the full report and the complete Columbia Talent Magnet survey results are available at www.columbiatalent.com.

For more information contact: Greg Hilton, 803-606-4400

####

REPORT: A Road Map to a Talent-Powered Economy

2009-06-29T01:52:00.000-04:00

A report by the Columbia Talent Magnet Project & Southern Growth Policies Board.

Open publication

View the report in a separate window by clicking here. You may download or print a copy of the report by clicking on the download or print links at the top of the report.

You may view the full survey results here.

Full Survey Results

2009-06-29T01:41:00.000-04:00

The full results of the Columbia Talent survey are below. Please note that there is a separate tab for each question noted at the bottom. If you would prefer to view the results in a separate window, click here.

The State: Stop imagining; start building!

2009-06-04T17:06:00.001-04:00

http://www.thestate.com/editorial-columns/story/813405.html

Opinion - Editorial Columns

Thursday, Jun. 04, 2009
Rentz: Stop imagining; start building
By MIKE RENTZ - Guest Columnist

Columbia could go from famously hot to spontaneous combustion if it took advantage of its natural and manmade infrastructure. We have the tools.

We could tell the world to look at us — and become a leading Southern city, one that people want to visit and live in — by developing a mass transit system that really works, and making the rivers fun and useful.

If a city had to start from scratch and develop a mass transit system to tie the whole area together, purchasing the land easements alone would be cost-prohibitive. But in Columbia, the railroad tracks are already in place. All we have to do is use them. I am not talking about long ugly commuter trains, but the new generation of one-, two- and three-car trains like the ones in Jersey City, N.J. We have the opportunity to set the standard for mass transit. This is a rare time in history when all the necessary elements of something special converge and naturally fall in place.

Engineering companies that originated and are headquartered in Columbia are designing the most sophisticated mass transit systems known to man, and setting the standard all over the world.

International leaders in rail technology are right here in the Midlands, with the ability to convert buses and trolleys from rubber to rail, and most anything else that a rail system would need.

We are leading the way with hydrogen fuel technology. We could convert these trains to run on hydrogen fuel. We probably could get the “free” money from Washington to do that.

Of course we would have to work out the logistics and cost of using the existing tracks with the companies that own them. These track owners could be the shining example for all cities with rail systems. They have a chance to maximize the use of their tracks by moving people as well as commodities.

The tracks are laid out much better than the ones in the Northeast, and there is much less traffic on them. Compared to the complexity of the train-based mass transit operations in the Northeast, a Midlands system would be easy. Station stops could be at the intersections of major roads in Five Points, the Vista, the airport, Lake Murray and Irmo, the zoo, USC sports facilities, Northeast Columbia and so on. Think of it: The Garnet army could converge on a sports event on the Garnet Express. The benefits of minimizing auto traffic is obvious. The trains could run on fixed schedules that do not conflict with existing rail traffic. They could pull off of the main lines onto the many existing spurs if an emergency did arise. Special events could have special trains that ran for that event only. Taking the train to the airport from anywhere in the Midlands would be a sure bet.

Let’s start with the rubber-tired trolleys. Convert them to run on rail with hydrogen fuel. Set up a trial run from the Vista to the zoo or from downtown to the airport, and see how it goes. A one- or two-car train could stop and start at intersections just like the busses do now. With the station stops at major street crossings, safety would be enhanced. Regular city buses could run local routes from the train station stops in the areas where we need them. All we need is the will and leadership to do this. Think of the thousands of happy voters when you hear that whistle blow and the trains run on time.

While the trains would be good, the rivers and canal would be great. One hundred sixty years ago, the Midlands used the rivers and canals for travel. We are living the revitalization of these waterways. We should open the river channels that have been abandoned or were destroyed by Sherman on the Saluda, Broad and Congaree rivers. Imagine water shuttles and taxies from Gervais Street to the zoo and Lake Murray, a Garnet navy on the Congaree coming all the way from Charleston. We have an existing three-mile-long canal that allows us to tie the Interstate 20 area at the Broad River all the way to Gervais Street. Imagine the I-20/Broad River area full of hotels and businesses with a quick water shuttle to the Vista. The cars stay at I-20; the people come to the Vista faster than they could drive.

South Carolina has always led, sometimes blindly, but still led. The jobs and economic growth associated with the existing water and rail infrastructure could be tremendous. We can develop these assets quickly. If we all pull in the same direction, we would take a giant step in reclaiming our leadership role in the New South by setting the standard in mass transit. The Empire State Building in New York was built in one year. Let’s require our leaders to do something just as amazing with our infrastructure in one year. Let’s fast-track the trains and open the ambiance of the canal and rivers. Let’s pour some fuel on this hot spot and light up the South from Columbia.

