The Sandhills Region, North Carolina
The Sandhills Region of North Carolina, largely known for its outstanding golf courses such as Pinehurst, was facing a set of challenges as a rural community with a declining industrial and agricultural base.  Local leaders realized that a comprehensive study outlining the assets and the challenges in the area would need to be undertaken before a blueprint for future development could occur. The ultimate goal was a plan, including industries that could be targeted for recruitment and attraction efforts that would not compromise the environment or landscape that is the basis for their tourism, recreation and retiree based industries.

To address these issues, the Sandhills Chamber of Commerce asked The Wadley-Donovan Group (WDG) and its strategic partner, Younger Associates, based in Jackson, Tennessee, to perform a comprehensive locational assessment, identify three target industries and conduct a retiree impact assessment. Research input underlying the assessment included a random survey of residents, aged 55 to 80 to obtain data on the economic impact of the retired population; more than 50 field based interviews with local employers, state and local government officials, educators, and utilities and extensive secondary research.

The study resulted in growth strategies that balanced the need for maintaining a unique quality of life and providing better quality jobs for area residents.