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Leaders schedule series of forums on Marion's economy

From Staff Reports

Published: November 9, 2009

The first of a series of forums about Marion's economy and its future will be held Friday. Local leaders hope that concerned residents will come and be a part of the discussion.
To better understand the local economy, the Marion Community Innovator Committee, an outreach of the N.C. STEP program, is scheduling a series of community forums on the current economy and the economy of the future. STEP stands for Small Towns Economic Prosperity.
The purpose of the community forums is for residents and business owners alike to have a say in the local economy and its future. For example, where does McDowell County fit into the economic profile of the region, state, nation and the world economy?
The series is called E-3 Forums, representing education, economic development and entrepreneurship. It is about innovation and what our community can do that is innovative, creative and can provide jobs for our citizens, according to Freddie Killough, director of the Marion Business Association.
All forums are open to the public and will be held at the Historic Marion Depot. They are sponsored by the Community Innovator Committee and the city of Marion.
The first one is set for Friday from 9 to 10:30 a.m. The guest speaker is Scott Hamilton, president and chief executive officer of AdvantageWest. Headquartered in Fletcher, AdvantageWest is the economic development group for 23 western North Carolina counties. Pam Lewis, senior vice president of entrepreneurial development, will join him. Hamilton and Lewis will talk about AdvantageWest's economic development efforts in the 23 western counties and where McDowell County's position is in those efforts.
N.C. Commerce Secretary J. Keith Crisco is scheduled to be the guest speaker for the last forum in the series on Feb. 5, 2010.
The forum dates are:
• Friday, Nov. 13 – Scott Hamilton of AdvantageWest
• Friday, Dec. 11 – U.S. Rep. Heath Shuler has been invited for this one but yet to be confirmed.
• Friday, Jan. 8 – Tom Tveidt, metro researcher and overview of the economy (also to be confirmed)
• Friday, Feb. 5 – State Commerce Secretary J. Keith Crisco (Confirmed)
• Friday, March 5 – Local agencies report
Each of the N.C. STEP cities and towns have selected a community innovator who has begun to work with the idea of learning how to seed new ways of thinking in local leaders and citizens.
"The intent of this effort is to help create a culture for innovation that will support the development of a new type of economy," read a statement from the MBA. "The E-3 Forums are a beginning."

For more information, call the Marion Business Association at 652-2215.