Seriously.

Mr. Rentz is president of Rentz Engineering, a structural engineering consulting company in West Columbia.

Columbia Talent Forum Held Today at Trustus Theatre | Photos

2008-11-21T23:00:00.000-05:00

Columbia Regional Business Journal | Columbia Talent Magnet Forum set for Friday

2008-11-21T00:04:00.000-05:00

Columbia Talent Magnet Forum set for Friday http://www.columbiabusinessreport.com/news/25681-columbia-talent-magnet-forum-set-for-friday?rss=0

Staff Report
Published Nov. 20, 2008

What can we do to retain and attract young, talented residents to the Columbia region? What should be our priorities? How can we get people involved? What will it take to turn Columbia into a place that attracts the creative class?

These and other questions will be addressed Friday at the Columbia Talent Magnet Forum, held from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Trustus Theatre, 520 Lady St.

The forum is a guided community conversation with 100 guests aimed at the development of plans for Columbia’s future. The basis for the conversation will be responses to the Talent Magnet Survey conducted earlier in the fall.

The forum is a joint effort of the Columbia Talent Magnet Project and the Southern Growth Policies Board.

The Columbia Talent Magnet Project is collaboration among EngenuitySC, the Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce, the Columbia Metropolitan Convention & Visitors Bureau, Columbia Opportunity Resource and New Carolina: South Carolina’s Council on Competitiveness.

Emerging Talent Loses Practice Space | Where can we put these guys?

2008-11-20T23:32:00.000-05:00

Rock on, Mr. Mayor: Coble offers band aid
http://www.thestate.com/local/story/589286.html

By DAWN HINSHAW
dhinshaw@thestate.com

Mayor Bob Coble said having space where emerging bands can practice is important to the city’s efforts to attract young professionals to Columbia — and keep them here.

“This isn’t a nuisance,” Coble said. “This is an asset.”

Coble promised to head up efforts to find “available space that’s appropriate” for the noisy practice sessions.

The mayor was responding to news of a Richland County fire marshal’s ruling that bands can no longer practice at Sumter Street Storage, near the university.

Since “the sheds” opened in 1986, up-and-coming bands, including hometown heroes Hootie and the Blowfish, have rented space there.

But complaints by a neighbor in Shandon prompted the inspection that’s closing rows of metal buildings to musicians at the end of the month.

“We’re looking for anywhere that would be cool to practice,” said Josh Pike, lead singer in one of the 26 bands affected.

Pike said bands will probably scatter. But having a place to practice downtown, at the edge of campus, is ideal, he said.

“We did try this in Irmo at our drummer’s house,” he said, “and we got kicked out of there, too, from noise complaints.”

Contractor Chris Dorsey, who also has a mobile-storage business, said Thursday he feels sorry for the guys scrambling to find a new place to practice.

Dorsey said he’s wondering if there’s a niche market he could fill, maybe by putting up a warehouse in the country somewhere.

“I heard those guys down there since I was in college at USC,” he said. “They’re just in there, having a good time, following their passion.”

Marty Fort said he’d like to see the city subsidize practice space, perhaps requiring musicians to play charity performances in return.

“There is a need, but it’s going to take someone at the city to pull the strings on that to subsidize the space, because musicians don’t have money,” said Fort, who teaches aspiring musicians at his Columbia Arts Academy.

“They’re as nonprofit as you can be.”

Reach Hinshaw at (803) 771-8641.

Just a few days left to take the Columbia Talent survey!

2008-10-17T06:30:00.000-04:00

From restaurants, nightlife, and green spaces to a depth and breadth of job opportunities, affordable housing and a safe environment, what will it take to turn Columbia into a place that attracts the creative class?

Take the Columbia Talent Magnet Project survey at http://www.columbiatalent.com before noon Monday, October 20, 2008, and voice your opinion about our city and what it will take to turn it into a magnet for talent.

The Columbia Talent Magnet Project was created to find ways to appeal to and keep today's "Creative Class" in Columbia. The Project is a collaboration among EngenuitySC, the Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce, the Columbia Metropolitan Convention & Visitors Bureau, New Carolina - SC's Council on Competitiveness, and Columbia Opportunity Resource (COR).

