Event helps Lowcountry small minority businesses receive resources

NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - In honor of May being National Small Business Month, a special event Friday night focused on minority businesses in the Lowcountry.

The South Carolina Association for Community Economic Development, along with the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce, and the Coastal Community Foundation, hosted the Small Business Resource Mixer, Capital Conversations, at the Opportunity Center.

The event featured several resource providers who assisted entrepreneurs with operations, marketing, and accessing capital.

Cory Wallace, the owner of The Stag Pad, says shared resources are important.

“If you want to go somewhere fast, you can go by yourself. But if you want to go there and stay there and have longevity, you need a team. And it’s all about the ecosystem,” Wallace said.

Organizers introduced a new platform called the Ecosystem Resource Guide. This platform helps entrepreneurs find the specific agencies and resources they need to enhance their businesses.

Chantelle Broughton is the small and minority business development coordinator for the South Carolina Association for Community Economic Development. She says this platform closes the resource gap.

“So, for minority entrepreneurs, especially there’s just a gap and being able to access resources, but also to understand the resources that are available to us,” Broughton said.

New resources for minority entrepreneurs to be unveiled at Small Business Resource Mixer at The Opportunity Center

CHARLESTON, S.C. — To celebrate May 2024 as National Small Business Month, and to bring new resources to small and minority-owned business owners in the Lowcountry, the Lowcountry Minority Business Partnership (LMBP), led by the South Carolina Association for Community Economic Development (SCACED), Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce (CMCC), and Coastal Community Foundation (CCF), is hosting a Small Business Resource Mixer, “Capital Conversations,” at The Opportunity Center in North Charleston on Friday, May 10.

The event will feature a robust lineup of small business resource providers who assist entrepreneurs with operations, marketing, and accessing capital. Attendees will have the ability to directly connect with these support organizations and receive complimentary services. Resource providers and funders who will be on-site include:

• Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce

• Berkeley Charleston Dorchester Council of Governments

• Lowcountry Local First

• City of Charleston

• South Carolina Community Loan Fund

• CommunityWorks

• South Carolina Chamber of Commerce

• BlacQuity

• South Carolina Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

• REV Credit Union

• RDM Solutions

• Latina Bazaar Market

• Necessary Actions Consulting

• Real Estate House International

• City of North Charleston

The event will also feature the much-anticipated launch of the Ecosystem Resource Guide, a new platform that helps Lowcountry entrepreneurs navigate the many agencies and resources available to find the specific assistance they need to enhance their business. Attendees will also learn about two new programs available supporting minority entrepreneurs – the Cummins CARE Loan Program and CMCC’s Minority Business Accelerator Program.

Before allowing time for networking and connecting with funders and resource providers, the event program culminates with a success panel of local entrepreneurs discussing their personal testimonies of how the resources available at the event have transformed their business operations.

City of Charleston celebrates completion of its latest affordable housing project: James Lewis, Jr. Apartments

Reprinted from Lowcountry Biz SC

Today, the City of Charleston proudly celebrated the ribbon cutting ceremony for the James Lewis, Jr. Apartments located at 89 Hanover Street. The completion of this project is a significant milestone for affordable housing solutions within the community.

Former City Councilman James Lewis, Jr. alongside Mayor William S. Cogswell cut the ribbon to signify the completion of the affordable housing project. With an $11 million investment from the City of Charleston, which includes Affordable Housing Bond funds, Tax Increment Financing (TIF) funds, and the value of the land, the James Lewis, Jr. Apartments offer 64 affordable rental homes for individuals earning sixty percent or below the Area Median Income.

Statewide Community Economic Development Association Honors Senators Tom Davis and Scott Talley with SCACED 2023 Legislator of the Year Awards

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.

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Overall Reflection-Reflections from State of the South: Charleston, South Carolina

In February, State of the South held its fifth convening in Charleston, South Carolina. Meeting over two days, community members, nonprofit leaders, business owners, policymakers, and artists gathered to discuss how to make Charleston, South Carolina, and the larger South equitably accessible to everyone.

Following the event, we invited panelists and participants to reflect on their experiences.  We’re honored to share with you this reflection from Bernie Mazyck at South Carolina Association for Community Economic Development. 

Journey…Destination…Arrival.  These are words that resonate with me when I ponder the work of Equity…Justice…Opportunity.  My work, which focuses on improving the quality of life for poor, marginalized and oppressed people in South Carolina, is rooted in a sense of calling, “To bring good news to the poor, liberate the oppressed, declare a season of God’s favor.”  But when I turn on the news I see injustices, poverty, and predatory lenders charging poor people interest rates of 300% on a small dollar emergency loan.  It’s expensive to be poor in South Carolina. And when we consider statistics that point to disparities among marginalized people in the South, especially if you are a member of a marginalized group (African American, Hispanic, Native American, and rural), you may shrink into a state of depression and dispiritedness.  These thoughts and emotions set the table for the recent convening in North Charleston, of the State of the South, hosted by North Carolina-based MDC from February5-7and which provided a space to not only reflect upon our current situation but also to reimagine the possibilities for equity and prosperity in our state. 

