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Rural and Metro Counties in SC Collaborating Economically

Greg Sprouse
Mike Switzer/SC Public Radio

Those involved in economic development will tell you that collaboration with potential partners is imperative.  And even more so for the rural counties in our state, where creating, attracting and retaining jobs remains difficult.  And that’s why our next guest’s organization is part of the Central South Carolina Collaborative which recently held a series of forums entitled “Stronger Economies Together”.

Mike Switzer interviews Gregory Sprouse, director of research, planning, and development for the    Central Midlands Council of Governments in Columbia, SC.

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After almost 20 years, Mike Switzer retired from Wells Fargo Securities in 2001 as Senior Vice President/Investment Officer and Certified Portfolio Manager. In 1999, he and his wife, Maggie, purchased and operated for eight years the Baskin Robbins ice cream store on Forest Drive in Columbia. They grew the store from a bottom-tier operation in the Baskin Robbins franchise system to one in the top 5% nationwide within three years, tripling sales along the way. While operating the ice cream store, Mike and Maggie received patents for a portable ice cream sink and fold-down sneezeguard they invented and in 2002 started Magnolia Carts, an ice cream cart manufacturing company, which they sold in 2013.