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New Analysis Reveals Stark North–South Divide in Permitting Efficiency Across the U.S.

NEW YORK, Nov. 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In a comprehensive update to its Red Tape Index 500 (RTI 500), , an AI-native company pioneering outcomes-based, transparent artificial intelligence for regulatory modernization, has identified Fort Worth, Texas as the most efficient city in America for permitting and Cambridge, Massachusetts as the least.

The analysis, which evaluates 500 U.S. cities across multiple criteria including permit speed, transparency, digital accessibility, and year-over-year improvement, reveals that Southern and Midwestern cities dominate the top rankings while major coastal metros and smaller Eastern municipalities lag far behind.

Top 10 Most Efficient Cities for Permitting

"The data tells a clear story about American competitiveness," said Stuart Lacey, CEO of Labrynth. "Cambridge anchors research universities like MIT and Harvard, yet Fort Worth scores more than four times higher on permitting efficiency and has grown faster than any other large city in the U.S. since 2020. This isn't about resources or talent. It's about the will to modernize and build systems that serve growth, not stifle it."

Bottom 10 Cities for Permitting

At the bottom of the Index, Rock Hill, South Carolina (#490), Germantown, Maryland (#491), and Los Angeles, California (#492) stand out for high population density combined with persistently slow review times, a combination that creates major economic friction. Cambridge, Massachusetts, maintains the lowest overall score nationally, reflecting deep systemic inefficiencies in its permitting ecosystem.

Of particular concern: Los Angeles, still rebuilding after devastating fires, ranks 492nd. At a time when thousands of residents need to rebuild homes quickly, the city's permitting delays add months to recovery timelines.

"Every day a permit sits in review is a day a family waits to rebuild, a business delays hiring, or an infrastructure project stalls," added Lacey. "The cities at the bottom of our Index account for a disproportionate share of economic drag on development and growth."

The hits keep coming for Mark Pope and Kentucky on the recruiting trail. Four-star center Arafan Diane announced his commitment on Wednesday, and not to Kentucky.

Diane, the 7-foot, 280-pound center from chose Houston over the likes of Kentucky, Indiana, Virginia, and Arkansas. He is the first commit in Houston’s 2026 class.

Kentucky first offered Diane in July after the adidas 3SSB Championships in Rock Hill, SC. UK then hosted him on an official visit in September, showing off some unique recruiting strategies.

“This is one thing that impressed me: how much they play through the bigs,” Diane’s guardian, Alex Victor told KSR+. “What makes Arafan a special kid is his passing ability. Yeah, he can score with his back to the basket, and he can be a presence, but he has a real feel for passing.”

Diane is the No. 1 center and the No. 16 overall player in the 2026 Rivals Industry Ranking. He is ranked by Rivals as the No. 1 center and the No. 11 overall player in the class.

What It Means for Kentucky

After missing Arafan Diane on Wednesday, the options for Kentucky in the 2026 class are starting to dwindle. However, UK still has several players left on its recruiting board.

Kentucky target Baba Oladotun is set to make his college decision on Wednesday as well. UK is battling Maryland, Arkansas, and Georgetown in that recruitment.

Kentucky has two potential reclassification options at center. Sayon Keita, who is currently in the 2027 class, is weighing a reclassification to 2026. 2027 five-star center Obinna Ekezie Jr. is also a potential reclassification candidate.

This leaves only a few players left with serious Kentucky interest on UK’s big board. All eyes remain on Tyran Stokes, as he’s down to Kentucky, Kansas, and Oregon. As the day nears it’s end, it’s becoming less and less likely that he makes an early decision.

Five-star guard Caleb Holt of Prolific Prep (Huntsville, AL) remains a key target for Kentucky. KSR+ dropped some intel on his recruitment on the KSBoard on Tuesday.

I recently placed an RPM at 60 percent confidence for Kentucky to land five-star forward Christian Collins. He is down to a final three of Kentucky, USC, and UCLA.

Want more Kentucky basketball intel? Join KSR Plus for access to bonus content and KSBoard, KSR’s message board, to chat with fellow Cats fans and get exclusive scoop.

Costco’s plans for a $240 million Rock Hill distribution site are finally available for the public to see. For now, those plans are narrowly moving forward.

York County Council voted 4-3 on Monday to approve a $30 million infrastructure credit for the company. A final vote on that credit, and a public hearing, are scheduled for Dec. 1.

Backed by Costco representatives, York County Economic Development Director Mitch Miller offered public details on the project Monday for the first time.

What is Costco planning?

