REPORT: A Road Map to a Talent-Powered Economy

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

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.

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

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.

We need your feedback!

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!

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!

Join the Columbia Talent Magnet Project group on Facebook!

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