Richland County is at an inflection point. While we have seen incredible momentum with recent key economic development projects¹, our “human capital” rank remains in the bottom third of the national Economic Development Capacity Index². Today, over 10,000 adults in Richland County are unemployed³, and only half of Richland County’s residents have an associate’s degree or higher⁴. We have the jobs coming in, but we must ensure our people are the ones hired to fill them.

I am pro-economic development because I know that a thriving tax base is what funds our roads, schools, libraries, and parks. But I believe in smart growth, the kind that does not just build buildings, but builds up people. We have a golden opportunity to bridge the gap between our new industries and our local workforce, ensuring that Richland’s success is shared by every household.

As your councilwoman, I will support smart, transparent economic development projects that are done in partnership with the community. I will ensure that local talent is connected to new opportunities and that we support our technical colleges in meeting workforce needs. I will build on the momentum of empowering our small business core to ensure our local entrepreneurs thrive alongside our major industrial partners.

_____

sources

1. Success Stories. Columbia Area Development Partnership. [URL: https://columbiaareadevelopment.com/success-stories/]. Accessed 22 Mar 2026.

2. Richland County: Human Capital. Economic Development Capacity Index. National Economic Research and Resilience Center at Argonne National Laboratory. [URL: https://www.anl.gov/dis/economic-development-capacity-index]. Accessed 22 Mar 2026.

3. Unemployment Statistics (June 2024). Richland County. South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce. [URL: https://dew.sc.gov/labor-market-information/data-dashboard]. Accessed 18 Mar 2026.

4. Richland County, South Carolina Profile. US Census Bureau. [URL: https://data.census.gov/profile/Richland_County,_South_Carolina?g=050XX00US45079]. Accessed 22 Mar 2026.