A Conversation with Norman Whitaker, President of the Central Midlands Council of Governments

MidlandsBiz:
What are the origins of the Central Midlands Council of Governments?
 
Norman Whitaker:
The Central Midlands Council of Governments (the COG) was founded in 1969 as an economic development district centered on an economic hub or growth engine such as in our case, Columbia. All 46 counties in the state of South Carolina are included in a COG.
 
MidlandsBiz:
What is your core business?
 
Norman Whitaker:
We assist local Midlands governments with planning coordination and social services: transportation planning, economic development, aging services, workforce development, and growth monitoring.  As  such, we are an umbrella organization that includes the Columbia Area Transportation Study, the Central Midlands Area Agency on Aging, the Midlands Workforce Development Board, as well as a water quality management agency. We are dedicated to progress and cooperation in order to build projects that make the regional system work better. We assist in planning for diversification of the local economic base and help develop target industries. Our staff also provides  planning services for the Town of Lexington, Chapin and other small cities.
 
Today, one of our major activities centers on working with the Economic Development Administration (EDA) and the SC Department of Commece to procure funding for our infrastructure needs and economic development planning process.
 
MidlandsBiz:
How does your mission differ from the Central SC Alliance?
 
Norman Whitaker:
We are different from the SC Central Alliance in that we are not involved in recruiting companies to the region.
 
MidlandsBiz:
What are you most proud of in terms of accomplishments?
 
Norman Whitaker:
Sid Thomas, the original Director of the COG, was a true visionary for the Midlands – particularly in helping put together one of our greatest assets, the interstate system. We are proud of projects that help expand and improve the level of services or that give access to federal funding for the localities.  The COG helped fund the Newberry Opera House, and  the widening of Clemson Road, for example, and each year we program new dollars for improvments to the transportation system.
 
MidlandsBiz:
How has you¹re your organization been affected by the down economy?
 
Norman Whitaker:
The stimulus related funding has kept us very busy.  We have taken on additional responsibilities in environmental planning, senior services, workforce development, and the summer youth job experience program.  We may receive even more federal funds for transportation in what will in effect be a third round of stimulus spending. The Jobs for Main Street Act that is in the pipeline in Washington will potentially bring an additional $27B for transportation and $7B for mass transit.  This money is allocated to states by formula, but strict requirements are put in place in order to qualify. Bids coming in from companies to help build these transportation infrastructure projects are proving to be very favorable, very low.  The result will be more money to go around for additional critical infrastructure projects. 

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