We are taking the “pulse” of our community to identify Columbia’s perceived strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities. What’s right, what’s wrong, and what opportunities do we have as a region to grow and prosper? Responses from the anonymous survey will form the foundation for dialogue at a Talent Magnet Summit in late 2008.

New Ideas for a New Carolina - 2009 Call for Entries!

2008-10-07T15:26:00.000-04:00

New Ideas for a New Carolina 2009 Contest

Everyone Has A Dream or a Great Idea – What's Yours?

Do you want to win $5000? Do you have a big idea for a business? If so, then enter your idea at http://www.newideassc.com/ starting October 1, 2008 and ending December 2, 2008.

Share your ideas for business that stoke your fire, blow your mind and show your get-up-and-take-charge-of-my-dream spirit. Your idea could bring new jobs, new energy, new talents, new life and new wealth to South Carolina.

South Carolina's fourth annual New Ideas for a New Carolina Business Idea Contest officially launches October 1, 2008. The New Ideas Dream Team, a coalition of representatives from SC Launch!, New Carolina – SC's Council on Competitiveness, FastTracSC, ThinkTEC and other organizations around the state will spend October and November touring cities throughout South Carolina promoting this year's contest. South Carolina entrepreneurs can submit their ideas for a business until December 2nd at http://www.newideassc.com/.

The winners will be announced at the ThinkTEC Innovation Summit in Charleston on February 11, 2009. This year's contest award the grand prize winner $5,000 of seed money for their business idea, a scholarship to FastTrac® entrepreneurial training program, tickets to the ThinkTEC Innovation Summit and a Dream Team of Mentors to help the winner cultivate their idea. Four first place prizes of $2500, a scholarship to FastTrac® and tickets to the ThinkTEC Innovation Summit will be distributed as well as five $1,000 honorable mention prizes. Also, the contest will feature once again, the People's Choice category where the residents of South Carolina will be able to vote for their favorite idea.

So what are you waiting for? Enter your Idea at www.NewIdeasSC.com by December 2nd for a chance to win!

Click the following link to download the New Ideas Contest Flyer!

Click here for more information.

Know an overachiever under 40?

2008-10-03T16:32:00.000-04:00

Know an overachiever under 40? Nominate a Midlands business star making his or her mark with professional success and community involvement. The nominee must primarily conduct business in the 10 counties of the Midlands* and be under 40 years of age as of January 1, 2009. Deadline for nominations is Friday, October 10, 2008; winners will be published in the January 5, 2009 edition of Columbia Business Journal.

Candidates should have achieved professional success and be active in community matters. Form must be filled out completely and accurately (Candidate will not be considered with incomplete registration).

*Calhoun, Fairfield, Lee, Lexington, Kershaw, Newberry, Orangeburg, Richland, Saluda and Sumter Counties

Click one of the following links for a nomination form:
PDF: http://www.thestateonline.com/20under40/20under40_2008.pdf
Word: http://www.thestateonline.com/20under40/20under40_2008.doc

We need your feedback!

2008-10-01T00:46:00.000-04:00

Please take a few minutes to participate in the Columbia Talent Magnet Project survey. The goal of this survey is to take the “pulse” of our community to identify Columbia’s perceived strengths, weaknesses, and the opportunities for positive change from the perspective of the people who live, work, learn, and play here. What’s right, what’s wrong, and what opportunities do we have as a region to grow and prosper? Your responses will form the foundation for dialogue at a Talent Magnet Summit in late 2008 where business, government, civic, and cultural leaders will come together to discuss your thoughts and ideas. Stand up, be heard, and share your thoughts!

The Columbia Talent Magnet Project is committed to developing a dynamic region where education, economic prosperity, community engagement, quality of life, and experiences attract and retain the best and the brightest talent in the region and the country. This vision will fuel our community’s growth in the new economy. The Columbia Talent Magnet Project is a collaborative effort of EngenuitySC, The Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce, New Carolina – SC’s Council on Competitiveness, the Columbia Metropolitan Convention & Visitors Bureau, and Columbia Opportunity Resource (COR).

We appreciate your participation in our study. Please click on the link below to begin the survey:
http://www.columbiatalent.com

Talent Magnet Survey!

2008-09-30T23:10:00.000-04:00

We're excited to announce the Columbia Talent Magnet Project survey will go live tomorrow! Be on the lookout for an email or link to the survey!

Citizen Input Sought on Transportation Plan

2008-09-25T11:58:00.000-04:00

Residents of Richland, Lexington and Kershaw counties are invited to participate in a regional transportation plan. The Central Midlands Council of Governments is hosting drop-ins to unveil a 30-year plan for roads, bike and walking facilities, public transportation and freight travel in the region.

