Charleston’s Opportunity Center nonprofit hub breaks ground

CHS Today

This week, Greenville-based nonprofit Homes of Hope broke ground on the future Opportunity Center in North Charleston. 

The former warehouse, located at 8570 Rivers Ave., was acquired by Homes of Hope in 2017 to become the headquarters for local nonprofits, a business incubator + a career training facility. 

Charleston’s Opportunity Center | Rendering provided by McMillan Pazdan Smith Architecture

Local organizations Increasing H.O.P.E., the Center for Heirs Property Preservation + the S.C. Association for Community Economic Development have partnered with Homes of Hope to set up the facility that will become all three organizations’ headquarters. 

Opportunity Center coming to North Charleston

WCSC Live 5

NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - A former warehouse on Rivers Avenue, down the road from the Northwoods Mall, will soon be transformed into a headquarters for local nonprofits.

Those working on the project say the facility, which will be called the Opportunity Center, could help as many as 800 people every year.

The Opportunity Center will not only provide a permanent space for the organizations working in the community, but it will also provide space for job training, services for startup companies like management training, office space or help building financial credibility.

Groundbreaking ceremony held for North Charleston Opportunity Center

WCBD News 2

NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) – The start of a new project in the Lowcountry is hoping to shine a light on local businesses.

A groundbreaking ceremony was held for the new Opportunity Center in North Charleston, located at 8570 Rivers Avenue.

The goal of the center is to help small businesses and unemployed people find success.

The idea came together by four local non-profit organizations, Increasing HOPE, the Center for Heirs Property Preservation, Homes of Hope, and the South Carolina Association for Community Economic Development.

SC nonprofits break ground on Opportunity Center aimed at economic progress

Post & Courier

NORTH CHARLESTON — Several Charleston area nonprofits hope to mark a new era with an Opportunity Center focused on helping women, minorities and people from low-wealth communities become successful entrepreneurs.

“Here we are, standing in the fullness of time, ready to launch a new day to help those who’ve experienced missed opportunities to achieve prosperity,” said Bernie Mazyck, president and CEO of S.C. Association for Community Economic Development.

Coming Soon – New Opportunity Center To Serve As Business Incubator For Small & Minority-led Businesses

CRBJ Biz Wire

North Charleston, SC – Thursday, January 21, 2021: Small and minority-owned businesses have been left out of the economic mainstream for decades. At the end of 2019, just 11.9% of persons of color in South Carolina owned a business compared to 20% of the white population. And though minority businesses have created 4.7 million jobs in the United States over the past 10 years, there is still a disparity when it comes to access to capital; as evidenced by the first round of the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) where 40% of minority-owned businesses were shut out and received no funding. A new Opportunity Center breaking ground on January 25th will aide and support small & minority-led businesses to help increase access to capital and promote sustainable economic growth throughout the state.

SCACED Announces 2021 Board of Directors

Charleston Regional Business Journal BizWire

[Charleston, SC] January 21, 2021 - South Carolina Association of Community Economic Development (SCACED) announced today the election of three new members to its Board of Directors.

Graham Adams, President & CEO of South Carolina Office of Rural Health (Lexington, SC), Lila Anna Saul, Executive Director of Homeless No More (Greenville, SC), and Mike Young, Co-Interim Director of PASOs (Columbia), will join SCACED’s Board of Directors. SCACED is a state-wide trade association and funding intermediary working with over 100 organizations, banks, units of government and foundations to improve the quality of life for low-wealth families and individuals in South Carolina. Since its founding in 1994, SCACED and its members have had an economic impact of over $300 million in the state’s economically challenged communities.

Charleston area to get SBA Women’s Business Center as part of largest-ever rollout

Post & Courier

The Charleston region is getting a new Women’s Business Center affiliated with the U.S. Small Business Administration as part of the largest-ever expansion in the program’s 30-year history. 

Increasing H.O.P.E., a North Charleston nonprofit that bills itself as a one-stop shop for financial training, was chosen to create one of the 20 new centers the federal agency announced last week that it would launch across the U.S.

Commentary: SC needs the Community Development Tax Credit

Post & Courier

Community development organizations have been vital resources to local residents by developing funds in response to COVID-19. These include access to low interest loans for nonprofits and small business owners who might not qualify for federal Paycheck Protection Program loans — something community development organizations also help people apply for.

Housing organizations are working to prevent foreclosures and keep people in their homes through financial assistance, budgeting and accessing public resources.

In addition to direct relief services such as food programs and utility assistance, community organizations provide much-needed personal protective equipment to help decrease the spread of the coronavirus. They also serve as virus testing sites.