Dorchester County reveals economic development plan — here are 6 key goals for growth

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Dorchester County officials have released a strategic plan aimed at sustainable growth in the years ahead.

The Dorchester County Economic Development office, which serves to support economic growth in the county, in collaboration with its board, the Dorchester Economic Development Corp., recently revealed the plan,.

The final report report is a culmination of a collaborative process which began in early 2023,  a news release stated. Recognizing the importance of a comprehensive approach, the DEDC board spearheaded a search committee to identify and select Creative EDC, a consulting firm out of Elkin, N.C., to aid in the process.

The comprehensive blueprint outlines updated target sectors, focused goals, and actionable steps designed to propel Dorchester County forward in terms of economic prosperity, business retention and educational enrichment, the release stated.

You can read the full 96-page report here.

The report listed six man goals:

• retain and grow existing businesses;
• develop an inventory of new choice business locations;
• further market Dorchester County to attract business talent;
• enhance a strong talent pipeline for the future;
• infuse innovation into the economic development program; and
• elevate Dorchester County economic development to the next level as a world class economic-development organization.

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As part of the report, an online survey was sent to 75 industries in the organization’s industrial database. According to one manufacturer’s profile, its main reason for locating in Dorchester County was location. It listed its main challenge in sustaining and growing its business as workforce availability. It listed the region’s local business climate as its main strength. The top two important investments Dorchester County can make to ensure growth, according to the profile, were education and workforce development (79%) and transportation infrastructure (71%).

“We are incredibly proud to present this updated strategic plan, which reflects our unwavering commitment to the balanced growth and continued improvement of Dorchester County,” said John Truluck, director of economic development for the county, said in the release. “This plan not only identifies key opportunities for economic advancement but also emphasizes our dedication to enhancing the overall quality of life for our residents.”