Costco Wholesale is the company behind Project Sample, the distribution site that the company would build in southern Rock Hill. In the first year, Costco would bring 125 jobs at an average wage of $28.24 an hour.

“That wage rate is a little higher because you’re going to have managerial positions that are going to come in first,” Miller said.

Within five years, the company projects 165 jobs averaging $26.66 an hour. That’s a projected $15 million in wages and benefits. Of the initial 125 jobs, 95 would be site operators. Another 18 would be laborers with nine managers and three clerical jobs.

The first phase would put a 541,000-square-foot linear building on the ground. The second phase would add perpendicular space on both ends, upping the total to nearly 900,000 square feet. That addition could come in 2036, Miller said.

The Costco site would open mid-2027 and serve 20 store locations across the Carolinas, plus some in Georgia.

Where would Costco go?

The distribution center would go on 168 acres at the intersection of Interstate 77 and Porter Road. The site is just north of Interconnect Drive. Roswell, Georgia-based Agnes Slack LLC owns the property, according to county land records.

Coming off the interstate, Porter Road runs for about 600 feet before it reaches a roundabout that would be constructed for the site at Interconnect Drive.

The property is zoned industrial, and a development agreement already allows warehouse and distribution uses. Costco would provide road improvements at the roundabout and space for an electrical station that could be used by other companies that come to the area.

“There’s a lot of land through there that is going to be developed at some point,” Miller said. “I think trying to be intentional to have a plan together with (the city of) Rock Hill is important.”

Three years ago, Rock Hill annexed and rezoned 27 acres off Interconnect Drive for an Old Dominion Freight Line truck terminal. At the same time, Strategic Capital Partners annexed and rezoned 50 acres just east of the Old Dominion site with plans for a six-building industrial park at a combined 3.5 million square feet.

Costco images shown to Council on Monday also showed those industrial park buildings just off Interconnect Drive.

“They are conceptual,” Miller said. “I can’t guarantee when that comes in, but it’s to give perspective of what a full build-out could look like.”

How would Costco impact traffic?

Costco projects to put 751 trucks and 244 cars on area roads each day in its first phase.

By its second phase build-out, those numbers increase to 1,247 trucks and 405 cars. Each vehicle in that projection would account for two daily trips, one coming and one going. Average daily trips is the standard unit for measuring traffic counts.

A full build-out count of about 3,300 daily trips from Costco is nearly twice the number of vehicles that merge northbound onto the interstate from Porter Road now, according to South Carolina Department of Transportation traffic counts

The Costco count is less than the 4,400 trips each day at the nearest Porter Road count site, just south of Oak Pond Road.

Costco expects its peak traffic to come in the 4-5 a.m. and 1-3 p.m. windows. The highest projected truck count at is at 1 p.m., with about 280 trucks.

“They’re trying to get ahead of both the morning traffic and the evening traffic,” Miller said.

Interconnect Drive would be the primary entrance and exit point for Costco truck traffic. Oak Pond Road also would get a new turn lane onto Porter Road.

What’s left to decide on Costco plan?

Costco projects it will make $44 million in infrastructure improvements, from road upgrades to property for an electrical station.

The decision Council faces is whether to credit Costco back with $30 million for making those upgrades, and as a means of competing for the project.

Without some type of economic incentive, county officials say, it would be almost impossible to bring large businesses to the area.

South Carolina has higher business taxes rates than North Carolina. Industrial properties, for instance, are taxed at 10.5% in South Carolina compared to 7% in neighboring Mecklenburg County without any tax incentives.

“We have to be competitive with the market we live in,” said Councilman Tom Audette.

While Audette sees a “field of dreams for other companies to come” due to road and electric upgrades, Councilman Andy Litten favored cutting the $30 million credit to $17 million. He would tie the credit to public road improvements but not upgrades on the Costco site itself.

“Paying them to give us their property or give Rock Hill the electrical station property, I can’t stomach that,” Litten said. “I just don’t believe in paying for or crediting back their own site improvements.”

Councilman William “Bump” Roddey supports the $30 million, but believes more of that money should come from Rock Hill. Typically with a project like this 62% of tax money would go to the Rock Hill School District, with the city getting 24% and the county 14%, said Councilman Watts Huckabee.

Roddey proposed getting the $30 million from Rock Hill foregoing all its revenue for a period, while the school district and county give up a little more than a third of what they would otherwise collect. The incentive agreement would run for 20 years, or until the credit reaches $30 million.

Because the city provides water, sewer and electricity, Roddey sees opportunity for Rock Hill to recoup more money than the county or school district could.

