Local business leaders, elected officials and others invested in the continued economic growth of Sampson County gathered together for a lunchtime meeting on Tuesday, the first event of the Sampson 360 initiative.
“Sampson 360 was recently launched to advance one of the major goals outlined in the newly adopted economic development strategic plan, which is connected to Sampson County, its municipalities, and business community to strengthen community and economic development,” explained Chuck Spell, chair of the Sampson County Economic Development Advisory Board. “I feel that we all can agree and recognize the following: that strong community connections are essential to our county’s economic success; that local relationships help foster collaboration, trust, and a shared vision for growth; that engaged leaders and citizens are more likely to support local businesses, participate in initiatives, and contribute to a vibrant and resilient economy; and lastly, Sampson County stands to benefit greatly from stronger collaboration among governmental, civil, nonprofit, and business organizations working toward a common purpose.”
Spell continued, “Through this initiative, Sampson County’s Economic Development Commission will work to serve as a connector across all sectors, offering events and activities that field awareness, strengthen partnerships, and encourage community support. Sampson 360 is a countywide initiative created to bring together leaders from business, government, agribusiness, education, health care, nonprofits, in the broader community. Its true purpose is to provide a space where leaders can learn, share ideas, and collaborate actions that strengthen our community and our economy.”
Sampson County Board of Commissioners Chairman Allen McLamb shared that he and his fellow commissioners “believe strongly that the future of Sampson County will not be shaped by any single organization, industry, or level of government, but by how well we work together. The pace of change impacting businesses in industry, agriculture, workforce, public infrastructure, and community study is unlike anything we’ve ever seen.”
He further stated that decisions made in the next five to 10 years will have profound effects on the county’s long-term economic viability.
Keynote speaker Ted Abernathy is a managing partner at Economic Leadership, a firm that assists communities all over the United States with economic development. “Over a 45-year career, our speaker has led city, county, and regional economic development organizations, as well as an economic policy think tank,” Spell shared. Abernathy was born in Dallas, NC, and currently lives in Shallotte. He was in New York and Oklahoma last week and was scheduled to be in Philadelphia on Wednesday, further assisting communities of all shapes and sizes with economic development issues.
To start off his presentation, Abernathy said, “What I’m gonna try to do today is three things. I’m gonna tell you a little bit about how we see the economy currently, a little bit about what makes a place more or less competitive. And finish with some trends that are probably gonna impact you as we go forward.”
He admitted that talking about the economy is very complex because every action creates ripples. “There’s always a ripple of every decision we make in the economy,” he explained. “And depending on what side you like or don’t like, you tend to look at that ripple little differently. The difference today is, it’s a shower. We got lots of ripples. And we got ripples, they’re all coming from all different directions. The fundamentals of the U.S. economy are still really good. We’re one of the strongest economies in the world, if not the strongest.”
Numerous things have impact on the economy, from technological advances to foreign policy, Abernathy stated. “There’s probably one or two psychology majors in the room that’ll tell you that one of the things that scares people the most is fear of the unknown,” he said. “The economy’s always been a puzzle. It’s always been a puzzle, though, if you could find the pieces and how they fit together, you knew if you did this, then something else would happen.”
Though expert opinions differ on how much the nation’s economy is growing, Abernathy said it’s certain that North Carolina’s economy is “as strong as about anywhere.”
Abernathy previously visited Sampson County in 2015 and 2022, and pointed out that in 2015, 58 percent of jobs in the county paid $15 an hour or less. Today, most jobs pay within the $15-25 per hour range, which shows that the job market is improving overall. “However, the jobs have been pretty flat,” he pointed out.
When looking to attract new business to the county, Abernathy said that many industries and companies look at the sites available, infrastructure, a qualified workforce (or training available for that workforce) and the quality of life for residents. “How unaffordable are you?” he asked. “And are your elected officials making decisions, like they cut training programs or fire response times, or other things that hurt business?”
Abernathy pointed out that immigration policies can affect the economy as well, especially in agriculture-heavy communities like Sampson. North Carolina has about 20 percent foreign-born ag workers, while on the other hand, California’s percentage is at 61.
It’s also a struggle for small, rural communities to attract and retain young people, he acknowledged.
“You’ve got to be one of those places that [people] want to come,” he advised. “What causes people to want to move? We know how they choose, but what causes them to want want a better life? They want to be near their family. They want a lower cost of living. Those seem to be things that you have in your favor here.”
To learn more about the Sampson 360 program, visit sampsonedc.com, or contact Sampson County Economic Development at 910-592-8921 or [email protected].