Social Offerings, Openness Key to Community Attachment

Social Offerings, Openness Key to Community Attachment

As we discuss the attributes of the Hartsville, SC community as compared with those remarked upon in BOOMTOWN, we can see that Hartsville has a great deal going for our small cosmopolitan community. The above link takes the reader to a gallup discussion of some of the data collected in 2001 and before on a study called the "Soul of the Community." It seems to me that these are good ways to begin tracking the assets of our own community.

This coming Friday The Byerly Foundation in conjunction with the City of Hartsville and the Hartsville Chamber of Commerce is hosting a discussion with some of the Human Resource managers from businesses in and around the Hartsville community to get some of their thoughts on the strengths and challenges of the community. It promises to be an interesting discussion.

Boomtown Key - Adopt a Can-Do Attitude - Hartsville, SC

Can-Do Attitude --

• High School softball champions - 2012
• High School basketball champions - 2012

New boundary-spanning Community Development Foundation in formative stages with City and Chamber collaboration.

Aggressive strategic growth plans at Coker College that include a new School of Education, a new graduate degree, new residence facilities and plans for a new Wellness Center.

Community people taking on the formation of a Community Garden and sustaining a monthly Good-Living Marketplace in downtown Hartsville and a summertime Gospel in the Park (Pride Park).

A state-wide residential high school for Science and Math students adding new faculty and new programs as it continues to expand its student population.

Overcoming obstacles to bring new hotels into the downtown business district

An almost overnight makeover of a dynamic Hartsville Family YMCA with crowds of all ages demonstrating the "can-do" behaviors of physical exercise, entertainment and energy building.

Two brand new buildings in downtown Hartsville -- one First Citizens Bank and the other the modern law office of Senator Malloy along with the Foundation of a new office building that should be up in the next couple of months.

Individual entrepreneurs working on opening new businesses and others working hard at continuing to build successful businesses in a core downtown business district.

An educational initiative that gives Hartsville one of the most unique approaches to education change in the nation.

THIS IS A SHORT LIST OF WHAT COULD BE A VERY EXTENSIVE LIST OF CAN-DO EXAMPLES IN THIS DYNAMIC, COSMOPOLITAN COMMUNITY. Hoping that others will add some of their own can-do examples to we can build this list.

Does Hartsville have "Boomtown" tools?

Admittedly, I sift out a lot of what I might consider "noise" when it comes to my own view of the world; especially my view of my Hartsville, SC world. Mostly I only listen for the potential, not the problems.

 I like Hartsville and have lived and grown here since 1973.  I get the warm, fuzzy feeling when hearing visitors describe the sense of community they FEEL as they visit our town.

I feel a little adrenaline rush when I discuss the possibilities inherent in this community. I get really excited when talking to a person who started her business here about 9 years, eight months ago and now is planning a major Art/Prom/Music event for the TENTH Anniversary.

A conversation with the Mayor about how we might find a way to develop a walking connection between the ample parking on College Avenue and the retail stores on Carolina Avenue and maybe be able to create business incubator space pumps up my thinking.

Another conversation with a visionary entrepreneur who puts his money where his heart is sets off more sparks about a downtown that can not only be quaint but thriving.

A look at the Coker College plans for immediate growth within our community shows how Hartsville can be a real college town and the new Loft residences downtown with the even newer college apartments opening this Fall shows how those plans are quickly becoming realities.

My answer to the question -- Does Hartsville have Boomtown tools is by now obvious. What are Boomtown tools? Jack Schultz, author of the 2004 book, BOOMTOWN USA, The 71/2 Keys to Bug Success in Small Towns gives the tool list. They are the 71/2 Keys:

1. Adopt a Can-Do Attitude
2. Shape Your Vision
3. Leverage Your Resources
4. Raise up Strong Leaders
5. Encourage an entrepreneurial approach
6. Maintain local control
7. Build your brand  and 71/2 -- Embrace the Teeter-Totter Factor

The plan is to sort of use the Schultz approach for this blog to discuss Hartsville's possession of these keys to success. What would be really great would be for anyone who might read this posting to contribute some of your own comments to the question of Hartsville's readiness for real growth and prosperity.