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CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY BUFORT COUNTY, ONE NATION UNDER GOD INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE SPRAWL.
UH, SINCE WE DON'T HAVE A QUORUM, THERE WON'T BE ANY APPROVAL OF MINUTES AND NOTIFICATIONS ALWAYS BEEN POSTED.
UM, PATRICK, YOU DOING, I THINK WE'VE GOT, I THINK WE'VE GOT FOUR OR FIVE.
WE GOT FOUR MAN IS, UH, YOU'RE FILLING IN FOR, SO THAT'LL BE FIVE.
AND KURT AND KURT CAN FILL IN FOR MITCH.
ALRIGHT, WELL, WE HAVE, WE'LL HAVE IT A VIDEO IN ANY EVENT.
UH, JUST A COUPLE OF QUICK ITEMS BEFORE WE GET INTO OUR MAJOR SPEAKER THIS MORNING.
UM, IS THERE ANY, A FURTHER UPDATE, UH, ANYBODY HAS ON THE DISCUSSION ABOUT THE COORDINATION OF PUBLIC SAFETY, SAFETY, FIRE, AND EMS NORTH OF THE BROAD? WE GOT A QUICK, QUICK UPDATE FROM SCOTT MARSHALL LAST TIME, FURTHER IN MEETING ADDITION.
WELL, WE CAN PUT THAT TO REST IF YOU WANNA BRING IT UP AT THE NEXT MEETING.
LET'S JUST PASS, LET'S JUST PASS IT ON TO THE NEXT MEETING.
UH, BEFORE, UH, WE HAVE OUR SPEAKER, WHY DON'T WE JUST GO AROUND AND QUICKLY INTRODUCE YOURSELF.
UH, SO WHY DON'T WE START OVER HERE AND JUST GO AROUND SIDE.
UH, I'M CHARLIE STONE WITH BUFORT COUNTY'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.
UH, MAYOR KRIEGER WITH THE MARINE CORPS STATION, BUT KRISTEN FLO IS WITH THE COUNTY.
STEPHANIE ROSSI C**K I HEARD FREEZE WITH THE CITY.
RYAN GREEN, WITH THE CITY OF BEAUFORT.
HEY, CAMON, WITH BEAVERT COUNTY
ROBERT
CAN WE INTRODUCE OURSELVES? YES.
CITY OF BEAVERT IN PAPA
JOHN O'TOOLE, BEAUFORT COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.
I'M JERRY ASHMORE WITH TOWN OF PORT ROYAL.
AND WITH THAT, I'LL INTRODUCE OUR SPEAKER HERE.
IN THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION, UH, WITH THE PRESENTATION ON THE NORTHERN BEAUFORT CORRIDOR, AND IT WAS REQUESTED, I BELIEVE, BY THE MAYORS.
OH, THAT'S WHY IT'S HAPPENING.
I THOUGHT I WAS DOING SOMETHING MAGICAL HERE.
SO, UM, UH, IT, IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE HERE, CHARLIE.
UH, UH, CHARLIE'S MY, UH, COLLEAGUE AT THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.
ANY TOUGH QUESTIONS? CHARLIE'S HERE TO ANSWER 'EM.
UH, OR IF I GET STUMPED, I, I PUT CHARLIE ON THE SPOT.
UH, BUT NO, WE, WE HAVE THE PLEASURE OF DOING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN THIS WONDERFUL PLACE.
UH, BEAUFORT COUNTY, AS YOU CAN SEE THERE, UM, IS OUR MISSION.
AND, UM, WELL, I'LL TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT.
AND, UM, IT, I, AS I WAS DRIVING OVER HERE, I, UH, I WAS, UH, UH, THINKING OF A, OF A LOT OF THINGS.
UH, AND AS I SEE HANK HERE, I, I, I DO WANT TO POINT OUT HANK EDMONDSON.
UH, HE, UM, UH, PROBABLY ABOUT A YEAR AGO, UH, THEREABOUTS, RIGHT? WAS, UH, UH, THINGS WERE A LITTLE BUMPY WITH MY ORGANIZATION AND THE COUNTY.
AND, UH, THE COUNTY COUNCIL PROBABLY THOUGHT, IS THIS TELEVISED, BY THE WAY? YES.
SO, SO, UH, HANK HANK WAS APPOINTED SORT OF, I, I, I SAY IT IN EXECUTIVE SESSION, I'LL SAY IT HERE.
HE'S KIND OF APPOINTED THE LION TAMER.
AND SO, UH, WITH HANK'S, UH, UH, PARTNERSHIP, UH, WE REALLY KIND OF SMOOTHED OUT, UH, THAT RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR ORGANIZATION AND THE COUNTY.
AND I'M VERY GRATEFUL, UH, FOR HANK FOR BEING, UH, UH, UH, EVEN KEEL AND A GREAT, A GREAT PARTNER AND KIND OF HELPING US GET ON THE RIGHT TRACK.
SO, I, I SHOULD SAY THAT AS I WAS DRIVING HERE, I, I WAS THINKING ABOUT WHERE WE STARTED.
AND, AND AS OF TODAY, I'VE BEEN HERE, UH, UH, UH, SIX YEARS AND SEVEN DAYS.
UH, SO I JUST HAD AN ANN WORK ANNIVERSARY.
AND, UM, ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS I, I, I REALIZED AS I GOT HERE WHAT, YOU KNOW, AND PEOPLE WOULD
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TELL ME ABOUT THIS BIG TRACK UP IN Y EMBASSY.AND, UM, THE LAST ACT OF THE PREVIOUS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION WAS TRY TO GET $27 MILLION TO DO A MEGA SITE.
AND, UM, UH, UH, I, MY, MY, UH, UH, I SOMETIMES WHEN I COME UP WITH IDEAS BETTER THAN I THINK I CAN DO MYSELF, I, I GIVE CREDIT TO THE HOLY SPIRIT, BUT THE HOLY SPIRIT TOLD ME, UH, THAT THE ENVIRONMENT IS LIKE THE, THE NUMBER ONE, UH, SPOKE.
IF YOU HAVE A BALANCED COMMUNITY, IF YOU HAVE, UH, LOOK AT, UH, A COMMUNITY, AND I'LL SHOW YOU KIND OF THE BALANCE WHEEL I PUT TOGETHER.
BUT THAT NUMBER ONE SPOKE IN BEAUFORT COUNTY IS, IS THE ENVIRONMENT.
AND SO, WHEN I, WHEN I, UH, MARKET BEAUFORT, MOST OF IT'S ON A BICYCLE RIDE.
I TAKE ON SATURDAY AND PEOPLE SEE HOW BEAUTIFUL OUR AREA IS, AND I SAY, AH, AFTER A TOUGH WEEK, THIS IS WHAT YOU GET TO ENJOY.
OR ON A TOUGH WEDNESDAY, UH, YOU CAN GO ENJOY THIS SCENE OR THAT SCENE.
AND, UH, IT'S, IT PEAKS A LOT OF INTEREST IN OUR COUNTY.
AND SO THE LAST, THE LAST ACT OF THAT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION WAS TO DREAM OF A MEGA SITE.
AND SO CHARLIE AND I, AND, AND CHARLIE WORK HAS WORKED SOME 60 PROJECTS REALLY SINCE HE'S BEEN WITH US.
HE'S BEEN WITH US A HALF A DECADE, UH, THAT MAKES HIM SOUND OLDER AND MORE MATURE.
SO WE'RE GOING WITH THAT VERSUS FIVE YEARS.
UH, BUT, UH, CHARLIE HAS, HAS SUCCESSFULLY WORKED ON 60 PROJECTS.
IMAGINE THIS, UH, WITHOUT A, NOT IN MY BACKYARD OR AN ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP BEING CONCERNED ABOUT THE WORK WE DO NOW, ARE, ARE WE MAGICAL? IS CHARLIE THAT CHARMING? UH, MAYBE, MAYBE NOT, BUT, UH, IT DEPENDS.
BUT NO, IT, I THINK IT HAS TO DO WITH LISTENING TO PEOPLE.
AND I, I WILL TELL YOU, UH, THAT A WHILE BACK, UH, NOW THAT I KNOW WE'RE
WE WERE, WE WERE MET LATE, UH, IN AUGUST OF 22 WITH A YOUNG, YOUNG MAN, YOUNG INVESTOR WHO WANTED TO DEVELOP, DO A DEVELOPMENT, UH, ON ST.
AND, UH, TOLD THEM, TRY TO ADVISE THEM ON HOW TO PROCEED, HOW TO LISTEN TO THE COMMUNITY, HOW TO, HOW TO, HOW TO TRY TO GET TO YES, IF YOU WILL, HOW, HOW YOU GET EVERYONE AT THE SAME POINT AT THE SAME TIME.
SO YOU HAVE A SUCCESSFUL PROJECT.
THE, UH, UH, UH, UH, INVESTOR DECIDED TO USE HIS OWN TACT, AND, AND IT WAS NOT THAT SUCCESSFUL.
AND, UH, SO I THINK, UH, I, IT REMINDS ME OF A LINCOLN QUOTE IF I CAN, AND I'LL, I'LL, I'LL PROBABLY MESS IT UP.
BUT LINCOLN SAID, IF YOU EXPECT TO USE A GALLON OF GOLF TO PERSUADE A MAN TO YOUR WAYS YOU STAND NO BETTER CHANCE THAN PUTTING A STRAW THROUGH THE SHELL OF A TORTOISE.
BUT IF YOU CONVINCE HIM OF THE SINCERITY OF YOUR WAYS, YOU STAND A CHANCE.
AND SO, AS YOU KNOW, IF YOU READ, UH, DORIS KERN'S GOODWIN'S BOOK ON LINCOLN, THAT TEAM ARRIVALS, YOU KIND OF PUT ALL THESE COMPETING INTERESTS TOGETHER, AND YOU LISTEN, AND YOU, YOU COLLABORATE IN A WORD THAT'S NOT GREAT IN AMERICA THAT TODAY IS YOU COMPROMISE.
YOU GET TO SOMETHING THAT WORKS FOR THE BULK OF YOUR COMMUNITY.
