Top 10 Quotes Published in SB&D in 2005

1. "New auto plants in the South have resisted union organizing efforts for fear of jeopardizing good-paying jobs in regions where work is scarce."

Brett Clanton of the Detroit News, Fall 2005 edition

Part of his quote included "in regions where work is scarce." The unemployment rate in the South has historically been lower than the nation's average for years now. For example, Alabama's unemployment rate, which happens to be in the center of the Southern Auto Corridor, the region Brett was referring to, is about 3.5 percent, more than a point below the national average. In Michigan the unemployment rate is near 7 percent, one of the highest in the nation.

2. "The Tobacco Commission has made a tremendous impact on southern Virginia. It is pouring money into the region to prepare it for the future."

David Hudgins, Director of Economic Development for Old Dominion Electric Cooperative, Fall 2005 edition

For you folks looking to establish a foothold in the South, we've always said the best places to locate have three things: capable people, product, in the form of sites and buildings, and cash! It's refreshing to hear an economic developer from the South not being shy about the money part.

3. "It's a lot less expensive than New Jersey and for the same size facility. I was also paying a lot each year for snow removal and I won't have to worry about that as much now."

Al Yarsin, President of Miller Products, Summer 2005 edition. The company moved its clean room supplier business from North Bergen, N.J., to Durham, N.C. last year.

4. "The education level and skill level of people down there (the South) is so much lower than it is in Ontario."

Gerry Fedchun, President of the Automotive Parts Manufacturer's Association in Ontario. Summer 2005 edition.

The Southern Automotive Corridor is beating the pants off every region of North America in the recruitment of new and expanded automotive industry plants. That would not be the case if the region didn't offer a talented labor force. We don't know why Fedchun doesn't see that.

5. "Certain industry sectors may not start in the South. But in time, they always end up here. "

Mike Randle, Publisher of SB&D, Summer 2005 edition. Randle was commenting on his new launch of www.BioIndustrySouth.com on September 1, 2005

6. "The St. Louis County Council voted unanimously to withdraw the $200,000 it budgeted for the area's primary economic development agency, the Regional Chamber and Growth Association (RCGA). Apparently the Council had a question about RCGA's spending of late. It was revealed that the RCGA paid a clairvoyant $1.4 million in fees over the last seven years for consulting services. The clairvoyant's employment was quickly terminated once the story went public."

Lee Burlett, Winter 2005 edition

7. "No evidence that economic development grants work."

Arthur E. Foulkes of the American Institute of Economic Research, Winter 2005 edition.

Right, and the successful recruitment of industry doesn't work either. I guess Southern economic developers and politicians have been doing it all wrong all this time. We could try luring them to the South with beads, maybe a few country hams and a free Ford Taurus, since that car plant is closing in Atlanta.

8. "Counter to national trends, we've seen an increase in manufacturing employment -- by more than double over the past couple of decades."

Ron Tolley, CEO of the Liberty County, Ga., Development Authority in the Fall 2005 edition.

9. "Of the 381 deals announced in the South in 2004 with 200 or more projected jobs, 198 were made by manufacturers and 183 by service companies. It's the first time that manufacturing won out over the service sector in deals of 200 jobs or more in the South since 1996."

Mike Randle, Publisher of SB&D in the Spring 2005 edition.

10. "I picked the Patrick Henry Community College program because I knew I wanted to be involved in the racing industry."

Sam Kincaid, first year student at Martinsville, Va.-based PHCC. Sam is from Massachusetts. A kid from Massachusetts going to college in rural Virginia to learn about building race cars? NASCAR does rule!