Read more: Local, Francis Marion University, South Carolina State University, I 95 Corridor
Last year, Francis Marion University and South Carolina State University partnered together to study why the I-95 corridor has been long underdeveloped.
Over the past year, a team of researchers has carefully studied communities along the I-95 corridor.
Officials at Francis Marion University and South Carolina State University commissioned the study to find out why the corridor remains under-developed.
"It looked at the corridor as a whole it was very very comprehensive assessment looking at problems that were common to the corridor as a whole," said Dr. Fred Carter, with FMU.
Problems that ranged from struggling schools to poverty to disparities in health and social services.
Senator Hugh Leatherman led the way to get funding for the comprehensive study.
"Economically, educationally, quality to me that's a huge huge factor to make sure all the people, of I-95 Corridor Florence or has the same quality of life as the other part of the state," said Leatherman.
Sixteen counties, including the Pee Dee region, were target areas of the study.
Researchers came up with six basic recommendations to improve the corridor, beginning with boosting local leadership to initiating and managing change.
"Without leadership, I don't know how you pick up any of these recommendations and move them forward," said Sara Lawrence, Researcher RTI International.
Some of the recommendations include counties pooling their resources for economic growth, improving education through teacher recruitment and closing the infrastructure gap.
Researchers believe if these recommendations are considered, you will see a difference along the I-95 corridor in years to come.
Several regional, state and local leaders have already received a copy of the researchers' recommendations.
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