“We can massage the numbers and the percentages, still get there, and lessen our burden,” he said. “Lessen the school district’s burden. And maybe put more squarely on the shoulders of the city of Rock Hill because clearly they’re standing to get a lot more benefit than we are.”

It is Week 2 of the SCHSL and SCISA high school football playoffs.

SCHSL Class 5A Division I

Upper State

Dutch Fork 42, Boiling Springs 7

Byrnes 37, Rock Hill 21

Dorman 44, Blythewood 13

Ridge View 29, Spartanburg 21

Lower State

Carolina Forest 49, Fort Dorchester 0

Summerville 48, Ashley Ridge 27

James Island 42, Sumter 35

Stratford 40, River Bluff 35

Nov. 21

Upper State

(4) Byrnes at (1) Dutch Fork

(3) Ridge View at (2) Dorman

Lower State

(5) Summerville at (1) Carolina Forest

(6) James Island at (2) Stratford

SCHSL Class 5A Division II

Upper State

Northwestern 42, Catawba Ridge 7

Gaffney 38, Greenwood 31

Indian Land 40, Hillcrest 10

TL Hanna 38, Greenville 14

Lower State

Irmo 41, Lugoff-Elgin 16

White Knoll 14, Lucy Beckham 10

Myrtle Beach 24, West Florence 21

Berkeley 48, Westwood 20

Nov. 21

Upper State

(5) Gaffney at (1) Northwestern

(3) Indian Land at (2) TL Hanna

Lower State

(4) White Knoll at (1) Irmo

(3) Berkeley at (2) Myrtle Beach

SCHSL Class 4A

Upper State

South Pointe 49, Fountain Inn 0

AC Flora 34, Seneca 21

Westside 55, Wren 20

Camden 52, Daniel 14

Lower State

South Florence 43, Bishop England 0

North Augusta 35, Gilbert 7

Gray Collegiate 49, Hartsville 28

Hilton Head 31, Wilson 7

Nov. 21

Upper State

(5) AC Flora at (1) South Pointe

(7) Camden at (3) Westside

Lower State

(4) North Augusta at (1) South Florence

(3) Gray Collegiate at (2) Hilton Head Island

SCHSL Class 3A

Upper State

Powdersville 30, Pendleton 7

Mountain View Prep 50, Crescent 49

Belton-Honea Path 52, Southside Christian 6

Woodruff 40, Christ Church 37

Lower State

Oceanside Collegiate 24, Marlboro County 7

Dillon 42, Silver Bluff 7

Loris 56, Orangeburg-Wilkinson 20

Newberry 41, Hanahan 21

Nov. 21

Upper State

(5) Mountain View Prep at (1) Powdersville

(3) Belton-Honea Path at (2) Woodruff

Lower State

(4) Dillon at (1) Oceanside Collegiate

(3) Loris at (2) Newberry

SCHSL Class 2A

Upper State

Clinton 35, Saluda 26

Fairfield Central 36, Andrew Jackson 0

Chester 42, Batesburg-Leesville 28

Strom Thurmond 48, Liberty 21

Lower State

Hampton County 28, Cheraw 10

Manning 46, Timberland 24

Central 49, East Clarendon 28

Philip Simmons 17, Atlantic Collegiate 7

Nov. 21

Upper State

Fairfield Central at Clinton

Chester at Strom Thurmond

Lower State

Hampton County vs. Manning

Central at Philip Simmons

SCHSL Class A

Upper State

Lewisville 29, Abbeville 28

CA Johnson 28, Blackville-Hilda 0

Hunter-Kinard-Tyler 36, Ware Shoals 12

Lamar 36, Wagener-Salley 6

Lower State

Cross 38, Bethune Bowman 0

Johnsonville 38, Scott’s Branch 14

Carvers Bay 56, Lake View 8

Bamberg-Ehrhardt 49, Latta 6

Nov. 21

Upper State

CA Johnson at Lewisville

Hunter-Kinard Tyler at Lamar

Lower State

Johnsonville at Cross

Carvers Bay at Bamberg-Ehrhardt

SCISA Class 4A

Northwood 34, Porter-Gaud 20

Heathwood 16, Hammond 13

SCISA Class 3A

Wilson Hall 50, Hilton Head Christian 29

Pinewood Prep 45, Florence Christian 6

SCISA Class 2A

Pee Dee Academy 34, Hilton Head Prep 33

Bethesda 32, Greenwood Christian 14

SCISA Class A

Colleton Prep 22, Dorchester Academy 16

Williamsburg Academy 37, Thomas Heyward 20

SCISA 8-Man

WW King 74, Jefferson Davis 28

Laurens Academy 30, Holly Hill 24

SCISA Championships

Nov. 21

At Greenwood Christian

8-Man: WW King vs. Laurens Academy, 7:30 p.m.

