Meghan Hickman, executive director of engenuitySC was the speaker at the Greater Cayce-West Columbia Chamber of Commerce’s September Breakfast, Tuesday. It was at Mt. Tabor Lutheran Church.

“We have an awful lot to be proud of,” said Hickman.

engenuitySC compiles data regarding the features of six Midlands counties that make up the Columbia Metropolitan Statistical Area, or MSA. That data includes indicators of competitive communities.

Hickman said until engenuitySC produced competitiveness data, the Columbia MSA did not have the report, even though other cities in the state did. “It’s most important to have one,” Hickman said.

Indicators of competitive communities include: talent: innovation; entrepreneurial and business environment; industry cluster; and livability.

The engenuitySC report presents data from 10 MSAs. The Raleigh NC MSA has the highest population of the 10 listed with a population of more than 1.2 million. Knoxville TN was second, Greenville SC was third and Columbia was fourth with a population of 810,068, according to 2016 Census Bureau estimates. 

The population of the Charleston, SC MSA was listed at 726,969, and at No. 6.

Hickman said the next Competitiveness Report would be published at the end of January.

She also said that Lexington County has added 18,000 new jobs since 2007.

Hickman said that people should promote the area because there is so much that it offers.