Economic development now is struggling to find its way. More of the same is not going to work because you can only get so many BMWs.

Even though we're getting high-paying jobs to the state, they're not employing as many people as they used to.

If you don't have the fertilizer and don't have the seed, I can tell you what, none of it will happen. If we are going to compete with the Third World on low-cost labor, we're going to lose, so that's not a good strategy. ... But you do have to have jobs for people that fit that category - not everybody in the state is going to be a computer scientist.

We have a research triangle park in South Carolina. We have three major research universities, that makes a triangle. Unfortunately, it covers the entire state.

I was just really excited the hard work paid off. I wasn't able to get the New England title, but this is even better. My goal was to place from the beginning. A couple of my friends who competed in it before told me the key was to be in top shape.

The most noticeable work is being done now and should be over by mid-summer.