Blythewood Economic Development & Tourism

Movie Gallery opened in Blythewood in the 1990s, serving as a hub for families, students, and neighbors to enjoy movies and video games together. In 2010, we made the difficult decision to close the store due to the decline in physical media rentals and the rise of digital streaming. Even so, the Blythewood location left a lasting mark on the community, and we are proud to have been part of its history.

We founded The Blythewood Economic Development and Tourism with one goal, to make a real difference in our town’s growth and future. Blythewood has the people, potential, and passion to build something extraordinary, and we are committed to helping that vision come to life.

While challenges may arise, our focus will not waver. We stand united in our mission to grow the economy, empower local businesses, and create opportunities that bring people together.

Together with our residents, business owners, and community partners, we will shape a future we can all be proud of. Join Us! Because when we work together, Blythewood thrives.

— The Board of Directors —
Blythewood Economic Development and Tourism

Turn Summer Visitors into Year-Round Customers

Summer is one of the best times to showcase everything Blythewood has to offer. With more families taking regional road trips and choosing destinations closer to home, local businesses have an excellent opportunity to attract new customers and encourage repeat visits. Recent national trends indicate that travelers are increasingly spending their vacation dollars locally and seeking unique community experiences.

This Season's Action Steps:

Welcome every visitor with outstanding customer service.
Partner with neighboring businesses to promote shopping, dining, and local attractions.
Keep your business active on social media by posting photos, specials, and community events.
Encourage satisfied customers to leave online reviews.
Collect customer email addresses to promote future events, seasonal sales, and community happenings.

Remember:

Every visitor who enjoys their experience in Blythewood becomes an ambassador for our community. A great first impression today can lead to repeat visits, new residents, business investments, and positive word-of-mouth tomorrow.

"Strong businesses build strong communities. Together, we can make Blythewood a destination where people choose to shop, dine, invest, and stay."

Community Owned Resident Empowerment™
Keeping Opportunity at the CORE of the Community.

At Blythewood Economic Development & Tourism (BED&T), we believe economic development should begin with the community itself.

That belief is the foundation of CORE™ — Community Owned Resident Empowerment, a community-led approach to economic development created by BED&T Founder & Executive Director Edward Straiter.

CORE™ was developed from Straiter's decades of experience working across business, investment, entertainment, tourism, economic development and public-private partnerships. His work has consistently focused on bringing people, resources, capital and leadership together to create opportunity and community impact.

Now, that philosophy has a name: CORE™.

CORE™ recognizes that a community's greatest economic assets are not limited to what can be recruited from outside.

They already exist within the community:

Our residents.
Our entrepreneurs.
Our businesses.
Our property.
Our talent.
Our culture.
Our ideas.
Our investors.
Our relationships.

CORE™ is about connecting those assets and empowering them to create opportunity.

The CORE™ Principles

C — Community

Putting the community at the center of economic development.

O — Owned

Creating pathways for local ownership, entrepreneurship, investment and economic participation.

R — Resident

Recognizing residents as stakeholders and participants in the future of their community.

E — Empowerment

Connecting residents and community organizations with resources, relationships, knowledge and opportunities to create economic impact.

Why CORE™?

Traditional economic development often focuses on what can be brought into a community.

CORE™ asks another question:

What can a community build from within?

That question drives BED&T's approach to entrepreneurship, business development, tourism, investment, partnerships and community initiatives.

CORE™ does not seek to replace government.

It recognizes that government is one part of a much larger economic ecosystem.

Residents have a role.
Businesses have a role.
Entrepreneurs have a role.
Nonprofits have a role.
Investors have a role.
Community organizations have a role.

CORE™ brings those stakeholders closer to the center of economic development.

Born in Blythewood. Built for the Southeast.

Blythewood, South Carolina is where CORE™ begins.

BED&T is an independent, community-driven nonprofit organization. Not a department, division or program of Town government.

Our work is focused on creating economic and tourism opportunities through community leadership, entrepreneurship, investment, partnerships and private-sector engagement.

But our vision extends beyond Blythewood.

BED&T believes the CORE™ philosophy can provide a framework for nonprofit economic-development and community-development organizations throughout the Southeastern United States.

Blythewood is the first.

The Southeast is the vision.

CORE™ is not about making every community the same.

It is about helping every community discover and activate its own CORE.

The CORE™ Movement

BED&T is beginning a conversation with nonprofit economic-development organizations, community organizations, entrepreneurs, businesses, investors and civic leaders across the Southeast who believe communities should have a stronger voice and greater capacity to participate in creating their economic future.

If your community has people, ideas, businesses, resources and ambition, it already has a CORE.

The question is: What will you build with it?

CORE™

Community Owned Resident Empowerment

Keeping Opportunity at the CORE of the Community.

Crystal, of Blythewood Economic Development & Tourism, outlines how Blythewood is preparing for rapid growth, especially due to Scout Motors. The approach emphasizes strategic planning, attracting diverse businesses, enhancing tourism, and creating a vibrant ecosystem, led by Executive Director Edward Straiter's global investment perspective. Collaboration between government, nonprofits, and residents is key to making Blythewood a recognized destination for business, tourism, and quality of life.

The Blythewood Economic Development and Tourism Board of Directors is excited to announce several new projects aimed at enhancing our community's infrastructure, recreational facilities, and overall tourism appeal. Our organization is committed to securing funding and implementing initiatives that will support long-term growth, strengthen community engagement, and position Blythewood as a vibrant destination for residents, visitors, and businesses.

Before announcing these initiatives, our team conducted an extensive three-month community survey and research effort to better understand the needs and priorities of the Blythewood community. During this process, we gathered input from residents, local business owners, and community stakeholders through discussions, online feedback, and independent research. This effort helped ensure that the projects we are pursuing reflect the real interests and future vision of the community.

The insights gained from this detailed survey played a key role in shaping our plans. By listening to the community and carefully evaluating opportunities for growth, the Blythewood Economic Development and Tourism Board is committed to pursuing projects that enhance quality of life, support local businesses, increase tourism, and contribute to the long-term success of the Town of Blythewood.