During a chat with the York County Economic Development Board last week, Ronnie Bryant, CEO of the partnership, said South Carolina has repeatedly declined to financially support the public-private partnership, despite it marketing four Palmetto State counties (York, Chester, Lancaster and Chesterfield).

"We don't always get the warmest reception when we go to Columbia," he said, noting North Carolina taxpayers chip in more than 20 percent of the partnership's budget.

Because the Charlotte region is marketed as "Charlotte USA" to prospective companies, Bryant hears complaints from both sides of the state line. Folks in Raleigh complain that the partnership doesn't use North Carolina enough in its marketing, and counterparts in Columbia don't want to support an effort they perceive is helping mainly North Carolina.

But Bryant explained his group markets the entire region. He doesn't send prospective investors to one county over the other. The partnership highlights what each area has to offer, and prospective companies choose to visit counties that fit their needs. Last year, three companies visited York County through the partnership, and at least 20 more showed interest.

"When you're on Interstate 77, standing on the state line, you see just as much traffic moving north as you see moving south," Bryant said about the bi-state nature of the Charlotte region.

Yet many individual counties and both states aren't ready to buy into the "What's good for the region is good for us all," philosophy quite yet. So, Bryant said, there's still a lot of competition within the region, especially at the state lines, for incentive packages given to new business investments.

"We've created Frankenstein, and now he's going to eat us all," Bryant said about the incentive war. "I'd like to see us get back to marketing ourselves based on quality of life ... as opposed to incentives. But, as they say, 'You lay your gun down first, and I'll lay down mine.'"

Cooley joins Keller Williams

The arms race isn't limited to economic development. Keller Williams Realty has added York County real estate juggernaut Stephen Cooley to its stable.

The Stephen Cooley team, a perennial real estate leader in York County known for its "The Stephen Cooley Real Estate Show" on local cable TV, was formerly with Coldwell Banker. Cooley said he made the switch because Keller Williams' goals, business model and progressive commission system are a better fit.

Despite being longtime competitors, Cooley said the Keller Williams crew has welcomed his staff to its office.

"The most shocking part of the move to KW was the overwhelming response from other KW agents," Cooley said. "We are so excited to work with like-minded business people who are in the industry to be successful."

Although he will continue to work out of his Ebenezer Road office in Rock Hill, Cooley will be under the Keller Williams Baxter Village Market Center umbrella. The Baxter office, founded just two years ago, boasts more than 100 agents.

"This company succeeds through its people, and having Stephen's team join Keller Williams is a huge win for us," said Scott Howard, owner of the Keller Williams office in Fort Mill.

Tip of the cap

• Dr. Bamidele Ekunsanmi, CEO and medical director of Premier Clinics of Rock Hill, Chester and York, has been elected a fellow of the American College of Physicians for his achievements in internal medicine.

• Rock Hill attorney Ben Johnson, a shareholder in the Robinson, Bradshaw & Hinson law firm, recently was selected for inclusion in the 2008 Woodward/White publication as one of the Best Lawyers in America in the field of commercial litigation.