AND AS A LOOK AT ELECTED OFFICIALS, UH, IN THIS ROOM, YOU DON'T ALWAYS PLEASE EVERYONE.
AND, AND THAT'S THAT YOU JUST HAVE TO ACCEPT IF YOU'RE IN PUBLIC LIFE.
BUT IF YOU TRY TO GET SOMETHING DONE THAT YOU THINK IS SINCERELY RESPONSIVE, I THINK YOU GET AS LUCKY AS CHARLIE AND I HAVE GOTTEN, UH, WHERE WE'VE DONE, UH, BETTER THAN $300 MILLION WORTH OF DEALS FROM 60 PROJECTS.
THEY'RE NOT LIKE WHAT BERKELEY COUNTY GETS.
THEY'RE NOT LIKE WHAT THE UPSTATE GETS IN THE WAY OF PRO PROJECTS.
BUT I, I, I MET ONE GENTLEMAN AFTER A, A WAYFAIR WAREHOUSE, A MILLION SQUARE FEET, LANDED IN, UH, SAVANNAH.
AND, AND THE GUY WAS A CRITIC.
AND HE SAID, WHY AREN'T YOU GETTING PROJECTS LIKE THAT? I SAID, 'CAUSE I LIKE TO LIVE HERE AND I DON'T REALLY WANT TO BE RUN OUT ON A RAIL.
AND SO, UH, UH, WE LIKE LIVING HERE.
AND, UH, I'LL, I'LL TELL YOU ONE OTHER THING, AND YOU, YOU CAN LOOK IT UP, BUT, UM, I WAS A MAYOR OF A SMALL TOWN IN MY THIRTIES, AND I WAS, UH, HARD CHARGING AND TRYING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
AND, UH, IF YOU READ, UH, ACCOUNTS YOU COULD GOOGLE IN THE NEW YORK TIMES, I TICKED OFF A LOT OF PEOPLE.
UH, I GOT A LOT DONE, BUT I TICKED OFF A LOT OF PEOPLE.
AND MY LIFE LESSON THERE WAS, IS THAT ULTIMATELY PEOPLE WON'T LIVE IN A COMMUNITY.
AND EVEN IF YOU TRY TO PUSH SO HARD, 'CAUSE YOU THINK IT'S RIGHT, LIKE THE, THE ANALOGY I HAVE IS LIKE THE SHA SHAH IRAN, UH, AND YOU MOVE PEOPLE FASTER THAN THEY WANT TO MOVE.
UH, YOU KIND OF TEAR AWAY AT FA THE FABRIC OF COMMUNITY.
AND MOST OF US WANNA LIVE IN A COMMUNITY WHERE WE CAN
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WALK THE STREET AND SMILE AND SAY HI TO PEOPLE.SO, UH, THAT'S A LITTLE BIT OF A, A LITTLE BIT OF A PREACH, I APOLOGIZE.
BUT IT IS OUR APPROACH TO THE WORK, AND I THINK IT'S WORKING, OH, I HAVE TO SAY ADVANCE.
SO, UH, UH, ONE OF MY MENTORS, UH, WHERE I WORK BELIEVE THAT, UH, ORGANIZATIONS DON'T GROW.
AND SO FOR EACH OF US, WE KIND OF HAVE TO HAVE A BALANCE WHEEL FOR YOU.
IT MIGHT BE FAMILY, FAITH, EXERCISE, WHATEVER IT MIGHT BE, BUT YOU WANT TO, YOU WANT THE SPOKES TO YOUR WHEEL, THE BALANCE OF LIFE TO BE EQUALLY STRONG.
AS I LOOK AT, UH, WHAT WE'VE BEEN BROUGHT IN TO DO, WHICH IS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, IT, IT QUICKLY DAWNED ON ME, AND AGAIN, I GIVE CREDIT TO THE HOLY SPIRIT, BUT ENVIRONMENT'S NUMBER ONE HERE, UH, UH, UH, EDUCATION, I DO THINK IS A, A SECOND, UH, A SECOND SPOKE.
AND IT IS IMPORTANT, AND I, I WON'T GIVE PRIORITY TO THE OTHER ONES, BUT I THINK AS POLICYMAKERS, WE HAVE TO BE ATTENTIVE TO ALL OF THESE ISSUES.
UH, UH, AND I THINK IF WE DO THAT, WE KIND OF ACHIEVE A, A BALANCE THAT WORKS FOR THE RESIDENTS OF BEAUFORT COUNTY AND, UH, UH, PREPARES US FOR, UH, SUCCESS AND NOT JUST IN OUR LIFETIME.
I I WILL SAY THIS, THAT IN BEAUFORT COUNTY, THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO COME FROM AWAY, AND THEY'VE GOTTEN ALL THEY WANTED WANTED IN LIFE, AND THEY'RE LIKE, CLOSE THE GATES BEHIND ME.
UH, ONE OF MY ART PROFESSORS IN COLLEGE, UH, UH, QUOTED PAUL GOGAN, WHO SAID ON HIS 77TH BIRTHDAY, UH, YOU'RE EITHER GROWING OR YOU'RE DYING.
YOU KNOW, AS A PERSON, YOU'RE NOT EXPANDING YOUR WISDOM, KNOWLEDGE, WHATEVER.
UH, BUT AS COMMUNITY, AND I CAME FROM THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT, UH, WHICH IS LOSING POPULATION, LOSING INVESTMENT, THAT'S NOT A GREAT PLACE TO BE.
AND, AND, AND I WILL TELL YOU THIS, UH, WE HAD ONE INVESTOR, CHRIS FISHER, WHO CAME DOWN HERE AND INVESTED SOME $14 MILLION IN A PLANT.
AND HE SAID, YOU KNOW, THIS IS A GREAT AREA.
I ALREADY HAVE A LOT OUT ON ST.
I'M GONNA RETIRE ON, UH, THIS REMINDS ME OF CHARLESTON.
NOW, CHARLESTON'S, INTERNATIONALLY KNOWN.
SO THAT'S KIND OF FLATTERING, RIGHT? BUT IT'S ALSO A CAUTIONARY TALE.
I HAVE TO DRIVE UP THERE THIS AFTERNOON, AND IT'S A BIT OF A NIGHTMARE.
SO I THINK AS WE, AGAIN, TALK ABOUT THE BALANCE, IT'S ABOUT SCALABILITY AS WE GROW HERE.
AND SO, OUR 60 PROJECTS ARE NOT A VOLVO PLANT.
THEY'RE NOT, UH, UH, BOEING, AND THEY'RE NOT, UH, UH, MERCEDES-BENZ, IF I FORGOT TO MENTION THEM.
YOU KNOW, THEY'RE THESE SMALLER PROJECTS THAT CHARLIE WORKS ON, THAT TUCK IN AND DON'T OFFEND OUR RESIDENTS AND ACTUALLY PROVIDE OUR RESIDENTS AND THEIR KIDS AND THEIR LOVED ONES A PLACE TO MAKE A GOOD LIVING.
SO, NEXT SLIDE, WE KIND OF POUND AWAY.
YOU KNOW, WE, WE ACTUALLY DID A FOCUS GROUP, AND, AND WE USED MIND FLINT AND NATE CHUBB, UH, DID A LOT OF RESEARCH.
HIS STAFF DID A LOT OF RESEARCH ON PEOPLE WHO DO LOCATE HERE, UH, WHY IT RESONATES.
AND J JUST RECENTLY, THE, UH, UH, BUFORD REGIONAL CHAMBER COMMERCE, UH, RECOGNIZED LD BERGER, WHO JUST BOUGHT GREENLINE, A LAMINATE COMPANY.
UH, BUT THESE ARE THE THREE THINGS THAT RESONATE WITH INVESTORS.
AND AGAIN, THE ENVIRONMENT'S RIGHT THERE, NUMBER ONE.
SO, IF, IF WE, IF WE TEAR DOWN PARADISE AND PUT UP A PARKING LOT, WE'RE GONNA LOSE WHAT RESONATES.
WHAT, WHAT ATTRACTS PEOPLE TO OUR AREA? SO EXHILARATING, LIFESTYLE READY AND SKILLED WORKFORCE.
AND I WILL SAY THAT IT'S CHALLENGING.
A FRIEND OF MINE, UH, UH, USED TO WORK FOR AT AND T IN NEW JERSEY AS, UH, IT, IT HAD, UM, HE NOW SELLS TRAINS FOR A DIVISION OF CATERPILLAR.
IT LIVES UP IN MOUNT PLEASANT.
AND, UH, UH, HE GOT A PLANT, THEY GOT A PLANT GIVEN TO THEM IN MUNCIE, INDIANA.
AND WHEN THEY GO TO HIRE, LIKE 45% OF THEIR EMPLOYEES CAN'T PASS A DRUG TEST.
SO THE FACT WE HAVE 2100 EXITING MARINES EACH YEAR, UH, IS OUR, OUR, YOU KNOW, THE SHINIEST LURE WE CAN PUT INTO THE WATER FOR PEOPLE ARE LOOKING TO EMPLOY, UH, UH, SOMEBODY WHO SHOW UP TO WORK ON TIME, FOLLOWS INSTRUCTIONS, AND IN ALL LIKELIHOOD ISN'T HIGH.
UH, AND I, I HATE TO SAY THAT, BUT THAT IS, THAT IS AN ISSUE IN STATES WHERE WEED IS LEGAL.
AND IF YOU'RE WORKING ON, UH, UH, YOU KNOW, TRANSPORTATION EQUIPMENT, YOU REALLY HAVE TO HAVE GREAT PEOPLE.
LOCKHEED MARTIN, WHICH IS KIND OF BURIED ON THE MILITARY BASE EMPLOYEES, ABOUT 250 PEOPLE IN ONE HIRING TRANCHE, UH, THIS IS A WHILE BACK, BUT THEY INTERVIEWED 30 PEOPLE AND WERE ABLE TO HIRE 28.
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WE'VE BEEN, WE'VE BEEN KIND OF STRUGGLING TO FILL ONE POSITION IN OUR ORGANIZATION.SO, UH, THE MARINES ARE GREAT PEOPLE.
