Officials will outline progress, discuss new training academy

Leaders of community organizations and neighborhoods are invited to attend town hall meetings next week in Bamberg and Colleton counties to learn about progress in the S.C. Promise Zone and help to develop a new training program

• Oct. 3, 5 p.m. — Bamberg County residents are encouraged to attend a one-hour information session  at Bamberg County Council chambers in Bamberg for the Promise Zone update and focus group about training opportunities.  The meeting will end at 6 p.m. to allow for the monthly meeting of Bamberg County Council, which will start at 6:30 p.m.
  • Location:  Council chambers, 2959 Main Highway, Bamberg, S.C.

• Oct. 4, 4:45 p.m. — Colleton County residents will receive a similar update and be able to participate in a discussion about training opportunities.  The meeting, which will be held in Colleton County Council chambers, will end at 5:45 p.m. to allow for a scheduled meeting of Colleton County Council.
  • Location: Council chambers, 109 Benson St., Walterboro, S.C.

“We’ve made a lot of progress in the last year that we’ve had the Promise Zone designation,” said coordinator Dean Van Pelt.  “Not only have we won more than $14 million in funding from grants submitted through the Promise Zone designation, but we’ve engaged hundreds of people to move forward.   But we’ve got to keep pushing and make more grant applications so we can move forward even more.

Center for a Better South President Andy Brack, who will lead the focus group discussion, said part of the meeting would allow leaders and residents to give input on the kinds of leadership, business and capacity-building training that his organization will provide in coming months.

“We’ve won a federal grant to help provide people with information and knowledge to boost local economies,” he said.  “To make sure our South Carolina Promise Zone training program is relevant, we want people’s input on the kind of training that will be most relevant and helpful.”