Nearly 200 of the area's leaders in business, industry and government came together here Friday to explore the moves and decisions that have turned Clayton from a sleepy southern village into one of the strongest and most desirable small towns in America.
They wanted to know how, during an economic downturn, a small town can continue luring multiple new industries to town, continue spending millions on infrastructure while trimming its operating budget, get credit rating upgrades from both of the country's leading bond rating institutions and get ranked in the nation's top 10 for affordability and quality of schools.
"What makes Clayton so successful?," asked NC Dept. of Commerce Asst. Sec. Katharine Neal. "I'll tell you. Communities have to have the basics in place. Clayton has all the pieces. You have to have the things in place that Clayton has worked hard to have in place." (full story)
VIDEO CLIPS OF SPEAKERS (in order of appearance):
Wanda Markuson, President, Clayton Area Chamber of Commerce
Jody McLeod, Mayor, Town of Clayton
Leo John, Special Reports Editor, Triangle Business Journal
Steve Biggs, Town Manager, Clayton
Jackie Ring, Johnston Medical Center
Tim Hamm, Talecris Biotherapeutics
Bobby Lewis, NC DOT
Katharine Neal, NC Department of Commerce
The "State of Clayton" Special Section was published in the Triangle Business Journal's February 26 edition.
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