The Buzz | an Economic Development Podcast

In the last decade, York County has seen a 24% growth. Hannah Horne is the Executive Officer of Gravity Center, the hub for entrepreneurialism in York County. Hannah joins Kara + Burnie to talk about all things economic development in York County. 

Nelson Lindsay, a seasoned and state-certified economic developer with more than two decades of experience, joins Kara Gormley Meador + Tushar Chikhliker to talk about his new role as CEO + President of Central SC Alliance. Nelson and Tushar discuss all things workforce development on episode 69 of The Buzz. 

With more than 55,000 residents, York County has become one of the fastest-growing counties. York County Economic Development CEO & President David Swenson joins Kara & Burnie to talk about the Carolina Panthers' commitment and relocation of their headquarters and practice facilities to Rock Hill, SC. 

The South Carolina Department of Agriculture likes to say that agribusiness is the state's "largest single industry sector," and it is making significant impacts on the S.C. economy and creating new jobs every quarter. Yet there are many tax credits that are going unclaimed by agribusiness owners in the state. Do you own a medium or small agribusiness, but confused about which tax credits your company qualifies for or don't know how to apply? The SCDA's Assistant Director of Agribusiness Development, Laura Jordan joins Kara & Burnie to talk about new tax incentives for business and manufactures involved in S.C. agriculture. Burnie is a bit of a pro on this one... he helped write one of the discussed tax incentives with the SCDA's Assistant Commissioner, Clint Leach!

Site selection in the economic development world can be a daunting process - thankfully, Didi Caldwell, Founding Principal at Global Location Strategies, joins Burnie & Kara on episode 66 to give us her insider tips and tricks. As a site selection incentive negotiation firm, Global Strategies matches companies with communities for mutual, sustainable prosperity. Tune in now to hear how Didi creates prosperity in South Carolina and beyond!

Effective community + economic development often has its challenges across all levels - locally, affordable housing has been a particular point of stress in South Carolina. Greenville Housing Fund President + CEO Bryan Brown joins Burnie and Kara on this episode to discuss exactly what affordable housing is, how it can be achieved (and maintained), and what the GHF is doing to make it a reality in the Upstate. Join us for a deep-dive on the subject!

Who doesn't love good ol' economics? In this episode, we've got two guys who definitely do (and one female co-host slowly being converted). Burnie + Kara sat down with Clemson University Regional Economic Analysis Laboratory (CU-REAL) Director Dr. Robert Carey to explore exactly what (and who) CU-REAL is, and deep dive into a couple of recent economic impact studies. If you don't know, CU-REAL performs public policy, economic and fiscal analysis for public, private, and nonprofit sector clients - around the Palmetto State, they're kind of a big deal. Tune in and learn something with us!

Inspire. Innovate. Scribble. Generate. However you create ideas, we're here for it - and South Carolina's Office of Innovation is, too. This week, Burnie and Kara sat down with S.C. Office of Innovation and Scribble SC Managing Director Laura McIntosh, and we got the scoop on tech fellowships, how the office nurtures South Carolina's innovation and knowledge economy, and MUCH more. Laura gave us a peek into her background and how she's risen to her current role, plus a peek into what's to come. Don't miss this interview! Listen now.

The Buzz alum Jim Stritzinger is BACK to discuss rural broadband connectivity in South Carolina! You may remember him from an early Buzz episode (from July 2020), discussing his career in broadband mapping and outlining the finer points of South Carolina's 'digital divide,' along with what it would take to close that gap.

Today, Jim is back in his new role as Director of the NEW South Carolina Broadband Office to discuss next steps - how is the state tackling broadband accessibility challenges? What infrastructure is in place, and what is being built to connect South Carolinians? What kind of money does that even take??

Kara and guest host Tushar Chikhliker dive into all of that and MORE with Jim. Tune in!

DYK that some of the U.S. Navy's latest technology is being developed and implemented right here in South Carolina? The Palmetto Tech Bridge is linking innovative tech developers directly to our Lowcountry military operations. PTB Regional Director Michael Merriken explains more about the program, part of the South Carolina Research Authority umbrella. Find out more about that technology incubator-style operation - who they are, what they do, and how they're poised to change the future of military operations, right here in the Palmetto State! Tune in!