SC Association for Community Economic Development announces John Simpkins, President of MDC, as a keynote speaker at 24th Annual Conference

CHARLESTON, S.C. — South Carolina Association for Community Economic Development (SCACED) is proud to announce John Simpkins, President of MDC, as a keynote speaker for its annual conference, Opportunity SC: 2023. The 24th annual conference is the largest comprehensive community development convention and forum in South Carolina.

Simpkins works with the entire MDC team to set strategy, shape their portfolio of work, and engage with partners and the public around the urgent challenge of eliminating disparities to build a South where all people can thrive. Prior to joining MDC in 2020, Simpkins held various leadership roles in efforts to promote equity, access, and inclusion at the state, national, and international level. A constitutional scholar and practicing attorney, Simpkins served in the Obama Administration as deputy general counsel for the White House Office of Management and Budget and general counsel for the U.S. Agency for International Development. After leaving government service, Simpkins served in leadership roles at Prisma Health and the Aspen Global Leadership Network at the Aspen Institute, where he mobilized the more than 3,000 Fellows around the world to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and its attendant economic effects.

Simpkins received his Bachelor’s of Art degree in government from Harvard College and his Juris Doctor and Masters of Laws degrees in international and comparative law from Duke University School of Law. He is a Senior Lecturer at Duke Law School and is a member of the Liberty Fellowship, a program in the Aspen Global Leadership Network dedicated to moving South Carolina forward.

“I am excited to participate in SCACED’s Opportunity SC: 2023 Conference and look forward to delivering insights on advancing equity in South Carolina,” said Simpkins. “Thank you to SCACED for hosting this important forum of community development leaders from across South Carolina.”

SC Association for Community Economic Development announces Tom Barkin as a keynote speaker at 24th Annual Conference

Reprinted from the Soda City BizWire

COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina Association for Community Economic Development (SCACED) is proud to announce Tom Barkin, President and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond (“Richmond Fed”), as a keynote speaker for its annual conference, Opportunity SC: 2023. The 24th annual conference is the largest comprehensive community development convention and forum in South Carolina.

Barkin is a leader in monetary policy, bank supervision and technology. He serves on the Fed’s chief monetary policy body, the Federal Open Market Committee, and is also responsible for bank supervision and the Federal Reserve’s technology organization. He is “on the ground” continually in the Fed’s Fifth District, which covers South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, D.C., West Virginia and Maryland. His engagement in the region has brought real attention to areas facing economic challenges.

Prior to joining the Richmond Fed, Barkin was a senior partner and CFO at McKinsey & Company, a worldwide management consulting firm, where he also oversaw McKinsey’s offices in the southern United States. He earned his bachelor’s, MBA and law degrees from Harvard University.

“I look forward to being a part of Opportunity SC: 2023 and sharing my perspectives on the economy and labor market,” said Barkin. “Thank you to SCACED for hosting this event and for continuing to advance community development in South Carolina.”

SBA, SCACED and NPHC to Host Free Small Business Resource Session in Columbia

Reprinted from Soda City Biz Wire

COLUMBIA, S.C. —The Small Business Administration (SBA), South Carolina Association for Community Economic Development (SCACED), and the Columbia Chapter of the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) have announced a partnership to bring resources and support to entrepreneurs and small businesses owners at an informational session in Columbia, SC on June 19th from 4:00 – 6:30 PM.  This unique event celebrates the leadership role the nine national historically black Greek lettered fraternities and sororities (the Divine Nine) to South Carolina and the nation’s economic mobility and progress.

The session, titled “Access to Capital & Resources for Small Businesses & Entrepreneurs”, will be held at the Palmetto Patio located at 1122 Lady Street, Columbia, SC 29201. The event is open to the public and free of charge. Attendees will have the opportunity to network with other entrepreneurs and small business resource providers who support businesses in all stages of development.

Regional SBA leaders and small business resource providers, such as the SBA-funded South Carolina Community Navigator Program, will be on-site to offer complimentary services that assist the unique needs of each small business owner. Services offered will focus on:

• Access to capital

• Government contracting

• Disaster recovery and resilience

• Counseling and technical assistance

“SBA is committed to helping small businesses start, grow and succeed in South Carolina and beyond,” said Gregg White, SBA District Director for South Carolina. “We are excited to partner with SCACED and NPHC to bring valuable information and resources to the small business community in Columbia.”

“SCACED is proud to be part of this initiative that connects entrepreneurs and small businesses with the tools and support they need to thrive,” said Bernie Mazyck, President & CEO of SCACED. “As a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., I encourage anyone who is interested in starting or growing their business to attend this session and learn more about the opportunities available.”

“NPHC is honored to host this event and support our fellow entrepreneurs and small business owners,” said Dr. Brenda B. Branic, President of NPHC Columbia Chapter. “We believe that small businesses are the backbone of our economy and our community, and we look forward to seeing them succeed.”

