Unfortunately it seems that Project Shell may have been too aptly named, as the company that had brokered a deal to buy land for a large warehouse at the Newberry Industrial Park has vacated the project. ITS’s empty promises to locate here, and bring in $61,500 in annual taxes, are a blow—but hopefully, one that will not go unanswered by the many people working to bring business into the area.

Monday afternoon county leaders, and the economic development players in particular, have been invited to meet with Chamber of Commerce representatives. Chamber president Andy Morris, a former county councilman, and Chamber member John David Dawkins, again, a former county councilman, extended the invitation, citing a desire for those engaged in business and industry-recruiting for the county to work together. Well, Amen to that.

It is not just a function of the much-reported and probably too-much vaunted recent economic falterings of our nation and world that requires this kind of cohesive approach. It is a function of a new world order of global competition and innovation that requires a new world order approach to luring companies to locate within your borders.

Working smarter and working harder is a must in a world that demands constant improvements in both ideas and efficiency from companies and their workers to survive and succeed. As a county we must constantly have our eyes out for the next “big thing,” and the next one after that. This is what businesses do to stay on top in their chosen fields. The successful ventures that embody those principles, and that we wish to come and employ our people, expect nothing less but the same level of commitment and innovation from the places they are recruited to.

Gone are the days when just dangling some infrastructure and tax incentives in front of an industry reeled them in. Companies want the whole package.

When industries look to locate they look at the schools where workers’ children will be educated. In fact, education is key, as the workers the company will recruit come from the same fount.

But great schools, kindergarten on through the college level, are not enough.

We have to have housing. There must be rentals, houses to buy or at least land to build them on, and usually at many income levels.

We have to have stores, entertainment, health care, social services and restaurants.

We still have to provide the infrastructure. We still have to provide tax incentives.

We must have a lot. Businesses are in the driver’s seat when it comes to picking locations. And sometimes, just like ITS, it will not pan out because of things beyond our control. But what we do have in our control is to get together and work as smart and as hard as possible to keep our eyes always out for the next “big thing.” Bless the Chamber for wanting to get more linked up with the county’s economic development team. May all of us get on that team.