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Chef Jeff to visit Promise Zone on Thursday

SC Promise Zone

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Republished with permission from Statehouse Report  |  Chef Jeff Henderson broke out of the cycle of poverty and drugs, but first, he had to serve more than nine years in a federal prison in California.

Henderson, a nationally-known chef with television shows and books on his resume, will tour the Palmetto State this week in programs coordinated by Columbia’s EdVenture Children’s Museum.  On Thursday in stops in Allendale and Barnwell counties, he’ll challenge disadvantaged youths to aspire to and live the American dream, not get sucked into generational poverty that too often traps people in a downward spiral.

“The one word that I always use when I’m speaking to men in prison who have life [sentences] who will never get out is ‘hope’,” the 52-year-old ex-con said.  “The word I use to folks who come from generational poverty is ‘hope.’

“We always have to cling to hope that there is always going to be a better day.” Read more →

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USDA Rural Development invests $113.1 million in zone since 2015

SC Promise Zone

16.scpz.newsThe U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development program has invested $113,116,539 in counties of the South Carolina Promise Zone since 2015, according to agency records.

Investments included grants and loans to programs that had applied for funding through and outside of the Promise Zone initiative, as well as agricultural and housing grants awarded in other initiatives.  A summary is offered below: Read more →

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Better South gets $50,000 training grant

SC Promise Zone
Center President Andy Brack addressed a Promise Zone group last year in Allendale.

Center President Andy Brack addressed a Promise Zone group last year in Allendale.

AUG. 17, 2016  |  A $50,000 grant for technical assistance from the U.S. Department of Agriculture will allow the Center for a Better South to develop and implement a new entrepreneurial training program in the S.C. Lowcountry Promise Zone.

“What great news this funding is for people who live in the Promise Zone,” said Center President Andy Brack.  “It will help us identify community needs in each of the Promise Zone counties for economic development training and then to target the kind of classes  on entrepreneurship that people want so they can start businesses and improve their communities.” Read more →

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Van Pelt: Let’s not miss our chances with Promise Zone

SC Promise Zone

Commentary by Dean Van Pelt, S.C. Promise Zone  |  Because the six southern counties of South Carolina are in the federally-designated S.C. Promise Zone, there are tremendous opportunities for local organizations to tap into federal funding.

Van Pelt

Van Pelt

But there’s a catch: Federal dollars won’t rain down on our area unless we ask for them by applying for grants and loans.

The burden is on organizations that want to make a difference. They have to go through the sometimes arduous, time-consuming process of filling in forms and submitting applications to federal agencies if they want to receive funding for projects that will grow jobs, increase commerce, advance education, create better health care, improve infrastructure, leverage capital, boost affordable housing and more. Read more →

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