Columbia Regional Business Report
COLUMBIA, S.C. - In just one year of operation, SC Community Navigator Pilot Program (SCCNPP), powered through the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), South Carolina Association for Community Economic Development (SCACED), and eight partner organizations across South Carolina, has created over 700 jobs, provided over 1,870 hours of counseling to South Carolina entrepreneurs, and approved over $20 million in small business funding.
The SC Community Navigator Pilot Program is a partnership between the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), SCACED, and eight partner organizations in South Carolina known as “spokes.” The program was launched in early 2022 with a $2.5 million grant from the SBA to SCACED, who serves are the “hub” administrative organization in South Carolina, to deploy the funding among eight partner organizations called “spokes” who provide small business resource support services.
In its first year of operation, the SC Community Navigator Pilot Program has seen incredible success, including:
$20,557,707 in approved loans
1,870 hours of counseling provided
717 jobs created and retained
257 clients received training
102 total training hours
75 clients received loan or grant funding