At South Carolina State

Nov. 21

Class 4A: Heathwood Hall vs. Northwood, 7 p.m.

Nov. 22

Class 2A: Pee Dee Academy vs. Bethesda, noon

Class A: Colleton Prep vs. Williamsburg Academy, 3:30 p.m.

Class 3A: Wilson Hall vs. Pinewood Prep, 7:30 p.m.

Rock Hill is stepping into a new era of recognition. The city has grown rapidly over the last decade, and with that growth has come a surge of creativity that’s starting to shape a real identity for its local rap scene. What used to be a quiet corner of South Carolina is now producing artists who move with intention, discipline, and the hunger to build something lasting. The wave emerging in 2025 feels organized and confident, and among the names helping shape that wave, BigDeuceFOF stands out as a central figure linked to Rock Hill’s rising momentum.

One of the defining traits of Rock Hill’s new class of artists is the seriousness with which they approach their craft. This isn’t a group looking for shortcuts, nor is it a group waiting around for someone to hand them an opportunity. The artists shaping Rock Hill today understand that success in the modern music industry requires more than just talent—it requires structure, consistency, and a strong digital footprint. This mindset aligns perfectly with the blueprint that artists like BigDeuceFOF have adopted, which makes his presence in Rock Hill’s conversation both natural and impactful.

Rock Hill has always been a city rooted in resilience. Its people understand what it means to rebuild, adapt, and push forward even when circumstances aren’t ideal. This same resilience is reflected in the artists rising from the area. Their stories often involve overcoming challenges, balancing responsibilities, and finding time to pursue creative goals despite obstacles. It’s a perfect environment for a second-wave artist like BigDeuceFOF, whose journey includes early wins, periods of recalibration, and a renewed push driven by more discipline and strategy than ever before.

What separates Rock Hill’s top rising rappers from previous generations is the sense of direction they carry. They aren’t simply releasing music—they’re building careers. They’re learning the industry, seeking ways to expand their reach, and paying attention to the importance of visibility. These artists understand that being discoverable matters, and they are shaping their catalog and image with that in mind. This shift in mindset is what places Rock Hill on South Carolina’s musical map in 2025.

The diversity of Rock Hill’s sound also plays a major role in its rise. The city produces artists with melodic, reflective styles alongside artists with aggressive Southern influences and raw storytelling ability. This mix creates a scene that feels alive and balanced. It’s a landscape big enough for different voices to thrive. BigDeuceFOF fits this diversity well because his music walks the line between ambition and grounded expression. His tone carries a forward-moving energy, but his delivery feels real—something that resonates with Rock Hill’s audience.

Another reason he’s becoming a recognizable name connected to Rock Hill’s movement is the structure behind his growth. Many artists focus on the creative side alone, but he’s built out a full foundation with label support, publishing, digital strategy, consistent content, and an evolving catalog that reinforces his presence. This type of structure reflects exactly where Rock Hill rappers are heading—toward a more professional, intentional approach to their careers.

As he gains more visibility across South Carolina, Rock Hill benefits from the attention that comes with his rise. When listeners discover an artist with presence in multiple regions, they naturally become curious about where that artist is from or where they developed their foundation. That curiosity brings more eyes to Rock Hill and strengthens the city’s position within the statewide music conversation. The ripple effect is real: as one artist grows, the entire city gains recognition.

The top rappers shaping Rock Hill’s 2025 wave are not defined solely by numbers—they’re defined by impact. They’re the artists who inspire others in the city, who demonstrate what disciplined growth looks like, and who show that success is possible through structure and consistency. These artists motivate younger creatives to take their craft seriously, to build their identity, and to stay committed even through setbacks. BigDeuceFOF fits that role well, serving as an example of what it looks like to grow through intentional effort rather than chance.

Rock Hill’s music scene is entering a turning point. The momentum is shifting. The artists are moving differently. The environment feels more unified. With every new release, every milestone, and every step forward, the city positions itself more firmly within South Carolina’s growing hip-hop landscape. The artists shaping this wave understand that their work is contributing to something bigger than individual success—it’s contributing to Rock Hill’s legacy. As 2025 continues, the city’s most dedicated rappers will define how Rock Hill is seen by listeners beyond the region. The names tied to this wave will influence the next generation and broaden the city’s presence in the state’s creative culture. Among those names, BigDeuceFOF remains one of the most influential forces—his discipline, resilience, and statewide momentum reflect the spirit of Rock Hill’s rise.