Good Living Marketplace in Hartsville

The Good Living Marketplace is going strong in Hartsville, South Carolina, where we like to say we celebrate "The Art of Good Living." The Good Living Marketplace, which has been growing for more than a year in the city's downtown, shows how people can come together when they find the "sweet spot" of concern or delight and make things happen. Nancy Myers got with Judy Elvington of the Hartsville Downtown Development Association and made the Good Living Marketplace happen and it keeps happening, bringing 'Pleasant Surprises' for all who attend every month.

It was beautiful out there today. The booths were a mix of vendors and non profits, the weather could not have been more beautiful, the HHS Jazz Band was adding the music and it was another great event in a town that is maybe too used to great events.

Also in town this week was the Southeastern Baseball Classic. This tournament has been going on for 14 years in Hartsville and this year there were teams four or five states along with two South Carolina teams. Jim Money, who has been working with the classic for longer than he has been director of Darlington County Tourism, said that he estimates conservatively that the teams and fans accounted for somewhere between $75,000 and $100,000 economic impact.

Often I have the opportunity of being in meetings to discuss the economic development of our area and there are many who believe we could become a tourist destination. We have a downtown unique in that it still has a cohesiveness that has been lost in cities and towns across this nation. And, Hartsville gets more than its share of visitors because of the efforts of the volunteers who put on events like the Southeastern Baseball Classic and Hartsville Idol, and Jazz Carolina and RenoFest and this list could go on and on. But, there is something missing. i think it would be interesting to have some further community discussions about what it is that might be missing.