Perhaps you can contact your local chamber of commerce and see what their plan is for future growth. 

Location Investment criteria> 50,000Near Walmart, Lowe’s close driving distanceUnemployment < 8 %Median household cost > 100,000 so you are not competing with stick built homesPopulation growing, stable, not significantly declining Great School district Crime rate not crazy Job diversity: call chamber of commerce, new jobs/employersPlanning and zoning figure out what type of zoning you have what you can and cannot do.

You're likely wanting to look at Census data for your research but the Chamber has some other good resources as well: https://orangeburgchamber.com/...

We own a local business here, are Chamber ambassadors and very well connected locally. 

That means that we have the same name, logos, verbiage etc. on our DM, on the website, in our ads, at the Chamber of Commerce, in our BNI groups, you name it.

Start out with the respective local chamber of commerce, economic development councils and such. 

The Chamber of Commerce has some great resources too.

However most businesses need additional trade references that will grant credit and report to the credit agencies.Some helpful business sites on building business credit: * Wells Fargo Small Business - Loans and Lines - Comparison Chart * Report on the Role and Function of Credit Rating Agencies * FTC FACTS * D&B Small Business SolutionsSome of my students have use this site with some luck (I know nothing about the service)Business cash advance - http://www.amerimerchantcapital.comSome other help tools * National Business Association http://www.nationalbusiness.org * Small Business Information Center/Research http://sbdcnet.utsa.edu/SBIC/industry.htm * Urban Redevelopment Authority http://www.ura.gov.sg/ * Black Enterprise Online http://www.blackenterprise.com * National Black Business Trade Association http://www.nbbta.org/ * National Black Chamber of Commerce Inc. http://www.nationalbcc.org * Small Business Information Center/Franchise http://sbdcnet.utsa.edu/SBIC/franchise.htm * Unites States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce http://www.ushcc.com * KeyBank's Website Women Focus Section http://www.key.com/women * National Education Center for Women in Busines http://www.e-magnify.com

Retail on Broad Street still has a lot of empty stores but in the last 8 or so years, there has been a small resurgence, thanks to the local chamber of commerce (and no thanks to city council, imo).  

:I have felt for years this forum turned into a BRRRR echo chamber and that Bigger Pockets was encouraging morale hazard.