Promise Zone town halls scheduled for Allendale, Barnwell, Hampton

SC Promise Zone

16.scpz.newsOfficials will outline progress, discuss projects being sought, more

NOV. 9, 2016  — Leaders of community organizations and neighborhoods are invited to attend town hall meetings this month in Allendale, Barnwell and Hampton counties to learn about progress in the S.C. Promise Zone and help to develop a new training program.

Nov. 16, 5:30 p.m. — Barnwell County residents are encouraged to attend a one-hour information session and discussion at the SouthernCarolina Alliance office in Barnwell for a Promise Zone update and focus group about training opportunities.  The meeting is expected to last no more than an hour.

    • Location:  Edisto Room, SouthernCarolina Alliance, 1750 Jackson St., Barnwell, S.C.
    • NOTE:  Parking is behind the SouthernCarolina building at 54 Irving St.

Nov. 17, 5 p.m. — Allendale 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 Allendale County Council chambers, will end at 6 p.m. to allow for a scheduled meeting of Allendale County Council.

    • Location: Council chambers, 2nd floor, Allendale County Courthouse, 292 Barnwell Highway, Allendale, SC.

Nov. 21, 4:45 p.m. — Hampton County residents will receive an update and be able to participate in a discussion about training opportunities.  The meeting, which will be held in Hampton County Council chambers, will end at 5:45 p.m. to allow for a scheduled meeting of Hampton County Council.

    • Location: Council chambers, Hampton County Administrative Complex, 200 Jackson, Ave., Hampton, 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 Academy is relevant, we want people’s input on the kind of training that will be most relevant and helpful.”

The South Carolina Lowcountry Promise Zone, a project of the SouthernCarolina Alliance, seeks to catalyze efforts in Allendale, Bamberg, Barnwell, Colleton, Hampton and Jasper counties to boost the quality of life and revitalize rural communities.

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