CHARLIE STONE IS ON THE BASE TWICE A MONTH WITH THE RESUMES, UH, OF, UH, OR JOB OPENINGS WITH EMPLOYERS.
AND WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE THAT CONNECTION CONSTANTLY, AND THEN UNPARALLELED SUPPORT.
AND IT'S EMBARRASSING FOR CHARLIE, BUT, UH, IF YOU READ THE BLOG THAT'S POSTED ON OUR WEBSITE, UH, THE, IT'S, IT'S LIKE GOING TO THE FOUR SEASONS WHEN CHARLIE'S WORKING ON YOUR PROJECT.
AND, AND WE HELP PEOPLE NOT ONLY, UH, IN THIS MARKET, BUT RIGHT NOW WE'RE WORK.
CHARLIE'S WORKING WITH A COMPANY THAT I MET WITH IN THE NETHERLANDS THAT NEEDS COLD STORAGE, AND HE'S GONNA HELP THEM MAYBE LOCATE IN CHARLESTON, MAYBE IN SAVANNAH.
BUT THAT'S HOW OUR REPUTATION GROWS.
SO WE TRY TO BUILD ON THAT, UH, LEVEL OF SUPPORT.
AND WE HAVE, UH, INCUMBENT BUSINESSES, AND I I SHOULD SAY, WHILE WE, WE FOCUS ON, UH, UH, THE MARINES, AND A LOT OF THOSE FOLKS ARE FROM ANYWHERE IN THE US AND THAT'S GREAT.
THAT'S OUR SHINY LURE IN THE WATER.
UH, BUT JUST TO GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE, WE'VE GOT AN AEROSPACE PROJECT EMPLOY ABOUT 50 PEOPLE LOOKING TO INVEST $23 MILLION RIGHT NEAR HILTON HEAD AIRPORT.
WE'LL HAVE A, UH, A, A, UH, A REQUIREMENT IN THERE THAT 15% OF THEIR EMPLOYEES, UH, TO GET THE BENE INCENTIVES THAT THE COUNTY ALLOWS US TO OFFER.
15% OF THOSE JOBS HAVE TO COME FROM, HAVE TO BE SOMEBODY WHO LIVED IN THE COUNTY ON THE DAY THEY STARTED THE PROJECT.
SO WE, WE NOT ONLY, UH, USE THE MARINES AS AN, UH, AS AN ATTRACTION, BUT WE'RE TRYING TO GET RESIDENTS INTO THOSE JOBS SO THEY CAN BENEFIT WELL, UH, AS WELL.
AND, AND WE WORK REALLY CLOSELY WITH, UH, UH, UH, THE, UH, COMMUNITY THAT'S BEEN HERE FOR GENERATIONS.
AND SO, WE'LL GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
IF ANYONE HAS ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE ASK 'EM.
'CAUSE, UH, UH, I'LL BE, I'LL BE, UH, QUICK.
THESE ARE THE, UH, SECTORS THAT WE FOCUS ON.
AND AS YOU CAN SEE, UM, THEY ARE, UH, YOU KNOW, THEY, THEY WON'T MAKE A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON, ON THE COMMUNITY.
UH, JUST GIVING AN EXAMPLE, THE COLLEGES ARE STARTING TO, UH, TURN OUT GREAT TALENT.
UH, THE HIGH SCHOOL, THE HIGH SCHOOLS ARE T-C-L-U-S-C-B.
SO AS THAT, UH, PIPELINE OF, UH, TALENT BUILDS, AND, AND I KIND OF LOOK AT LIKE, THE, UH, RUSSIAN WAR AND THE UKRAINE AS SAYING THAT, THAT IT'S TELLING ME THAT CONVENTIONAL WAR, UH, IS, IS NOT REALLY WORKING OUT THAT WELL FOR VLADIMIR PUTIN.
SO I, I WOULD IMAGINE CYBER ATTACKS ARE GONNA BE PROBABLY HANK YOU GOT A SPRINT.
BUT, UH, THANKS FOR BEING HERE, HANK, AND THANKS FOR BEING A GOOD PARTNER.
AND SO, UH, YOU KNOW, WE, UH, WE SENT, UH, WARREN PARKER, WHO HAS SPEARHEADED CYBER AND THE CITY OF BEAUFORT.
BUT LAST YEAR, UH, LAST JANUARY, WE FUNDED A TRIP TO HIS, TO ISRAEL.
AND SO WITH A LOT OF THOSE CONTACTS THAT WARREN MADE, WE'LL BE FOLLOWING UP, ESPECIALLY WITH WHAT'S GOING ON IN ISRAEL, TO SEE IF THEY WANT TO USE OUR LANDING PAD IN DOWNTOWN BEAUFORT AS A, UH, A, A PLACE TO STAY, UH, ACTIVE.
UH, WE, UH, WORKED WITH THE CITY OF BUFORT, UH, UP ON THE SECOND FLOOR, JUST ABOVE THE BUFORT DIGITAL CORRIDOR TO, UH, UH, BUILD OUT A LANDING PAD.
UH, UH, I'VE GOT MY KEY CHAIN ON ME, BUT, UH, ONE OF THE, UH, UH, FIRST TENANTS WAS A JAPANESE COMPANY, UH, SKYDRIVE, UH, THAT'S LOOKING TO LAUNCH A FLYING CAR, UH, UH, BASICALLY A DRONE THAT COULD CARRY PEOPLE.
AND SO THEY, THEY TOOK UP OFFICE THERE.
WE HAVE A VIETNAMESE COMPANY THAT HAS TAKEN UP OFFICE, AND WE NOW HAVE A CROATIAN COMPANY, CHARLIE.
SO, UH, IT'S, IT'S KIND OF NICE.
WHAT I, I, I FELT, UH, WHEN I GOT HERE SIX YEARS AGO, WAS A, THAT THERE'S, IT, IT'S NOT JUST, UH, IT'S NOT JUST AN EXPRESSION.
THERE IS A PALPABLE LOW COUNTRY WELCOME.
AND I THINK THE LANDING PAD IS, WE MADE OUR WAY THROUGH LA EARLIER THIS MONTH THROUGH, UH, NORWAY, DENMARK, AND THE NETHERLANDS.
A LOT OF THE COMPANIES, UH, LIKE THE IDEA OF, UH, HAVING A PLACE TO ESTABLISH SALES, WHICH COULD LEAD TO A, A DISTRIBUTION FACILITY, WHICH COULD LEAD TO A, A MANUFACTURING FACILITY.
AND WE'LL SHOW YOU SOME IMAGES OF THE COMPANIES WE'VE MET WITH, UH, OVERSEAS.
UH, UH, OUR BOARD ASKED US TO FOCUS ON ALL OF THESE THINGS.
AND, UH, YOU KNOW, WORKFORCE IS NOT ONLY WORKFORCE TRAINING AND WHAT WE'RE DOING, UH, WE'RE WORKING WITH TCL ON A, A TRAINING CENTER THAT THEY'RE MOVING FORWARD WITH, BUT ALSO WORKFORCE HOUSING.
I, I, I SAY THIS, UH, UH, AND,
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UH, AND JESSE'S HEARD ME SAY THIS.UH, YOU KNOW, I'VE SEEN THIS COMMUNITY MOVE QUICKLY.
UH, I LIVE ON HILTON HEAD, MOVE VERY QUICKLY, UH, TO SHUT SHUTTER LIGHTS THAT WON'T DISTRACT TURTLES.
UH, I'VE SEEN THE COMMUNITY, UH, PORT ROYAL MOVE QUICKLY TO PROTECT, UH, UH, UH, SIGNIFICANT TREES IN THEIR COMMUNITY.
BUT WE HAVE TO CARE ABOUT PEOPLE TOO.
AND WORKFORCE HOUSING IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS, UH, MARKETING AND ATTRACTION.
UH, WE'RE CONSTANTLY DOING THAT.
IF YOU DON'T FOLLOW US ON ALL SORTS OF SOCIAL MEDIA, WE ASK YOU TO DO THAT SITE DEVELOPMENT, WHICH I'M GONNA GET INTO.
YOU'RE PROBABLY LIKE, UH, I HOPE HE GETS TO WHAT THEIR PLANS ARE, NORTH OF THE BROAD, SOONER I WILL GET THERE.
BUT I THINK IT'S GOOD TO SEE WHAT WE DO IN THE CONTEXT AND THE MINDSET OF HOW WE APPROACH IT.
BUSINESS RETENTION AND EXPANSION.
CHARLIE AND I, LARGELY, CHARLIE, WE MEET WITH ABOUT 70 COMPANIES HERE, AS MOST PEOPLE HAVE EVER SOLD ANYTHING.
NO, IT'S EASIER TO TAKE CARE OF THE CUSTOMER YOU HAVE THAN THE COST OF GETTING A NEW CUSTOMER.
SO, UH, WE GET THEM HERE, AND THEN THOSE FOLKS, THE WAY, UH, UH, CHARLIE TAKES CARE OF 'EM END UP BEING, UH, A LEAD GENERATOR FOR US, OR, UH, UH, THEY VOUCH FOR US WHEN WE BRING IN A PROSPECT.
AND THEN A LOT OF WHAT I'M SAYING PROBABLY SOUNDS LIKE, UH, THIS A LOT OF FLUFF, BUT WE, WE DO, I, I, ONE OF MY MENTORS SAYS THAT WHICH GETS MEASURED GETS DONE.
SO WE HAVE VERY SIGNIFICANT METRICS THAT WE AIM FOR.
COMPUTER COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
UH, ED AND I WERE TALKING EARLIER, UM, I I, IN MY EXPERIENCE IN BEAUFORT COUNTY, AND I, I DON'T, I DON'T MEAN, I PROBABLY SAY THIS TOO MUCH, BUT IN THE ABSENCE OF GOOD INFORMATION, PEOPLE MAKE UP THEIR OWN.
AND SO I, I, WE PROBABLY ERR ON THE SIDE OF SHARING, UH, EVERYTHING.
UH, BUT IT'S MADE COMMUNITY RESIDENTS, UH, LESS, UH, SUSPECT OF WHAT WE'RE UP TO.
WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE PRESSURES OF PEOPLE WHO LOVE THE WAY THIS AREA IS, AND THEN WE'RE A GROWTH ORGANIZATION.
WE THINK IT'S IMPORTANT, UH, THAT THEY, UH, HAVE COMFORT WITH OUR APPROACH AND THEN SUSTAINABILITY AND UP TO GET INTO THAT IN A LITTLE BIT.
SO, UH, UH, YOU CAN SEE WE, UH, OUR BOARD DRIVES US EACH YEAR.
AND VAN USED TO BE A, A BOARD MEMBER.
NOW WE'VE GOT, UH, GREG SHELTON AND MIKE, UH, UH, MIKE MCPHEE AND, UH, SCOTT MARSHALL ARE ATTENDING CURRENTLY.
UH, BUT WE HAVE JOB, JOB CREATION, UH, UH, LEAD GENERATION.
AND THEN WE ACTUALLY KEEP TRACK OF ALL THIS.
SO, JUST SO YOU KNOW, EACH TOWN CONTRIBUTES $40,000 A YEAR TO OUR OPERATION BUDGET.
HOPEFULLY, THIS, THIS GIVES YOU A SENSE OF HOW TRANSPARENT WE ARE.
SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT IT, HOPEFULLY YOU'RE LOOKING AT JOBS AND OVERALL INVESTMENT AND, UH, MILL MILLAGE, UH, THAT CAN BE CREATED OFF OF OUR EFFORTS.
AND YOU SAY IT'S, IT'S NOT JUST A FEEL GOOD THING.
IT, IT, IT, IT PAYS DOLLARS AND CENTS TO INVEST IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
AND THEN THE COUNTY ALSO GIVES US, UM, UH, I'LL, I'LL SAY THREE, UH, 700.
AND SO THEY GIVE US 375 FOR OPERATIONS, AND ANOTHER $725,000 FOR SITE DEVELOPMENT AND FOR INCENTIVES TO COMPANIES.
SO COUNTY'S VERY GENEROUS TO US.
I'LL GET THROUGH SOME OF THESE.
YOU KNOW, UH, I WAS SPEAKING SOMEWHERE YESTERDAY, AND IT DAWNED ON ME.
WE HAVE PROBABLY LIKE FOUR BREWERIES, UH, LOOKING TO EXPAND IN OUR AREA.
BREWERIES ARE KIND OF NEAT 'CAUSE THEY'RE A, A LITMUS FOR AN AREA'S HEALTH, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, EVEN THOUGH IT'S BOOZE.
UH, BUT WE HAVE, UH, UH, A GENTLEMAN WHO BUILT, UH, UH, UH, UH, HE BUILT MYRTLE MYRTLE, UH, PARK, UH, NEAR THE COUNTY BUILDING OVER IN BLUFFTON.
IT'S BETWEEN THE COUNTY BUILDING AND TARGET.
UH, WE HAD A, UH, CANVAS COMPANY, A POPE CANVAS COMPANY EXPAND WITH ANOTHER BREWERY, A FINANCE OPERATION, ANOTHER BREWERY, UH, AN AEROSPACE.
UH, UH, THIS ONE IS WINDING ITS WAY THROUGH HILTON HEAD, BUT, UH, YOU KNOW, AND WE KIND OF GIVE THINGS A PERCENTAGE.
I WON'T GO THROUGH ALL OF ALL OF THEM.
DON'T, DON'T, UH, IGNORE THAT, UH, LEFT COLUMN.
UH, BUT, UH,
IT'S GOING INTO, UH, BEAUFORT COMMERCE PARK.
THEY'RE LOOKING TO CULTIVATE SOFT SHELL CRABS FOR A LARGER PART OF THE YEAR BY MANIPULATING, UH, THE, THE CLIMATE IN A CONTROLLED ENVIRONMENT.
[00:25:01]
THEY'LL WORK WITH LOCAL FISHERMEN.UH, IF, UH, C CRABS IS, AM I GETTING THE VERNACULAR? I GOT LAUGHED AT MY FIRST WEEK HERE.
I, I WENT SHRIMPING AND I SAID, I TOLD MY BOARD I WENT SHRIMP FISHING, AND EVERYONE LAUGHED AT ME BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, SHRIMP.
BUT, UH, IN ANY CASE, SO, UH, UH, CRAB IS, UH, I DON'T KNOW, WE, WE GIVE IT A LOW PRIOR, UH, A LOW POSSIBILITY.
UH, BUT, UH, WHAT WAS INTERESTING ABOUT THE PROJECT, IT PIQUED THE SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE'S, UH, UH, INTEREST IN FISHERIES.
AND AS YOU KNOW, THE, UH, UH, ONE EL MARI AGRICULTURAL CENTER'S BEEN STUDYING THAT FOR YEARS.
SO THEN WE WENT, JERRY, YOU GOT A QUESTION? OH, OKAY.
SO, UH, UH, WE, WE WENT OVER TO, UH, NORWAY AND DENMARK, UH, WHERE, WHERE THEIR, THEIR FISH FARMING AND, AND LEARNED FROM THEM AND MIGHT'VE ACTUALLY DEVELOPED SOME PROSPECT.
UH, THE BOTTOM ONE, UH, WAS A PROSPECT, UH, FOR UP ON THE LIKO SITE.
UH, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE THEY'RE MOVING FORWARD WITH A, UH, WITH, UH, CO, UH, A SITE IN CO.
SO, UH, AND THEY WERE AN AMMO MANUFACTURER, WHICH WE, UH, WE WEREN'T THAT SURE IT WOULD BE A FIT OR IF THE SITE IS, BUT WE'LL GET INTO SITE DISCUSSION IN A LITTLE BIT.
BUT WE, WE HAVE A PRETTY ROBUST PIPELINE ABOUT, UH, 50% OF WHAT WE'VE DONE IN 60 YEAR, UH, SIX YEARS IS IN THE PIPELINE TODAY.
I WANNA GET PAST THAT SLIDE WHERE I HAVE TWO TENTHS AND TWO 11.
UH, THE COMMERCE PARK, UH, WE HAVE OUR FIRST SPEC BUILDING HERE.
UH, WE'RE GONNA HAVE THE SECOND SPEC BUILDING, AND IT LOOKS LIKE IT'LL BE, UH, 60 TO 72,000 SQUARE FEET.
THE CRAMP FOLKS WANT TO BE HERE.
UH, WE HAVE A, UH, A, A LAUNDRY COMPANY THAT'S LOOKING AT SETTING OPERATIONS UP THERE, SOME 30 30, UH, $5 MILLION INVESTMENT.
AND SO, UM, THIS COMMERCE PARK IS, IS, IS STARTING TO GAIN TRACTION.
NOW, A LITTLE HICCUP TO THAT WAS COVID ANOTHER HICCUP TO THAT.
OUR INTEREST RATES TODAY ARE KIND OF PUTTING A LITTLE BIT OF A CHILL ON, UH, ON INVESTMENT.
BUT WE, WE CONTINUE TO SEE THAT.
AND SO, UH, WITH THE, I, I WOULDN'T SAY, UH, YOU KNOW, A LOT, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IS NOT AN OVERNIGHT SUCCESS.
YOU KNOW, IF YOU'VE EVER HEARD OF THE RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK IN, UH, THE RALEIGH DORM AREA, IT WAS AN OVERNIGHT SUCCESS OVER 50 YEARS.
SO PEOPLE WORKED ON IT, AND THEN IT TOOK OFF.
SO, UH, BUT WE ARE SEEING, UH, A LOT OF INTEREST OUT THERE.
AND CHARLIE'S WORKING RIGHT NOW.
WE HAVE LIKE FOUR PROSPECTS THAT ARE LOOKING FOR SPACE IN THE COMMERCE PARK.
SO YOU CAN SEE THAT SOME 192 ACRES IS GONNA GET, UH, FILLED UP PRETTY QUICK.
AND FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T KNOW WHERE IT IS, IT'S OUT ON 21.
UH, UH, YOU MAKE THAT LEFT AT HARRIS PILLOW, JUST BEYOND THE DRIVE-IN THEATER.
AND, UH, OUT NEAR THE OLD PARKER HAN, THIS IS THE OLD PARKER FIN BUILDING.
THE, THIS IS, UH, UH, THAT'S, THAT'S NOT A RENDERING, RIGHT, CHARLIE? THAT'S THE ACTUAL BUILDING.
IT LOOKED, IT LOOKS LIKE A PHOTO, THOUGH.
BUT THIS BUILDING IS BUILT, UH, AND SO, UH, UH, AND IT, IT CAME OUT NICE.
YOU THINK THEY REALLY RENDERED ALL THOSE PINE NEEDLES IN
IT LOOKS LIKE THAT ROAD'S BLUE.
I THINK THE PORT OF THE ROAD DIFFERENT.
WHAT DOES, WHAT DOES THE GROUP THINK? UH, CHARLIE, WE'RE GONNA GET A BOAT.
WHO THINKS IT'S A RENDERING? THANKS, MAN.
WHO THINKS IT'S THE REAL BUILDING? AND THE REST OF YOU ARE UNAFFILIATED? I GOT IT.
THAT'S, UH, TWO, TWO, UH, GOOFY.
UH, THIS IS SOMETHING WE HAVE IN OUR PRODUCT PLAN.
MY, MY SON ACTUALLY, UH, SAID IT TO ME AND I SAID, I GOTTA KEEP THAT.
UH, BUT, UH, SOCIETY GROWS GREAT.
WHEN OLD MEN PLANT TREES WHO SHADE, THEY KNOW THEY SHALL NEVER SIT UNDER, UH, SIT IN.
AND THEN, UH, SOMETHING I, I HAD HEARD A WHILE AGO, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU MAKE DECISIONS, TRY TO MAKE DECISIONS THAT, UH, UH, KIND OF KEEP, YOU KNOW, SEVEN GENERATIONS AHEAD.
THERE'S SOME ARGUING WHETHER THAT'S REALLY ATTRIBUTED TO THE IROQUOIS, BUT IT'S STILL A GREAT IDEA TO HAVE A LONG LOOK ABOUT WHAT YOU DO.
