A stronger Columbia regionthrough research-backed action.
For many years, the Midlands Business Leadership Group has responded to the data and analysis found in the annual EngenuitySC Midlands Regional Competitiveness Report with collaborative efforts that have made Columbia, S.C. a first-choice place to live, learn, work and play. In recent years, MBLG played an active role not just in response to the report, but in producing the report itself.
Elevate Midlands Fall Breakfast Highlight Video
Past reports have inspired initiatives such as these.
Capture Columbia
Bridging Columbia
Regional Gateways Project
The Midlands Regional Competitiveness Council
The Midlands Business Leadership Group has a long, positive track record of convening and collaborating to foster positive change. The MBLG Regional Competitiveness Council will follow that path.
The Council, in partnership with the University of South Carolina, will produce the Elevate Midlands report. Armed with this information and supported by the expertise and experience of its members, the council will then develop collaborative initiatives to turn report-identified opportunities into real-life success stories.
Understanding the Data
The Elevate Midlands Report primarily allows us to observe the Columbia MSA’s long-term trends and compare them directly to trends we are seeing in cities with which we compete.
The data lags an average of 18 months and is from the most current and reliable sources possible, such as the U.S Census Bureau and the Bureau of Economic Analysis.
Our Comparative Regions
Tallahassee, FL
Knoxville, TN
Chattanooga, TN
Richmond, VA
Greenville, SC
Winston-Salem, NC
Augusta, GA
Charleston, SC
Raleigh, NC
Greensboro, NC
Lexington, KY
Indicators of Competitiveness
Talent
A region’s ability to attract, develop and maintain a vibrant and skilled workforce.
View VideoInnovative Capacity
A region’s capacity to support the creation of new ideas, products and processes.
View VideoEntrepreneurial & Business Environment
A region’s relative ease of doing business and the strength of the support system for the startup, growth and maintenance of businesses.
View VideoIndustry Clusters
A region’s ability to sustain and grow high impact industries that are competitive on an international scale.
View VideoLivability
A region’s ability to build an inclusive and dynamic live, learn, work, and play environment.
View VideoEmployment Index
New to this year’s report, the Employment Index uses two metrics – one-year employment growth rate and five-year compound annual employment growth rate.
How to Get Involved
Initiatives in the Midlands
The following programs and initiatives already exist in the greater Midlands region, and are making positive change in various competitiveness indices.
Entrepreneurial And Business Environment
1 Million Cups Columbia
The Boyd Innovation Center
Growth Summit
Benedict College Statewide Investment Accelerator
The Midlands Small Business Accelerator
Industry Clusters
Innovative Capacity
Vistage
The McNair Center
South Carolina Research Authority (SCRA)
Interested in connecting with the Competitiveness Council?
Drop us a line here.
Sponsors
