City/County Cooperation- April 10, 2009

Last week we celebrated the opening of the expanded Animal Shelter off Shop Road and I-77. The City of Columbia and Richland County concluded negotiations regarding a joint facility for animal services in summer of 2007 and entered into a partnership for the expansion project. The construction has been completed and the new facility opened in March.  The City is proud to be in partnership with Richland County and is committed to providing the most humane care for each and every animal that is housed at the facility.

Richland County and Columbia have worked together and achieved much progress in the last few years. The City and County extended our unified fire service contract which has lead to better fire service and lower insurance rates. We partnered to build the parking garages for the Discovery and Horizon Buildings now under construction in the University of South Carolina’s Innovista. The Colonial Center, the Convention Center and the new Hilton Hotel were a cooperative effort between the City and Richland County, as well as Lexington County, Richland School District One, the Department of Transportation and the South Carolina General Assembly.  Additionally, we hired a new 911 Director with a joint oversight committee. Also, during the water shortage two years ago in the Northeast summer, we were in constant contact and consultation. We resolved the TIF dispute, concluded the detention center contract, and agreed on an interim RTA funding plan. .

There are many areas where the City and the County can make additional progress. The County and the City should create a joint planning commission and do joint planning through a joint comprehensive planning process. We must continue to work with the University of South Carolina to complete Innovista. The Innovista Master Plan has the potential for transforming our economy through the job creation and raising our per capita income. Finally, we must work together to reduce carbon emissions in our environment. Such reductions are critical to do our part to stem global warming, and to insure that the federal government does not impose restrictions that will devastate economic development in the region.

Our goal is to continue to improve our City and County, and we will work together, cooperatively to make even more progress. The new Animal Shelter facility is another step in that direction.

 National Hydorgen Association Convention- April 4, 2009

The National Hydrogen Association Convention this past week at the Convention Center was an important step forward in Columbia’s efforts to enter the knowledge and green economy. The delegates, from all over the world, were very enthusiastic about Columbia's friendly hospitality and the community's knowledge of hydrogen and fuel cells, including the research going on at USC under the leadership of Dr. Harris Pastides. Two thousand of our local citizens attended "Public Day" on Wednesday, where school children and others came to experience, first hand, what the "Hydrogen Buzz" is all about. The ride and drive, the Segway experience and the Fuel Cell District Tours were all well received.

The new Columbia Hydrogen Fueling Station was opened by House Speaker Bobby Harrell and seven hydrogen powered vehicles were able to refuel multiple times during the week, including the new Hydrogen Hybrid Bus, which will become part of our RTA. The number of volunteers was significant and the press coverage was great. It was truly a great event for Columbia.

The success of the National Hydrogen Convention is an important part of our long term strategic plan to transform our economy, create jobs and raise our per capita income-even in the face of the recession. In February 2003 Columbia adopted our regional technology plan. We created Engenuity, a coalition of leaders from the public, higher education and the private sector. Dr. Sorensen announced the research campus in downtown Columbia in late 2003. In April of 2006, USC, the Guignard family and the City unveiled a master plan for the 500 acres in downtown from Innovista to the waterfront. The State of South Carolina was a key catalyst for this progress with the creation of the Life Sciences Act and the Endowed Chairs.

The first phase of Innovista, two buildings at the Horizon Center and the Discovery Center, is complete, as are the two parking garages financed by the City of Columbia and Richland County, representing an investment of over $140 million. According to a survey, 90% of City residents support the research campus and master plan. The Association of University Technology Managers recently ranked USC number 11 out of 114 public universities in the number of start-up businesses created. We are working hard to make sure the monies from the Stimulus Legislation for alternative fuels and energy efficiency are spent effectively.

We know we must work to insure that our entire diverse population benefits from the knowledge economy and Innovista. Engenuity began working with the Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce, New Carolina and Columbia Opportunity Resource on the Columbia Talent Magnet project. Over 8000 students graduate from a Columbia institution of higher education each year. The Talent Magnet project is designed to keep these bright minds in the Columbia region by connecting them to existing community initiatives. Also, the USC Columbia Technology Incubator has assisted 63 companies and created 554 new jobs including 142 minority and female jobs.

Entering this new knowledge and green economy will create jobs and raise our per capita income. During these tough economic times we must seize our future and transform our economy.