COLUMBIA, S.C. —To recognize years of achievement in the South Carolina General Assembly, with a special commitment to supporting issues at the forefront of the community economic development agenda, the South Carolina Association for Community Economic Development (SCACED) honored Senator Tom Davis of Beaufort and Senator Scott Talley of Spartanburg with their 2023 Legislator of the Year awards at their 2024 Legislative Luncheon last week.
SCACED’s annual Legislator of the Year Award recognizes legislators who support the community economic development industry. Senator Davis (pictured left) was the primary sponsor of legislation that would combat predatory lending in South Carolina, one of SCACED’s 2023 and 2024 policy priorities. Because of his support, the legislation reached the farthest any such legislation had previously moved, successfully passing out of the Labor Commerce and Industry Committee and onto the full Senate floor. Senator Davis also successfully worked to allow revenue from the South Carolina accommodations tax to be used for affordable housing initiatives. Charleston County has already used this new resource to fund affordable housing.
Senator Talley is a longtime supporter of the SC Community Development Tax Credits and has played a pivotal role in growing and uplifting the Spartanburg community. The SC Community Development Tax Credits support Community Development organizations across South Carolina who are providing access to rental and homeownership, small business lending and technical assistance, workforce development, financial literacy, and home preservation. His influence served as a catalyst for several community development projects in the area. Senator Talley announced last year that he will not seek reelection in 2024.
“We’re proud to honor these champions of community economic development, at a time when national issues have griped the attention of our state legislature,” said Bernie Mazyck, President & CEO of SCACED. “Their consistent voice and influence in the General Assembly is refreshing and a reminder that members of the General Assembly are elected to address local issues, most of which impact marginalized citizens of South Carolina.”
SCACED’s 2024 Legislative Luncheon featured over 100 attendees that included members of the association, community leaders, partners, and legislators. The luncheon included a brief program where each Legislator of the Year honoree was recognized and SCACED discussed its 2024 Policy Priorities: To reauthorize the Community Development Tax Credits, advocate for anti-predatory lending legislation, and advance SC Housing’s Housing Trust Fund home repair program.
About SCACED (www.scaced.org)
SCACED is a coalition of over 200 individuals and organizations who support the development of healthy and economically sustainable communities throughout South Carolina. For over 25 years, SCACED and its members have worked collaboratively to build wealth and create economic opportunity for all SC residents including a focus on minority communities and other groups who have been left out of the economic mainstream. Learn more about SCACED here.
###