Columbia leaders to undertake economic development plan update

Published 1:04 pm Monday, July 23, 2018

On motion by Mayor pro-tem Sandra Owens, the Columbia Board of Aldermen on July 2 decided unanimously to begin the process of updating Vision 20/20, the town’s economic development plan.

The Rural Planning Center within the N.C. Department of Commerce will furnish trained and experienced staff to identify the major issues facing the town and “develop actionable items to address” them.

The aldermen may appoint a local steering committee, or work team, to aid the professional planners in the process that is designed to be completed sometime next autumn.

Because a state agency is to do the work, the town’s cost will be $570 to receive an estimated 110 hours of skilled technical assistance and 300 copies of the final plan.

The Rural Planning Center is the state’s lead agency for workforce, community and economic development. The center provides technical assistance in the areas of economic development planning. Experienced staff members partner with local governments and associated organizations to add value to community and regional economic development efforts.