Harvest time: growing movement in Columbia focuses on entrepreneurial cultivation

Since Brooks took the reins of REDI in 2009, he has put a heavier emphasis on "economic gardening," as he often puts it. Most of REDI’s resources come from staff time, and in the more traditional realm of what’s known as economic development, that means coordinating meetings between a prospective company and the government agencies that can provide financial assistance or infrastructure. But coups such as Columbia’s attraction of IBM are rare, though Brooks said REDI can’t afford to ignore the attraction realm.

"If we have an opportunity to attract a business that will add value to the community, we should be able to do that," Brooks said. "Do we want to put all our eggs in the basket chasing smokestacks? No."

By Jacob Barker

Full Story: http://www.columbiatribune.com/news/2012/jun/09/harvest-time/