Economic Development Capacity Index
The U.S. Economic Development Agency, in partnership with Argonne National Laboratory, is helping economic developers assess local economic capacity nationwide. This data allows us to evaluate five key areas: human capital, financial strength, industry environment, infrastructure, and institutions & partnerships in every county.
Breakdown of Our County’s Capacity:
- Human Capital (Workforce & Quality of Life): Rated moderate, meaning we are close to the national average. Our strategic plan aims to elevate this by developing a strong talent pipeline through business and education partnerships.
- Financial Capacity (Local Government & Small Business Support): Currently limited—just below the national average. We’re working with SC Commerce and the Fairfield Chamber of Commerce to increase small business access to financial resources.
- Industry Capacity (Business Environment): Rated elevated. Our business environment is strong, and we’re working to maintain this by developing quality sites and buildings to attract more businesses.
- Infrastructure (Physical & Environmental Resources): Moderate capacity. Plans are underway to boost this through upgrades to water and wastewater systems and expanding broadband access.
- Institutions & Partnerships (Collaboration Support): By connecting businesses and educational institutions, we aim to strengthen this capacity alongside improvements in human capital.
Our goal is to improve these metrics and move towards a more thriving, competitive environment for our residents and businesses. Let’s continue building a brighter future for our county! #EconomicGrowth #CommunityDevelopment #Infrastructure #BusinessSuccess #WorkforceDevelopment