SO, NEXT SLIDE, UH, IN OUR, UH, PRODUCT PLAN, WHAT WE TRY TO DO IS, 'CAUSE YOU'LL HEAR A LOT ABOUT, UH, UH, TRANSPORTATION AND, UH, UH, DIFFERENT THINGS, BUT WE THINK, UH, DEVELOPMENT OCCURS BEST.
AND, UH, HOPEFULLY KURT AND, UH, UH, NOAH
[00:30:01]
WOULD AGREE.BUT, UH, THAT IT, IT OCCURS BEST WHEN YOU, WHEN YOU DO IT AT THAT NEXUS WHERE THE ZONING PERMITS IT, THE COMMUNICATIONS, UH, UH, UH, UH, UH, UH, INFRASTRUCTURE'S IN PLACE, ELECTRIC AND GAS AND TRANSPORTATION ALL COME TOGETHER.
SO THAT'S WHAT WE, IN A PERFECT WORLD, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE AIMING FOR.
SO NOW WE'LL GO, WE'RE PROBABLY GONNA MOVE TO SOME, UH, SITES THAT ARE ON OUR DRAW BOARD.
AND, AND BACK TO, BACK TO MY LINCOLN QUOTE, THE REASON I SHARE SO MUCH WHEN I SPEAK IN, IN, IN THE COMMUNITY IS 'CAUSE I WANT PEOPLE TO BE CRITICAL OF IT.
SO, UH, UH, SO WE GET A BETTER PRODUCT.
UH, JUST, UH, UH, UH, THIS IS, I, I'M JUST GONNA SHOW YOU DIFFERENT THINGS THAT WE'RE MONITORING.
THIS ISN'T SOMETHING THAT WE'RE GONNA DO RIGHT AWAY.
UH, UH, THE COUNTY IS WORKING WITH THE, UH, UH, BUFORD REGIONAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
UH, MITCH MITCHELL'S ON THAT COMMITTEE, GREG SHELTON'S ON THAT COMMITTEE.
UH, UH, UH, LISA PHELPS IS ON THAT COMMITTEE.
SO THEY'RE DOING GREAT WORK, BUT THEY'RE LOOKING AT WHAT, WHAT COULD BE DONE THERE.
UH, UH, YOU KNOW, IF, UH, AS WE'RE SEEING, THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE IS MOVING A LOT OF THE, UH, UH, MEDICAL SERVICES TO THE AIR STATION, TO THE, UH, TRAINING DEPOT, SO WORTH WATCHING, I THINK THIS IS GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR PORT ROYAL, UH, TO, UH, BE INTENTIONAL ABOUT WHAT IT SEES, UH, DEVELOPED THERE.
AND THAT, THAT, THAT'S NOT, UH, I, AND I APOLOGIZE, I JUST PULLED THESE OFF OF GOOGLE.
UH, BUT, UH, THE, THE BECO CHEMICAL SITE IS RIGHT HERE, RIGHT? SO THAT'S 93 ACRES, UH, UP IN HERE.
UH, TULLEY, UH, TRASK HAS 117 ACRES.
UH, WE WE'RE WORKING WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF, UH, D-H-C-D-H-C, I'LL JUST SAY DH, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT.
UH, BUT, UH, WE ARE, UH, WE WORKING ON A VOLUNTARY CLEANUP CONTRACT.
THIS IS A VERY MESSY PROJECT AS WE'RE THINKING ABOUT IT.
AND, UH, UH, HANK'S WORKING WITH US ON IT.
UH, AND I SHOULD SAY, UH, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE REASONS I, YOU KNOW, I GIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT CREDIT FOR, UH, UH, MY ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS.
BUT JESSE, AND, AND THE FOLKS AT, UH, THE OPEN LAND TRUST ARE, ARE HOW THE HOLY SPIRIT SPOKE TO ME,
BUT, UH, UH, THE, UH, THAT'S THE WAY IT WORKS.
THAT'S PRETTY HIGH ORDERS, JEFF.
WHAT'S THAT? I SAID, THAT'S PRETTY HIGH ORDERS, JEFF.
WELL, UH, BUT ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS HAVE DONE A LOT TO CONSERVE LAND UP HERE.
SO, AS YOU KNOW, WE'RE WORKING WITH GERALD DAWSON IN THE COMMUNITY AND THE COUNTY COUNCIL.
WE JUST HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE, UH, UH, HAVE REALISTIC, UH, HOPES OF WHAT CAN BE DEVELOPED THERE.
AND, UH, BECAUSE THIS IS NORTH OF THE WHALE RANCH, AND, UH, UH, I DO THINK, YOU KNOW, FOR ENVIRONMENTAL REASONS, THE COUNTY'S, UH, UH, WISELY LOOKING AT PUTTING WATER IN THERE SO PEOPLE HAVE RELIABLE DRINKING WATER.
I THINK THIS PROJECT, IF, IF YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH THE EXPRESSION, IS REALLY ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE, MAKING SURE THAT THE PEOPLE UP HERE HAVE, UH, UH, UH, UH, A HEALTHY LIVING ENVIRONMENT.
BUT WE HAVE TO BE REAL CAREFUL OF EXPECTING, UH, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, A VOLVO PLANT OR ABMW PLANT, IT'S NOT GONNA HAPPEN.
UH, THERE'S A LOT OF PRESSURES AND, AND THE PLAN, THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, AND ROB COULD PROBABLY SPEAK EXPERTLY ON THIS, BUT THE PLANS DON'T REALLY ALLOW FOR, UH, SEWER UP NORTH OF THE BROAD, RIGHT? UH, NORTH OF THE WHALE BRANCH, SORRY.
UH, SO WE, WE JUST HAVE TO KINDA WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY TO TRY TO GET THAT CLEANED UP.
UH, AND IN SOME FORM WHERE SOMETHING COULD OCCUR, WHO KNOWS, MAYBE IT'S AN EXPANSION OF SOLAR OR, BUT SOMETHING THAT DOESN'T, UH, UH, UH, UH, UPSET THE NEIGHBORHOOD, UPSET THE ENVIRONMENT.
UH, SO THIS, I, I KIND OF THINK IT'S SOMETHING WE HAVE TO PURSUE AS A COMMUNITY, BUT I'M NOT SURE IT'S OUR, OUR BEST ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SITE.
UH, ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR ANY KNOWLEDGE OR ANYTHING YOU WANT TO KNOW ABOUT LA VICO? KIND OF, UH, I THINK I'M ANYTHING, UH, ANYTHING I'M MISSING, CHARLIE.
SO LIBI GOES UP HERE, AND THIS IS THE, UH, MCLEOD TRACK IN HERE.
UH, IT, IT ACTUALLY GOES, IT, IT WRAPS RIGHT AROUND THE, UH, UH, WHALE BRANCH, EARLY COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL.
UH, THIS IS, UH, UH, SOME 300 ACRES.
IT'S, IT, OBVIOUSLY BECAUSE SCHOOL HAS GOT ELECTRIC, IT'S GOT GAS.
[00:35:01]
UH, I DI AS I'M HEARING, THIS SCHOOL HAS A LITTLE BIT ISSUE OF, OF, UH, A PUPIL COUNT IN THE SCHOOLS UP HERE.SO THERE ARE SOME WORKFORCE HOUSING DEVELOPERS THAT ARE LOOKING AT THE AREA.
AND JUST IN TERMS OF, IF YOU GO BACK TO MY VENN DIAGRAM OF THE NEXUS OF, UH, THE POTENTIAL OF TRANSPORTATION, UH, COMMUNICATIONS, UH, INFRASTRUCTURE, THIS HOLDS SOME POSSIBILITIES.
THE ISSUE HAD BEEN HISTORICALLY THAT, UM, IT, THERE WAS A LITTLE BIT OF A, A, A BATTLE, UH, I'LL SAY BETWEEN THE COUNTY AND THE CITY, WHETHER, YOU KNOW, THIS IS GONNA GET ANNEXED, BUT I THINK IN, IN THE ERA WE'RE IN RIGHT NOW, THERE'LL BE MORE COOPERATION AND AN OPPORTUNITY TO JUST HAVE A GOOD CONVERSATION ABOUT THAT.
AND, AND THEN THAT IF THIS DEVELOPS, UH, IN ANY FORM, IT KIND OF, KIND OF WILL TAKE, UH, SOME OF THAT PRESSURE OFF OF, UH, COUNCILMAN DAWSON'S DISTRICT TO SAY, WE DON'T HAVE AN ECONOMIC ENGINE IN MY DISTRICT.
UH, AND IT MIGHT PUT IT IN A PLACE WHERE WE'D BE, UH, UH, UH, MORE IN SYNC WITH PEOPLE WHO CARE GREATLY ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT.
THIS IS, UH, UH, JUST THE PREVIOUS MAP, BUT, UH, I THINK THIS WAS, UH, UH, PULLED OUT FOR HOUSING.
AND, UH, BUT, UH, THERE WAS A MEETING YESTERDAY AND A MORE, UH, UH, SIGNIFICANT COMPREHENSIVE PLAN WILL BE DEVELOPED.
I THINK THAT'D BE A GREAT THING FOR YOUR C YOUR COMMITTEE TO SEE AS THAT'S DEVELOPED.
AND THEN PROVIDE INPUT TO, UH, AND I THINK THEY'RE PLANNING ON, UH, PLANNING AND STAFF WORKSHOPS.
BUT, UH, WE DID MEET WITH THE DEVELOPER, AND, UH, THE OUTCOME WAS, UH, AND HANK WAS WITH US AND SCOTT MARSHALL WERE, WERE WITH US, BUT, UH, AND, AND KURT WAS WITH US, IS, IS THAT THIS IS, SHOULDN'T BE DRIVEN BY A DEVELOPER.
IT SHOULD BE DRIVEN BY THE GREAT MINDS IN THE PLANNING DEPARTMENTS.
UH, UH, SO, UH, MORE TO COME ON THAT.
IT'S NOT A DONE DEAL, BUT I THINK IT'S GOOD FOR YOUR GROUP TO HEAR FOR EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM, UH, TO HEAR, UH, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE'RE THINKING.
