We removed an earlier post about Camden Rountable’s speaker and program for January 11, 2024.
Mr. Benjamin McKay is associated with Georgia Southern University’s business research unit. His January 11 presentation is described by Camden Roundtable as: “This presentation examines the Camden County economy from a data-driven perspective. The Center for Business Analytics and Economic Research (CBAER) at Georgia Southern University has developed a view of the local business community that highlights the strengths and opportunities in Camden County. Several areas of focus for this presentation are tourism, retail, housing, and more. CBAER will also highlight how economic development in other parts of coastal Georgia and north Florida could present opportunities and challenges for this community. This presentation will be an entertaining and thought-provoking way to start 2024.”
The post we removed focused on the economic reports generated by Georgia Southern University’s business unit several years ago for the Spaceport Camden fiasco. Those speculative reports envisioned millions of dollars in economic benefits would be derived from taxpayer investment in the spaceport. The post we removed focused on questions about the sourcing and accuracy of the assumptions used in developing the spaceport documents, and questioned the reports’ conclusions about benefits that might result.
There is no way to know if the January 11 presentation uses similarly derived assumptions and research data verification. We’re hopeful Mr. McKay’s presentation will help Camden County officials make better decisions about economic development and use of taxpayer funds.
We believe our elected officials should conduct their own research and also ask to see countervailing research on controversial projects like the new airport BEFORE they once again naively follow the advice of "consultants."
Since Camden taxpayers wasted over $12,000,000 on promises of unsubstantiated "economic benefits" from consultants, we're hoping Mr. McKay will answer a few questions about his group's reports about Spaceport Camden.
Our elected officials should commit to attend and participate in open forums where they also hear from and interact with citizens. They just might learn something they need to consider.
Camden officials should make decisions based on facts, not speculation.
The January 11 Camden Roundtable facilitator will be former Tribune and Georgian Publisher Jill Helton.
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