The South, and especially South Carolina, is a contrast in narratives.  On one side, you have the history of slavery and oppression, which continues to cast its long shadow over the present and the future prosperity of the state. That history continues to play a role in the disparities among people of color in almost every indicator ranging from health, wealth, educational attainment, and social status.  But the South, including South Carolina, is also experiencing economic growth at a level never experienced before in its history. During State of the South, MDC President & CEO John Simpkins shared a data point that was quite revealing.  He stated that, “The six (6) southern states (including South Carolina) contribute more to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) than all states in the northeastern corridor combined.” This data point highlighted tremendous opportunities for racial equity, justice, and economic opportunities for members of our communities who continue to be left behind. 

Greenville uses new law to tap $1M in tourism taxes for workforce housing at Unity Park

Reprinted from The Post & Courier

GREENVILLE — More land near Unity Park has been reserved for affordable housing, with City Council using a new law to dip into its tourism revenues for the first time.

The council gave initial approval April 8 to appropriate nearly $1 million to buy church property for what is known as “workforce housing” at the intersection of West Washington and Trescott streets close to the Greenville Amtrak station in the Southernside community.

The purchase will be funded with local accommodations tax dollars, which are collected on lodging and weren’t allowed to be used for housing until a change in state law last year.

The land is currently occupied by the Holy Temple Church of the Lord Jesus Christ, a white, one-story building surrounded by a chain-link fence. After the purchase, the land would touch another property already owned by the city, creating a rectangular, roughly 0.9-acre site for development.

City Councilwoman Dorothy Dowe told The Post and Courier the city’s ownership of this property is vital.

“Just like the other Unity Park parcels, the land is free because we own it, so that’s a huge part of the cost,” he said.

Now, it will be reserved for workforce housing, which the new state law defines as 30 to 120 percent of the median family income as defined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. In Greenville, the median income is $88,600 for a family of four, while 30 percent is $26,580 per year and 120 percent $106,320 per year. Workforce housing commonly applies to workers like teachers, firefighters and hospitality workers.

SC Association for Community Economic Development Announces New Chairperson of Board of Directors, New Board Members

CHARLESTON, S.C. — The South Carolina Association of Community Economic Development (SCACED) announced today the election of a new chairperson of the Board of Directors and two new members to the Board.

Ginny Stroud, Community Development Manager at United Bank, will serve as SCACED’s Chairperson of the Board of Directors for the 2024 term year. Stroud previously served as Treasurer of the Board of Directors and has served on the Board since 2015. Before joining United Bank, Stroud served as the Community Development Administrator for the City of Greenville from 2001 to 2020. In her role at United Bank, Ginny manages Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) investments and community development lending while also supporting local CRA strategies in North Carolina and South Carolina markets. 

“Leading SCACED’s Board of Directors is an incredible honor,” said Stroud. “I look forward to working with the Board, SCACED’s staff and its members to continue making an impact in South Carolina’s marginalized communities.”

“SCACED will benefit greatly from Ginny’s leadership of the Board of Directors,” said SCACED President & CEO Bernie Mazyck. “As SCACED celebrates its 30th Anniversary, Ginny’s wealth of experience in community development and familiarity with SCACED will enhance our efforts to increase the quality of life of low-wealth communities.”  

SCACED also elected two new members of the Board of Directors. Tanya Rodriguez-Hodges, Founder & Executive Director of Latino Community Development, and Donna Waites, President of the Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina, will begin their respective three-year terms on the Board this year.

In addition to Stroud, SCACED also announced the election of three new officers to serve in 2024 on its Board of Directors. The new officers include:

• Kim Graham, Community Development Officer, Pinnacle Financial Partners, Vice Chairperson

• Lila Anna Sauls, PhD, President & CEO, Homeless No More, Secretary

• John F. Verreault III, Senior Vice President, Community Development, TD Bank, Treasurer

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 30 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.

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Restitching community fabric: N. Charleston groups work to protect neighborhoods

Reprinted from Live 5 News

NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - Nonprofit organizations in North Charleston are working to prevent marginalized residents from being pushed out of the communities they call home.

Henrietta Woodward grew up in Union Heights, one of the earliest predominantly African American communities established in 1910 and annexed into the City of North Charleston in 1997.

“We had laundromats, there was a theater, a drugstore. We had mom-and-pop stores, kindergartens,” Woodward says. “Economic development was real. For our communities, it was vibrant, and it really felt we didn’t have to go out of our communities if we had a need.”

Years later, community members feel a disconnect from its roots because of the development built around them.

“Growing up, we could just walk right through the community, but this caused a real split in our communities being disconnected,” Woodward says. “People need housing desperately. And what we can provide is housing to those individuals that are low income.”

“We used to have a parade around here. A lot of people around here owned houses, owned stores, so many churches around here,” Neighbor Richard Logan says.

The change is what pushes Woodward and others who grew up in these neighborhoods to restitch its social and physical fabric.

“What I see sometimes is a community of empathy where services are not there for them, not the services, a lot of times, they need. We need to empower the people that live and have been living in those communities,” Woodward says.