THIS IS A, THIS ONE, UH, UH, A INVITE, CHARLIE AND JESSE TO JUMP IN IF I'M MESSING IT UP.
BUT, UH, UH, CHILTON UP IN YY.
SO THIS IS REALLY, UH, UH, NORTH, UH, NORTHERN BEAUFORT COUNTY RIGHT IN HERE.
THE PREVIOUS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GROUP WANTED TO SPEND SOME $27 MILLION ON, THIS IS CALLED, UH, WE CALL IT, UH, COMPARTMENT 80.
SO THEY WANNA SPEND $27 MILLION THERE TO CREATE A, UH, UH, A MEGA SITE.
UH, AND THERE ARE ALL SORTS OF WETLANDS OUT THERE AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, IF YOU DO A MEGA SITE, YOU'RE GONNA, YOU'RE GONNA BE PLOWING ALL THAT, ALL THAT DOWN.
UH, OUR APPROACH, AGAIN, HAS BEEN TO TUCK PROJECTS IN THAT FIT.
YOU KNOW, FOR MEGASITE, YOU'D HAVE TO HAVE TO JUST LEVEL THIS WHOLE THING, RUN A RAILROAD TRACK IN HERE, ALL OF THAT, UH, WITH THE APPROACH WE'RE TAKING, YOU REALLY COULD JUST USE SOME OF THESE, UH, FRONTAGE LOTS FOR DEVELOPMENT AND NOT HAVE TO IMPACT WETLANDS.
MR. CHILTON, UH, CHILTON FORESTRY CHILTON INVESTMENTS, UH, A REALLY AFFLUENT GUY FROM CONNECTICUT, UH, OWNS, UH, 14,000 ACRES.
HE'S BEEN WORKING, UH, WITH ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS.
AND YOU GUYS CORRECT ME, 'CAUSE I, I, BUT, UH, UH, RIGHT UP HERE, SOME FOUR TO 6,000 ACRES HAVE BEEN PRESERVED.
UH, THIS IS IN, UH, HELP ME OUT HERE.
UH, THIS IS IN, UH, HAMPTON COUNTY.
THIS IS IN JASPER COUNTY AND BEAUFORD COUNTY.
NOW, WHAT'S INTERESTING ABOUT FENNEL HILL IS BECAUSE IT'S CON, IT'S ON, UH, NEAR I 95.
YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE IN HAMPTON, YOU'RE THINKING, OH MY GOD, WE COULD GET ANOTHER LOVE'S TRUCK STOP THERE, YOU KNOW, OR, UH, UH, UH, A RED ROOF IN, OR WHATEVER, YOU KNOW? SO YOU'RE THINKING ALL OF THAT.
AND OUR, OUR ENVIRONMENTAL FRIENDS WHO WE HAVE BEEN COMMUNICATING WITH FOR FIVE OF THESE LAST SIX YEARS, VERY, VERY CONSISTENTLY SAY THAT THERE'S A LOT OF REASON FOR HABITAT, UH, EXTENSION NOT TO DEVELOP THAT WHEN YOU GET DOWN ONTO WAR TRAIL, IT, IT'S NOT ONLY THE ENVIRONMENT, BUT NOW IT'S WAR TRAIL.
SO THERE'S A LOT OF WAR ARTIFACTS ON THAT SITE.
AND SO THERE'S REASONS NOT TO DEVELOP IT.
SO WE'RE ENCOURAGING HAMPTON COUNTY AND JASPER COUNTY TO TAKE, UH, WE'LL SAY LIKE 2000 ACRES OUT OF, OUT OF THE DEVELOPMENT, UH, OUT OF PLAY FOR DEVELOPMENT.
AND THEN THIS YELLOW IS, UH, UH, YOU KNOW,
[00:40:01]
SOME 519 ACRES THAT ARE, ARE, ARE ENVIRONMENTAL PARTNERS HAVE CARVED OUT TO SAY, HEY, YOU KNOW WHAT? THAT COULD BE GREAT FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, WORKFORCE, UH, HOUSING.AND THEN, UH, THIS COMPARTMENT 80, WHICH, UH, HAS A, A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF WETLANDS.
I, I DROVE THE PROPERTY, UH, GOSH, THE WEEKS OF BLUR.
I THINK I, WAS IT THIS MONDAY, CHARLIE? DID I DRIVE IT? OR WAS IT, THAT'S A LONG WEEK.
SO I, I DROVE BOTH OF THESE PARCELS ON MONDAY, AND, UM, THERE'S A LOT OF WETLANDS ON 80, AND THEN YOU'RE GETTING CLOSER TO THE ACE BASIN TOO.
SO THERE'RE, I, WE, WE BELIEVE, UH, AND TRUST THAT THAT'S PROBABLY NOT A GOOD AREA TO DEVELOP.
SO WHAT WE'RE TELLING THESE OTHER TWO COUNTIES IS FORGET ABOUT THIS FOR DEVELOP, FORGET ABOUT THAT FOR DEVELOPMENT.
SO HERE YOU GOT THE AFFLUENT, AFFLUENT COUNTY TELLING THE, UH, UH, EEC, ECONOMICALLY CHALLENGED COUNTIES TO TAKE THOSE OFF OF YOUR DEVELOPMENT HOMES.
AND SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, UH, JUST UNDER 3000 ACRES, 500 ACRES WILL BE CARVED OUT FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
AND WE'VE HAD THIS CONVERSATION WITH, UH, UH, UH, JOE PASSANT IN THE ROOM, LARRY MCCLELLAN, UH, UH, IT'S, UH, UH, AND PAUL BROWN AT OUR BOARD LEVEL.
UH, AND WE HAVE BRIEFED THE, UH, COMMITTEE, UH, WITH, UH, UH, OVERSIGHT OVER ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THAT WE PLAN ON DEVELOPING AN ECONOMIC, DEVELOP A COMMERCE PARK HERE THAT THE THREE COUNTIES WOULD ENJOY OR PARTICIPATE IN EQUALLY.
AND SO IN DOING THAT, WE'LL PRESERVE SOME 2,500 ACRES AND THEN CARVE OUT, UH, AND, AND THIS IS LIKE LOOSELY DRAWN, BUT WE HAVE GREAT CONFIDENCE AND, AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL, UH, UH, PERHAPS A, UH, STATE LAND BANK, PERHAPS THE GREEN PENNY, UH, WILL COOPERATE IN FUNDING THE, UH, UH, COST OF A GREAT, UH, A GREAT PART OF THAT.
SO THAT'S, UH, KIND OF SOMETHING, UH, UH, WE, I'M, I'M REALLY PROUD OF IT BECAUSE, UH, I, I, I WOULD GET, I WOULD GET, UH, SOME PEOPLE WOULD SAY, WELL, WHY ARE YOU WORKING WITH THE ENVIRONMENTALISTS? THEY'RE GONNA, THEY'RE GONNA, THEY'RE GONNA OPPOSE YOU, UH, BECAUSE YOU'RE WORKING ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
TOM, WHAT DO YOU SEE AS A BENEFIT TO THE COUNTIES WHERE YOU'RE TAKING LAND OUT OF POTENTIAL FOR DEVELOPMENT FOR THE, BY THEM, THE UNDERSERVED? YEAH.
WELL, PROBABLY, JASPER COUNTY BELIEVES THAT ITS LARGEST ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IS GONNA HAPPEN DOWN NEAR THE SAVANNAH PORT.
SO THEY CAN'T, THEY CAN'T INVEST ALL OVER THEIR COUNTY.
UH, AND, AND, UH, THEY DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES REALLY TO BUY THIS LAND.
SO IF THEY WORK WITH US, THEY'LL PARTICIPATE FULLY IN, IN THE COMMERCE PARK, SO THEY'LL GET REVENUE THERE.
WHAT'LL BENEFIT BEAUFORT COUNTY HOPEFULLY WOULD BE, IS THAT, UH, THE WATERS, UH, YOU KNOW, PRICE SOME $3 MILLION AWAY SO THEY CAN APPLY FOR RURAL GRANTS TO HELP US BRING THE INFRASTRUCTURE TO THE SITE.
THERE'S, THERE'S ALREADY GAS AND ELECTRIC AND, AND ROADS AND RAIL.
SO WE'VE GOT, YOU KNOW, A SIGNIFICANT PART OF THAT VENN DIAGRAM.
AND, UH, I, I, IT IS PROBABLY A QUESTION OF MEANS, YOU KNOW, SO THAT THEY'RE NOT IN A POSITION TO BUY, UH, THIS, THIS LAND.
YOU KNOW, IT'S, UH, YOU KNOW, IT'D BE $15 MILLION IF THEY WANTED TO BUY IT OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
IT'S, IT'S, IT'S, IT WOULD COST 'EM A, A, A FAIR AMOUNT THAT THEY PROBABLY DON'T HAVE.
BUT I THINK, UH, I THINK THERE ARE SOME, AND, AND JOE PASSMAN, UH, UH, I'VE BEEN IN GROUPS, UH, SEVEN COUNTY GROUPS WHERE HE VERBALIZES THIS, WHERE WE'VE GOTTA WORK TOGETHER.
SO I THINK, UH, I, I THINK THEY'VE BEEN PRIMED WHEN I MET WITH, SAY, ANDY FOLGER IN JASPER, HE'S THE ADMINISTRATOR THERE.
HE, HE WAS LIKE, UM, YEAH, NO, THAT SOUNDS GREAT.
WE'RE, WE'RE IN, I'VE SPOKE, THEY'VE HAD, UH, INCONSISTENT, UH, ADMINISTRATION IN HAMPTON.
SO THEY'VE GOT, UH, BUT I, WE HAVE SPOKEN TO HEATHER SIMMONS JONES, UH, WHO WAS THE ACTING ADMINISTRATOR AND, UH, UH, UH, NOAH ALEXANDER.
AND, UH, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE, THEY'RE AMENABLE TO IT AT THIS POINT.
WE DON'T HAVE MEMORANDUMS OF UNDERSTANDING OUR LETTERS.
OH, I, I WAS JUST GONNA ADD, THERE'S POTENTIAL ON FENNEL HILL AND WAR TRAIL AND COMPARTMENT 80, THAT THE SOUTH CAROLINA FORESTRY COMMISSION WOULD BE THE ULTIMATE LAND HOLDER FOR THE CONSERVED LAND.
