SCA to host six county Promise Zone town hall meetings

SC Promise Zone

Local residents, leaders urged to attend to give community input on new program

15.0624.map_1000JUNE 24, 2015 — Residents and leaders in Allendale, Bamberg, Barnwell, Colleton, Hampton and Jasper Counties are invited to attend special “town hall” meetings in their communities in July to learn about the new federal Promise Zone designation for these counties and to provide vital input on how to make the program become successful.  A schedule of meetings is listed below.

“The six counties of the Southern Carolina area have a huge opportunity to vastly improve people’s lives by working together with local governments, non-profits and businesses to tap into federal grants made possible by the Promise Zone designation,” said Danny Black, President and CEO of SouthernCarolina Alliance.

On April 28, the Obama Administration announced the six counties in the Southern Carolina region won the nation’s second rural Promise Zone designation.  Only 20 of the special designations are to be awarded across the nation, and the Southern Carolina region is the only rural region to win the designation this year.  The innovative program allows Allendale, Bamberg, Barnwell, Colleton, Hampton and Jasper Counties to tap into federal money and other opportunities in new ways to grow jobs, improve education and reduce crime.  SouthernCarolina Alliance is the regional non-profit economic development organization leading the Promise Zone grant implementation in the region for the counties and an array of public, private and non-profit partners in economic, community and workforce development.

“We need leaders in business, nonprofits, government and neighborhoods in each county to attend their respective town hall meetings in July to help shape our opportunities for the future.  Please visit and give us the vital input we need so the people in the region can take advantage of exciting, new opportunities presented by the Promise Zone designation,” added Black.

Black said community participation was a key to getting the new program off to a good start.

“Other Promise Zone communities have secured millions of dollars in new federal funding by working together to tap into programs that can produce positive change,” he said.  “Please attend your town hall meeting in July to help us better understand how this program can serve you.”

SCHEDULE OF MEETINGS

Allendale County Town Hall meeting

  • WHEN:  4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m., July 8, 2015 (doors open at 4 p.m.)
  • WHERE:  Science Administration Building, USC-Salkehatchie, 465 James Brandt Blvd., Allendale
  • PARKING:  Large parking lot outside of the building
  • RSVP: Get a free ticket via EventBrite (recommended) or RSVP by email

Bamberg County Town Hall meeting

  • WHEN:  8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., July 8, 2015 (doors open at 7:30 a.m.)
  • WHERE:  Massachusetts Hall, Voorhees College, 213 Wiggins Dr., Denmark, SC
  • PARKING:  Adjacent to Massachusetts Hall
  • RSVP: Get a free ticket via EventBrite (recommended) or RSVP by email

Barnwell County Town Hall meeting

  • WHEN:  8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., July 9, 2015 (doors open at 7:30 a.m.)
  • WHERE:  Edisto Room, Southern Carolina Business Center, 54 Irving Street, Barnwell, SC
  • PARKING:  Large parking lot behind the building on the Irving Street side
  • RSVP: Get a free ticket via EventBrite (recommended) or RSVP by email

Colleton County Town Hall meeting

  • WHEN:  8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., July 15, 2015 (doors open at 7:30 a.m.)
  • WHERE:  Main Classroom Building, Room 111, USC Salkehatchie, 807 Hampton St., Walterboro
  • PARKING:  Large parking lot adjacent to the building
  • RSVP: Get a free ticket via EventBrite (recommended) or RSVP by email

Hampton County Town Hall meeting

  • WHEN:  4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m., July 15, 2015 (doors open at 4 p.m.)
  • WHERE:  Market Square, 45 W. Carolina Avenue, Varnville, SC
  • PARKING:  Parking lot adjacent to the building
  • RSVP: Get a free ticket via EventBrite (recommended) or RSVP by email

Jasper County Town Hall meeting

  • WHEN:  8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., July 16, 2015 (doors open at 7:30 a.m.)
  • WHERE:  Jasper County Council Chambers, Jasper County Government Building, 358 Third St., Ridgeland, SC
  • PARKING:  Parking lot adjacent to the building
  • RSVP: Get a free ticket via EventBrite (recommended) or RSVP by email

MORE INFO:  Contact us today

Share this information:
Share