They are:

• 4 to 7 p.m. Monday — North Springs Community Center, 1320 Clemson Road, Columbia

• 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday — Lexington Town Hall, 111 Maiden Lane, Lexington

• 4 to 7 p.m. Oct. 2 — Ballentine Community Center, 1009 Bickley Road, Irmo

• 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 4 — Dutch Square Mall, 421 Bush River Road, Columbia

Call Aaron Bell at (803) 376-5390, ext. 343.

http://www.thestate.com/local/story/535245.html

Columbia, SC Deemed a Very Walkable City

2008-09-22T11:56:00.000-04:00

http://www.columbiacvb.com/docs/sep.Walkable_City%2009.2008.pdf

Columbia, SC – (September 5, 2008) According to www.walkscore.com , Columbia received an 86 out of 100 score in walkability. Walk Score calculates the walkability of an address by locating nearby stores, restaurants, schools, parks, etc., and measures how easy it is to live a car-lite lifestyle. With a score of 86, Columbia is considered to be a "very walkable" city with the flexibility to be able to get by without owning a car. The Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center, in the heart of it all, scored a 91.

Walk Score uses a patent-pending system to measure the walkability of an address. The Walk Score algorithm awards points based on the distance to the closest amenity in each category. If the closest amenity in a category is within .25 miles (or .4 km), they assign the maximum number of points. The number of points declines as the distance approaches one mile (or 1.6 km)—no points are awarded for amenities further than one mile. Each category is weighted equally and the points are summed and normalized to yield a score from 0–100. The number of nearby amenities is the leading predictor of whether people walk.

Ric Luber, president/CEO of the Midlands Authority for Conventions, Sports & Tourism (MACST) states, "Being a ‘very walkable’ city is a great thing for Columbia. We want our visitors and our residents alike to be able to enjoy strolling along the streets of the city center. After all, we’re a 12 month destination - we want everyone to maximize their potential to enjoy our outdoors everyday possible."

About Walk Score

"What I can walk to" is a common home-buying and apartment-renting criterion. Walk Score's patent-pending technology calculates a Walk Score for any property and shows a map of what's
nearby with reviews to help you find a great neighborhood. Walk Score launched in July of 2007 and over 1 million addresses were searched in the first month. Walk Score has been featured in over 500 blogs and 75 newspaper articles and radio segments.

The Midlands Authority for Conventions, Sports & Tourism is the parent organization to the Columbia Metropolitan Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center, the Columbia Metropolitan Visitors Center, and the Columbia Regional Sports Council. The organization was founded in July, 2001 for the purpose of marketing Columbia in anticipation of providing an avenue for generating an economic impact.

ROCK ON!

2008-08-25T17:04:00.001-04:00

I am excited to be a part of Team Talent(ed).

Join the Columbia Talent Magnet Project group on Facebook!

2008-08-14T01:12:00.000-04:00

Click here to join the group:

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=26782101715&ref=nf

What is the Columbia Talent Magnet Project?

It is a partnership between the Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce, EngenuitySC, New Carolina, Columbia Opportunity Resource (COR) and the Columbia Metropolitan Convention & Visitors Bureau to develop a program to build a talent-powered economy in the Columbia region by focusing on engaging, attracting and retaining young, mobile workers.

Why is attracting and retaining talent in Columbia an important issue?

1. Talent attraction and retention is a critical economic development tool in the new economy.
2. Columbia is currently a net exporter of talent to places like Charlotte, Atlanta, and others.
3. Columbia has over 8,000 graduates from the higher education system each year.

In the coming months we will be deploying a survey to collect valuable research for this project, so please join our Facebook group so that we may get your feedback when the survey is deployed. Whether you currently live here or are a former resident or student - and no matter what your age, we need your feedback.

Please help us spread the word around Facebook by inviting all your friends so that we can reach our goal of 1,000 people by the end of the month!

Meet the Talent Magnet Team:
Lindsey Spires, New Carolina
Keely Saye, Columbia Opportunity Resource (COR)
Katherine Robinson, EngenuitySC
Tom Ledbetter, Midlands Technical College
Grant Jackson, Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce
Greg Hilton, Sagacious Partners/EngenuitySC/New Carolina
Courtney Herring, Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce
Mandi Engram, Columbia Metropolitan Convention & Visitors Bureau

Other “Talent Magnet” Cities’ Efforts:
Memphis Talent Magnet Report
Huntsville Talent Magnet Report