AND IF THAT'S THE CASE, THEN THEY WOULD, UH, GENERATE 25% OF THEIR REVENUE, UH, WOULD GO TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, WHICH IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE BIGGEST NEEDS IN THOSE COUNTIES.
SO, UM, IT WOULD BE AN ACTUAL WORKABLE FOREST.
DOES THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION? YES, ABSOLUTELY.
[00:45:01]
IT'S EXCITING THAT, WHEREAS IN, IN 2014, THIS WAS LIKE THE LAST ACT OF AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GROUP THAT BY WORKING COLLABORATIVELY WITH, UH, JESSE'S GROUP AND, AND OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS, EVEN AS, UH, THEY'VE GOTTEN US, UH, IN FRONT OF THIS, UH, LAND BANK REPRESENTATIVES, THERE'S A LOT OF GENUINE EXCITEMENT ABOUT THIS.IT'S, I, I, I BELIEVE IT'LL BE A, A NATIONAL BEST PRACTICE THAT YOU'LL SEE HERE, WHERE JUST EVEN THE PROCESS OF COMMUNICATING WITH THE ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS, WITH PEOPLE WHO RECOGNIZE THERE'S A NEED FOR AFFORDABLE OR WORKFORCE HOUSING.
SO, UH, UH, IT'LL TAKE A WHILE.
IT'LL TAKE A WHILE TO BRING THIS FORWARD, BUT IT'S IN THE PIPELINE.
AND IF ANYONE HAS ANY CRITICAL FEEDBACK, CHARLIE, MYSELF, UH, UH, JESSE, I'D BE HAPPY TO HEAR YOU.
BUT, UH, NEXT, UH, NEXT SLIDE.
I THINK WE MIGHT BE FREE OF ME SOON.
I JUST, THESE ARE SOME IMAGES, UH, OF THE SITE THAT I TOOK.
UH, SO RAIL'S A, A BIG PART OF IT.
UM, A LOT OF THE PLACES WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, THIS IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE BETTER VIEWS, BUT IT'S, IT'S CLEAR, IT'S BEAUTIFUL.
IT'S BEAUTIFUL WHEN WE WERE DRIVING UP HERE.
SO A BIG BUCK RUN ACROSS THE PATH.
BUT, UH, UH, AND, AND JUST SO YOU KNOW, ON, UH, ON, UH, NOVEMBER 6TH, WE'RE GONNA DRIVE THE MCLEOD SITE AND GET A SENSE FOR WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.
BUT, UH, IF ANYONE'S INCLINED TO WANT TO JOIN US, WE CAN MAKE ARRANGEMENTS TO DO THAT.
AND THEN THE NEXT SLIDE, HOPEFULLY GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF HOPE.
SOME OF THE INDUSTRIES WE, WE WE'RE LOOKING AT OVERSEAS, BUT THIS IS, UH, UH, UH, SALMON PROCESSING IN, UH, UH, OSLO, NORWAY.
BUT IT'S KIND OF INTERESTING WITH THEIR FARMING, UH, THE, THE MODELS ARE GETTING AWAY FROM HAVING PENS IN THE OCEAN THAT, UH, WHILE WE WERE THERE, ONE OF THOSE TYPE PENS BROKE.
AND THERE'S BIG CONCERN ABOUT THESE FARM FISH BREEDING WITH, UH, WILD FISH.
SO THEY'RE MORE, THEY'RE GOING MORE LAND-BASED, BUT IT'S AMAZING.
THEY GROW A SALMON, AND IT'S, EVERY ONE WEIGHS 2.5 KILOGRAMS OR WHATEVER.
AND SO IT'S, IT'S AMAZING HOW PERFECTLY THEY'RE SLOTTED.
I DIDN'T REALIZE IT UNTIL I WAS THERE, BUT MY WIFE SERVES ME SALMON TWICE A WEEK.
SO, UH, I, IT'S, UH, A PROTEIN WE GO, GO FOR ON TOP OF OUR SALADS.
BUT, UH, SO THEN THEY, THEY FILET 'EM, AND THEN THEY, THEY COME THROUGH THIS LINE.
AND SO, AND, AND THEY'RE, THEY'RE, THEY'RE BASICALLY HARVESTED ON FRIDAY, AND THEY'RE IN OUR STORES HERE IN SOUTH CAROLINA ON, ON THURSDAY, THE FOLLOWING THURSDAY.
WHAT'S INTERESTING, AND THE WAAL MARI CULTURAL CENTER'S DONE SOME, UH, RESEARCH ON THIS, BUT I THINK 90, ACCORDING TO THEIR WEBSITE, LIKE 91% OF AMERICAN FISH, UH, CONSUMPTION IS, UH, IMPORTANT.
AND I, IT DAWNED ON ME WHILE I WAS THERE, WHETHER YOU LISTENED TO BIDEN OR TRUMP, THERE'S PROBABLY GONNA BE AN EMPHASIS ON HAVING MORE, MORE OF OUR FOOD, UH, UH, MADE HERE.
WE, WHEN WE WERE IN THE NETHERLANDS, WE MET WITH THESE, UH, UH, THESE ARE, UH, UH, IN, IN, IN, UH, LIKE MOD UH, MODULAR, MODULAR, UH, GROWING, UH, STRUCTURES.
BUT, UH, THIS, THIS GENTLEMAN, UH, HERE, HE'S JUST OUTSIDE OF, UH, AMSTERDAM.
UH, BUT ALL OF, ALL OF THE, THESE, UH, SEEDS CAN BE GROWN FROM SEEDS TO YOUR TABLE IN, UH, UH, THREE WEEKS OR 28 DAYS, UH, IN THESE, UH, UH, GROW HOUSES.
AND, UH, UH, THIS ONE, HIS MODEL'S KIND OF INTERESTING.
ALL OF THE GROWING CONDITIONS WOULD BE MONITORED FROM THIS.
LIKE, YOU KNOW, IF YOU IMAGINE LIKE SPACE CONTROL AT NASA, UH, FROM THE, FROM AMSTERDAM, AND THEY WOULD BUILD THESE RIGHT NEAR THE PUBLIX, THE HARRIS TEETERS, THE, UH, STOP AND SHOP PRICE, UH, PRICE CHOPPER, WHATEVER.
THEY, THEY PUT IT RIGHT NEAR THE, UH, DISTRIBUTION FACILITY, AND THEY WOULD, UH, PACKAGE IT AND THEN JUST PUT IT IN THE TRUCKS THAT THAT PARTICULAR BRAND DID.
SO THEY'RE LOOKING TO PARTNER WITH, UH, UH, UH, THE LARGE, LARGE RETAILERS, KROGER'S AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
COSTCO'S A HUGE, UH, I, I, I DON'T GO TO COSTCO, BUT IT'S A HUGE DISTRIBUTOR OF SALMON.
UH, AND THEN THIS OTHER COMPANY IS GROWING STRAWBERRIES AND LETTUCE.
IT WAS, UH, IT'S INTERESTING, THERE ARE DIFFERENT MODELS OUT THERE.
THERE IS A, A COUPLE, UH, UH, FROM BEAUFORT COUNTY THAT JUST STARTED
[00:50:01]
ONE OF THESE, UH, OPERATIONS IN HARDY V CALLED HARDY GREENS.AND THEY'LL BE, IT'LL BE INTERESTING TO WATCH WHAT HAPPENS THERE.
BUT I DO THINK, UH, YOU KNOW, WE TRY TO TRY TO WORK WITH INDUSTRY, UH, THAT'S RIGHTLY PLACED HERE.
ONE OF THE INTERESTING THINGS WE LEARNED WHILE WE'RE OVER THERE WAS, IS THAT SOMEBODY'S TRYING TO DO SALMON IN FLORIDA, AND IT'S JUST IMPOSSIBLE.
LIKE THEY'RE, THEY'RE, UH, UH, HAVING TROUBLE GETTING IT COLD ENOUGH IN THE FACILITY.
THIS, UH, ONE COMPANY WE'VE MET WITH IN, UH, DENMARK, UH, UH, CALLED SALMON EVOLUTION.
UH, THEY SAY THAT THEIR LOSS RATE IS LIKE BELOW 5%.
SO WHEN THEY, THEY'RE GROWING FISH.
SO THERE'S A LOT OF SCIENCE AROUND IT.
I DO THINK, UH, AMERICA'S PROBABLY GONNA MOVE AWAY FROM A LOT OF ASIAN, UH, PRODUCTS.
AND SO THERE MIGHT BE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH, UH, THE BENELUX REGION OR SCANDINAVIA.
SO IT WAS, IT WAS A GOOD TRIP.
AND GOOD NEWS IS LIKE, UH, UH, THE DEPARTMENT OF AG SO EXCITED ABOUT, THEY PAID FOR HALF OF OUR LEAD.
SO THAT WAS, UH, WE GOT GOOD PARTNERS ALL THE WAY AROUND, JESSE BEING ONE OF THEM, UH, OUR PLANNERS AND, UH, THE COUNTY AND THE TOWN, CITY.
SO THAT, I THINK THAT TRULY IS YOU'RE FRI LIST.
AND, AND YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE OUTTA HERE AT 10.
SO NINE 50 YOU HAVE QUESTION, ANY QUESTIONS? LOCAL SHRIMPING INDUSTRY, IF YOU WILL.
I MEAN, IF THEY CONTACTED YOU ABOUT ANYTHING? NO, WE'VE BEEN TALKING TO GAY FISH COMPANY.
THEY'RE LOOKING AT INVESTING IN SOME, LIKE, I THINK ADDITIONAL COLD STORAGE.
AND, UH, WE HAVE SET THEM A PROJECT WHERE LOOKING TO WORK THEIR PROJECT THROUGH DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, BUT I THINK THAT'S REALLY THE, THE MAIN SHRIMPING OPERATION THAT WE'VE, UH, RIGHT.
