Williamsburg County and its Development Corporation are launching the development of a strategic plan to guide economic development efforts over the next five years. The plan will be designed to position the area to successfully assist existing businesses and compete for jobs in the 21st Century economy.

Boyette Strategic Advisors (BSA), an economic development consulting firm, will work with the Williamsburg County Development Corporation in this process, which is expected to be completed in November of this year. The project will involve a thorough assessment of the area’s unique assets, which will be obtained through both qualitative and quantitative research; a determination of the targeted business/industry sectors that are the best fit for the area; and development of a marketing plan, as well as other strategic recommendations in the areas of education/workforce, entrepreneurship, existing business/industry, incentives, infrastructure, product development, quality of place, regionalism, and others.

“This process will allow Williamsburg County to leverage its assets and become more competitive over the next five years,” said Williamsburg County Supervisor Stanley Pasley.

Input from residents will be a critical component of this study as BSA seeks to understand the economic development assets and liabilities in the county. Residents have the opportunity to provide input during a community visioning session on Wednesday, August 22, at 6 p.m. The session will be held at Santee Electric Cooperative Office at 424 Sumter Highway, Kingstree.

“The visioning session is intended to allow the residents of the community to share their big ideas for the county from an economic development perspective and what they would like to see in the county during the next five years,” said Del Boyette of BSA.

In addition to the visioning session, BSA will conduct stakeholder interviews, group discussions and an online community survey to gain additional input.