While standing in line for coffee the other day, I overheard one gentleman say to another, “Oh you’re in real estate too. Everyone in Charleston is either a doctor, lawyer or in real-estate.” This was followed by a knowing chuckle. I share this overheard moment, not as a jab at the well-intentioned victims of my eavesdropping. In truth, this tome has long been a stereotype based in a certain amount of truth and a fair assessment of our economy post Navy yard. Unbeknownst to a lot of Charlestonians is the fact that we have been undergoing a rapid transition that will, hopefully, shift this paradigm into a more vibrant and multifaceted economic quilt. I offer this analysis not as an economic expert by any means, but as a lifelong Charlestonian with some humble observations.

More expert and detailed analysis of the impact of can be found here.

This weekend kicks off the first annual Dig South conference, “an interactive festival exploring the digital economy”. While the focus is regional and some of the presentations of National interest, I am compelled by the confluence of this festival with the digital revolution afoot on our pluff-mud foundation. My hope is that the festival will legitimize Charleston’s digital economy in much the same way that the Wine + Food festival helped put a public face on the then burgeoning food scene. Prior to Wine + Food, Charlestonians knew about the great restaurants in our midst. What the festival did, was showcase this to a national audience and in turn served bolster our reputation on a national scale as a city with more than just Civil War reenactors, NASCAR fans and proponents of states’ rights. A more nuanced and respectful opinion of our fair city has begun to emerge. Although this might set us back a few decades.

One of the driving forces behind our technology emergence for both “been-yahs” (or more accurately, grown-yahs) and the “come-yahs” is certainly the incredible quality of life possessed by this skinny peninsula and her neighboring environs. The same great features that fuel our thriving tourist economy makes this a great place to work. In the coming digital age, economic portability will only continue to grow. We possess the same (arguably better) livability factors that have fueled tech booms in Seattle, Austin and similar hotspots. Food has certainly been a cornerstone facet in this jewel.

In a bit of circuitous logic I think a tip of the cap is owed to the chefs and restaurateurs who have propelled Charleston to the vanguard of American culinary destinations in a rather short period of time. The value of their impact goes far beyond providing us with just great meals and increasingly diverse dining options. Food has been an emancipator of our national reputation. Having lived in other, mostly Western, reaches of the country, I have witnessed the misalignment between the South I love and its’ perceptions from afar. I would contend that food has been a mitigating agent to these misconceptions. This external validation has, in turn, bolstered the local respect for and interest in the culinary artists that grace our shores. Technology sits on the precipice of replicating some myth busting recontextualization pioneered by cuisine.

There are a few other parallels between the two industries within the context of Charleston. One is the ability to sustain our local resources. For the restaurant industry it is about finding and nurturing area farmers that can provide the natural bounty driving our signature ingredients. Nurturing talent on the hot side of the line has been another challenge since the relocation of Johnson & Wales.

Similarly, fast growing tech companies in Charleston often lament the lack of a robust and readily available talent pool. We do not benefit from a plethora of nearby academic institutions that churn out qualified graduates with the technical specificity to fulfill staffing needs. Which is why selling Charleston’s merits to potential relocators has been mission critical to this growth. Additionally, through the efforts of the Charleston Digital Corridor and others, there are a number of ambitious efforts to respond to this need and help us create been-yah talent for this emerging Lowcountry economic engine.

In a recent panel discussion for Dig South, Steve Parker Jr. discussed the decision making process for Levelwing’s relocation (ignore the 4th speaker please, you know). He joked that, “Charleston is a great place to live but you have to bring your own job”. Through the efforts of visionaries like Steve, this BYOJ reality is beginning to shift. The jobs are here and they are coming.

Dig South offers a milestone in this process. The event should make the region stand up and realize that Charleston is poised to be a leader in the new economy. It is also a chance for our neighbors to appreciate the jobs, money and tax dollars that are being generated right around the corner. At this rate, we are going to need more IP attorneys, carpel tunnel specialists at MUSC and developers to partner with in capital expansion efforts.

See you there.