SO, BUT WE WOULD LOVE, YOU KNOW, KNOWN ABOUT $2.6 MILLION THAT'S SUPPOSED TO BE REINVESTED IN, UH, THE DOCK FACILITY AS WELL AS THE PROCESSING FACILITY.
SO WE COULD, YOU KNOW, WE MET THIS GENTLEMAN, UH, IN OSLO WHO WE COULD PITCH YOUR PROJECT TO.
SO IF IT'S OKAY WITH YOU, UH, IN THE NEXT 10 DAYS, I, I THINK NEXT WEEK'S BOOK FOR ME, BUT THE WEEK OF THE SIXTH, IF WE COULD PUT TOGETHER A PACKAGE, I THINK WE COULD PITCH IT SPECIFICALLY TO SOME INVESTORS.
WELL, I THINK THE BIG, I'M JUST TRYING TO COLD STORY, SEE IF THERE'S ANY SORT OF ORGANIZATION LOCALLY.
I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY, I MEAN, THERE WAS SOMETHING THAT CAME OUT RECENTLY.
VERY LITTLE OF THE LOCAL RESTAURANTS ARE ACTUALLY USING LOCAL PRODUCT.
IF IT'S A LACK OF PRODUCTION, OBVIOUSLY IT'S PRICING IS THE BIGGEST THING.
UM, SO SEASONS TOO, RIGHT? AREN'T SEASONS AN ISSUE? SEASONS IN CONSISTENCY INSIDE COLD STORAGE, YOU KNOW, WELL, ONE THING WE DO BETTER THAN ANYBODY IN THE WORLD IS, IS LOCAL SHRIMP.
AND, AND, AND MORE PEOPLE NEED TO SUPPORT THAT.
WE IN PORT ROYAL HAVE SUPPORTED IT.
I MEAN, WE, WE PROPPED THAT INDUSTRY UP FOR A LONG TIME.
I'VE BEEN ON COUNCIL FOR EIGHT YEARS, SINCE 2006.
WE'VE BEEN, YOU KNOW, SINCE I'VE BEEN ON, I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MANY MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.
AND, AND WE'VE INVESTED IN A, IN A SHRIMP DOCK.
WE'RE LOOKING SHRIMP FACILITY.
BUT WE'VE JUST GOT TO RAISE THE, THE INTEREST OF, OF LOCAL PEOPLE AND RESTAURANTS.
AND WE'VE GOTTA GET EVERYBODY EATING, YOU KNOW, A FEW LONG TIME AGO, DRINK MILK, DRINK MILK, DRINK MILK.
WELL, WE NEED TO GET A MARKETING CAMPAIGN.
EAT SHRIMP, EAT SHRIMP, EAT SHRIMP, EAT LOCAL SHRIMP, SHRIMP, SHRIMP, RIGHT? LOCAL SHRIMP.
'CAUSE AND PRICING IS AN ISSUE AND THERE'S SOME OTHER ISSUES.
BUT ONE THING WE DO BETTER THAN ANYBODY IN THE WORLD, I PROMISE YOU, IS LOCAL SHRIMP RIGHT HERE.
I THINK THERE'S A REAL MARKET, AN OPPORTUNITY IN BEAUFORT GENERALLY FOR LIKE FARM TO TABLE OR SEAT TO TABLE.
UM, AND WHEN I FIRST MOVED HERE, I WAS SHOCKED THAT IT WASN'T MORE OF A CULTURE RA.
AND YOU, YOU TALKED, YOU MENTIONED THE, UH, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND THE CRAP.
I THOUGHT IT FELL UNDER THE DNR, BUT WE DID HAVE HUGH OTHERS DOWN HERE A FEW YEARS AGO.
'CAUSE HE WAS WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF AG, AND HE TOLD ME, THAT'S NOT UNDER MY PURVIEW.
BUT BOY, WISH WE WOULD LIKE TO GET SOME, SOME INTEREST IN THE LOCAL SHRIMP.
YEAH, I, AS YOU'RE, AS YOU'RE ASKING THE QUESTION, BEN.
AND UH, JERRY, IT'S A FAILURE FOR US.
SO WHY DON'T WE DO THIS? WHY DON'T WE TRY TO PUT TOGETHER A ROUND TABLE WITH THE SHRIMP, UH, INDUSTRY.
'CAUSE I, I THINK THEY NEED SOME LEGISLATION TO HELP THEM TOO.
I, I THINK, UH, UH, SOME OF THE ISSUE IS, IS LIKE THE WINDOW THEY HAVE TO, TO FISH.
UH, BUT WHY DON'T WE PUT TOGETHER A ROUND TABLE MEETING WITH, UH, UH, ANY OF THE, UH, IT MAY BE AT SOME ODD HOUR.
'CAUSE THEY, THEY MAY, THEY MAY GO OUT THERE.
BUT LET'S TRY TO PUT SOMETHING TOGETHER AND JUST LISTEN TO THE INDUSTRY, MAKE THAT CONTACT.
'CAUSE I, I, I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN SITTING ON THAT FOR A WHILE, AND I THINK WE, WE CAN LISTEN TO WHAT THEY REALLY NEED AND BE VERY RESPONSIVE IF YOU'RE OKAY WITH THAT.
WHAT? I SAID A SHRIMP FISHING MEETING.
UH, AND DID I JUST SAY THAT? YEAH, YOU DID
[00:55:01]
I LIKED YOU TOO.SO I'LL HAVE CHARLIE, UH, A BIG PLAY POINT ON IT.
CHARLIE, CHARLIE KNOWS HE WATER.
CHARLIE KNOWS HE WATERS BETTER THAN, BUT, BUT YOU'RE RIGHT, IT IS SEASONAL.
BUT IF THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE A PROCESSING FACILITY THAT COULD HANDLE THINGS THAT ARE OUT OF THE SEASON, UH, AND KEEP THAT OPERATING, UH, SURE.
YOU KNOW, BUT WHY NOT? AND, AND JUST LIKE YOU SAW WITH LOW COUNTRY, UH, UH, MARKET, UH, FRESH MARKET, WE, WE HAVE AFFLUENT PEOPLE HERE WHO PROBABLY WOULD BE INTERESTED IN PARTNERING WITH YOUR FUNDS.
UH, UH, AND WE, WE COULD EVEN GET SOME UTCS, YOU KNOW, UTILITY TAX CREDITS TO HELP WITH THAT.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? IF NOT, JOHN AND CHARLIE, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION ON ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES.
I'M CERTAINLY GLAD WE HAVE IT VIDEOED SO WE CAN PLAY IT BACK.
UH, WHICH IS TO SAY, UH, CAN, IS IT POSSIBLE TO GET A COPY OF YOUR PRESENTATION SLIDES? ABSOLUTELY.
AND SHARE 'EM WITH, UH, A DIFFERENT MEMBERS.
WE'RE GONNA CORRECT THOSE NUMBERS, SO DON'T TELL ANYONE THAT THEY WERE CORRECTED AND WE, WE'LL HAVE AN ACTUAL PICTURE.
THINK WE SHOULD TAKE ANOTHER BOAT.
MAYBE YOU'LL KNOW WHEN YOU GET A COPY OF IT.
THE BUILDING WILL HAVE BLUE PAINT ON IT, NOT THE CHARCOAL GRAY
UM, ONE LAST THING, UH, ROB, DO YOU HAVE ANY, I GUESS, UH, WE HAVE ON HERE OR REPORT BACK FROM, SO LOCO ON THE GROWTH BOUNDARIES WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING, IS THERE ANY UPDATES? THANKS ROGER, THAT YOU'RE AWARE OF? UM, YEAH.
WE MET LAST MONDAY AND UM, WHAT WE'RE WORKING ON IS A, UM, IT'S AN EXISTING GROWTH MAP.
IT'S, IT'S A MAP THAT WOULD SHOW ALL THE APPROVED DEVELOPMENT AND THE STATUS OF BUILD OUT.
YOU KNOW, SO IF YOU HAVE APUD THAT'S APPROVED FOR A THOUSAND UNITS AND 800 PERMITS HAVE BEEN PULLED SO FAR, WE WOULD HAVE THAT STATUS ALONG WITH, UM, LAND ZONE FOR DEVELOPMENTS.
AND THE IDEA IS KNOWING WHAT THE CAPACITY IS FOR FUTURE GROWTH, THAT WE CAN START LOOKING OUT WHERE, WHERE ARE, YOU KNOW, WHERE DO WE STILL NEED TO ACCOMMODATE GROWTH? WHAT AREAS DO WE WANNA PRESERVE? AND THEN WE CAN START LOOKING AT SOME SORT OF AGREED UPON FUTURE LAND USE, UM, STRATEGY.
IF NOT, UM, SUBJECT FOR NEXT MEETING, UM, I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT THAT THE LAST MEETING THAT WE ADD TO THE AGENDA, POTENTIALLY A RESILIENCY TASK FORCE.
AND I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S ANYTHING ELSE THAT YOU'D LIKE TO, TO HEAR ABOUT MIKE, JERRY VAN.
UM, I KNOW THERE'S BEEN SOME TALK ABOUT THE 25 YEAR TRANSPORTATION PLAN.
NOW YOU, YOU FAMILIAR WITH THAT? THEY PRESENTED AT SO LOCO, I BELIEVE.
AND OF COURSE WE'VE HAD THEIR, UH, REBO ROAD CORRIDOR INPUTS AND ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION.
YOU THINK THIS GROUP SHOULD, I HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING ON THAT.
WHAT IS THAT? IT'S IN THE PAPER.
OKAY, WELL, WE'LL, WE'LL HOW ABOUT GREEN SPACE? YOU KNOW, INTERESTED IN KNOWING WHAT'S GOING ON THERE.
THEY'RE ABOUT TO GO THROUGH THEIR FIRST APPLICATIONS, FIVE APPLICATIONS BY THE END OF THE MONTH.
YOU'RE INTERESTED IN HEARING MORE ABOUT THAT? I THINK SO, YEAH.
ALRIGHT, WE'LL SEE IF WE CAN LINE SOMETHING UP THERE, MAYBE WITH, UH, MIKE MC, MICHAEL MCSHANE.
UM, ANYTHING ELSE FOR THE GOOD OF THE CAUSE? THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE.