Dan Parks from N.C. State spoke on how Anson needs to turn its “Assets to Action.”
Parks called on the audience to write down their thoughts on Anson’s strengths and weaknesses.
Audience members stood to give their opinion on Anson’s assets and liabilities.
Dan Parks from N.C. State University spoke on how Anson needs to turn its “Assets to Action.”
Parks used a PowerPoint presentation to highlight the process he thinks the county should take to capitalize on its strengths.
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During the second half of the Anson County Economic Summit last Wednesday, Dan Parks spoke on how Anson needs to go from “Assets to Action.”
Parks is the senior director of strategy and innovation in the office of outreach and engagement and the associate executive director of industry expansion solutions for N.C. State University.
Though the project may seem daunting, boosting the county’s economy is doable, he said. “Economic development does not have to be a ‘Mission: Impossible,’” Parks said, playing a video of a squirrel’s long, hazardous journey, played to the movie’s theme song, to the animal’s prized food at the end. “So our friend definitely had the goal in mind, and I think to help that mission not be so impossible, our friend definitely understood the steps to get there. Economic development can be somewhat like that.”
Parks addressed the county’s need to take action. “As I thought about Anson County, I was struck by your byline for this summit, ‘ushering in a new era,’ and I think if we take a look at Anson, there’s been a lot of conversation on how to turn to action,” he said. “What Chuck Horne was just sharing about the new public-private partnership, that’s encouraging.”
To do that, he stated that everyone needs to understand exactly what economic development entails. Over the course of the morning, Parks said he had heard several plans for and aspects of local development. “Economic development isn’t just about one thing, it’s about doing a series and combination of things very well in a way that best fits Anson,” he explained. If a plan is too complicated, it won’t be effective, he said, adding that most plans fall short in the execution stage.
Parks identified economic drivers as leadership/governance, tourism and recreation, business and industry entrepreneurship, etc. He highlighted the importance of metrics, measuring both input (for example, regional small businesses receiving support) and output (job growth) measures. He also focused on the importance of economic competitiveness.
He used several examples of areas that have achieved or are working on levels of economic development, using Edenton and Elkin as examples. In Elkin, research revealed its location in the middle of the Yadkin Valley wine area, making viticulture key to its economy by increasing tourism and other factors, Parks said.
Parks shared the results of a web search he had done when looking for information about Anson, finding that the county advertises itself as “a great place to call home” and the “bluebird kingdom of the world.” Geographically, it is located between the two popular tourism locations of the ocean and the mountains, and the county has an abundance of access options with its highways, railroad and airport, Parks said.
Other county resources he identified included the fact that “The Color Purple” was filmed here, the Ansonia Theatre, Pee Dee Wildlife Refuge, and area museums, as well as major area employers and the area’s capacity for more heavy water and sewer users. He also named the proximity to Charlotte, educational opportunities, health services, and more as assets. “The question becomes what we do and how do we use the assets,” he said.
To form a plan, the county “needs to understand the present position of Anson County and what the future position might look like.” He named four phases: discovery, strategy development, strategy execution, and metrics and results.
The first phase involves identifying partners, looking at existing studies, identifying assets, etc. The second phase he named develops a plan and has the county “focus on assets,” he said. In the third phase, the county should “gain traction” for the plan and establish the plan’s process, while the final phase involves measuring the factors and their results.
At the end of his presentation, Parks turned it over to the audience, asking attendees to write down what they thought Anson’s assets and liabilities are — part of Phase 1.
Identified assets included the inexpensive cost of living, natural outdoor resources, history, and proximity to both the beach and the mountains, among other ideas. Suggested deficits included the county’s poverty, aging population, younger generations leaving the county, Anson’s dry status making it difficult to attract restaurants and wineries or allow present ones to expand, and more.
Summit conclusion
At the end of the summit, Don Scarborough provided the closing remarks, saying that the county’s last economic development plan made in 2007 suggests measures like developing a public-private partnership, which is now being developed by the county, the Chamber of Commerce, and the Anson County Tourism Development Authority.
Scarborough then had someone read the Hans Christian Andersen short story, “The Emperor’s New Clothes.”
In the classic tale, two con artists convince an emperor that they have prepared him a new outfit that will be invisible to those who are unworthy of seeing it; however, the new “clothes” do not exist at all, and the emperor pretends to see it so he is seen as being worthy.
The emperor ends up parading naked in front of his subjects, all of whom admire his non-existent outfit rather than be seen as unworthy. One child, too innocent to realize the reason everyone is quiet, finally points out that the emperor isn’t wearing anything. The emperor suspects the truth, but keeps on anyway.
Scarborough made his point. “We can pretend that we have the economic doors of Anson County open for business, but are they really open? Are we really encouraging businesses to locate here? Where are our welcome signs? The county needs to go back to the 2007 plan and update and endorse the plan with at least two employees of the economic development plan with Anson County, which we have none now. Let’s all stop pretending we have an economic development plan in Anson County and let’s admit that the emperor has no clothes.”
By this time next year, Scarborough said he wants to see an economic plan in place. “Let’s put clothes on the emperor.”
He also encouraged the audience to tell the county commissioners that the county needs a manager and economic development officer this fiscal year, and to participate in the meetings and efforts of local tourism and economic boards.
Anson County Commissioners Jim Sims and Jarvis Woodburn, as well as County Clerk Bonnie Huntley, attended the summit. Peachland Mayor Richard Allen and Anson County Schools Superintendent Michael Freeman also attended. Wadesboro Town Manager Alex Sewell was the event moderator.
By Imari Scarbrough
iscarbrough@civitasmedia.com
Staff Writer Imari Scarbrough may be reached at 704-694-2161, ext. 2302 or on Twitter @ImariScarbrough.
Staff Writer Imari Scarbrough may be reached at 704-694-2161, ext. 2302 or on Twitter @ImariScarbrough.
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