Registration for the event is free but required. Complimentary heavy hors d’oeuvres and refreshments will be provided. Click here to register for the event.

About SCACED (www.scaced.org)

SCACED is a coalition of over 170 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.

Community Capital Alliance focusing on Rock Hill economic development

CN2 News

ROCK HILL, S.C. (CN2 NEWS) – The South Carolina Community Capital Alliance is spending its second day in Rock Hill.

More than 200 guest are attending the organization’s conference happening at the Rock Hill Sports and event center.

The alliance works to increase capital resources for South Carolina’s most under served and under-capitalized communities.

At the event several speakers highlighted topics in impact investing, community financing tools, and other tactics to support community economic development across the state.

The conference also focusing on Rock Hill development, using the downtown area, Knowledge Park and the City’s South-Side Revitalization to show how a town can create a new vision.

“Part of what we do with this conference is we come to projects like this.” said Alliance Board Member, Deborah McKetty. “We get to see the before and the after and then we really get to talk to the developers. Who were the visionaries behind this project? How were the nuts and bolts put together? Where did the financing come from? How did the community’s vision turn into an actual project that’s serving the community in the way that it is? So that’s kind of the whole purpose of this, to really understand how these projects happen.”

South Carolina Community Capital Alliance Honors Ashely Teasdel & Rock Hill Economic Development Corporation with 2023 Community Champion Awards

CRBJ BizWire

Deputy Secretary Teasdel

CHARLESTON, S.C. – The South Carolina Community Capital Alliance (the “Alliance”) is proud to announce that Ashely Teasdel, Deputy Secretary of Commerce of the South Carolina Department of Commerce (S.C. Commerce), and the Rock Hill Economic Development Corporation (RHEDC) are the recipients of the 2023 Community Champion Awards. The award is the highest honor bestowed upon an individual or organization by the Alliance and is presented annually to a local leader and organization that has made significant contributions to community economic development.

Since its launch in 2011, the Alliance has been dedicated to increasing capital resources for South Carolina’s underserved and undercapitalized communities and providing job creation opportunities that make a difference in people’s lives. Deputy Secretary Teasdel has been an integral part of this effort since the organization’s inception, working to create and sustain partnerships to bring resources to improve the economic well-being of South Carolina’s citizens. The Rock Hill Economic Development Corporation is being recognized for their years of commitment to advancing economic growth in the Rock Hill area including the Knowledge Park redevelopment strategy, promoting mixed-use redevelopment of the urban core of Rock Hill connecting historic downtown and Winthrop University.

Prior to being promoted to Deputy Secretary of Commerce in 2021, Teasdel served as Director of the S.C. Commerce’s Business Services Division. During her tenure as Director of Business Services, she successfully merged the functions of the division through deliberate efforts to integrate the division’s purpose of what S.C. Commerce has dubbed as “Service After the Sale.” Teasdel was instrumental in the launch of support resources for start-ups and existing companies; accelerated the use of B2B platforms for specific industries; managed an initiative to build minority business engagement that included supplier outreach experiences; and developed ally outreach for effective coordination of small business support for more sourcing needs. Teasdel is an active board member of the SC Economic Developers Association (SCEDA) and the Business Development Corporation (CDC) of SC.

Rock Hill Economic Development Corporation is committed to representing the business, educational, and community interests of the city while promoting jobs and supporting growth in Rock Hill. By fostering increased employment opportunities and partnering on redevelopment projects, RHEDC improves the quality of life for Rock Hill residents. In recent years, RHEDC has played a key role in facilitating the redevelopment of the urban core through the Knowledge Park Action Plan, leading to $400 million of investment in downtown Rock Hill, and is a partner in the Clinton ConNEXTion strategic plan for attracting jobs, businesses, and housing to the historic neighborhoods in South Rock Hill. Through RHEDC’s Talent Pipeline program, educational institutions and local businesses build supportive relationships with students through employment, internship, and apprenticeship opportunities.

Commentary: SC community development tax credit helps investors help communities

Metanoia CEO Bill Stanfield

Reprinted from The Post & Courier

The recently unveiled Charleston County Housing Our Future plan provided the sobering statistic that only 15% of households in Charleston County can afford the current median home sale price of $538,000 in the county. That’s bad news for 85% of us. The statistic underscores how even as our region is booming, many are being left behind.

What if there were a tool that would incentivize those who are doing well to create opportunities for others to do better in their own backyard?

The great news for residents of South Carolina is that there is such a tool. The S.C. community development tax credit provides an opportunity for those who are doing well  to reduce their state tax liability by providing gifts and investments to certified community development organizations across our state.

Conservation voters group announces three additions to board of directors

Ken Harvin (Left), Ann Warner (Middle) and Michael Brown (Right) are the newest member of the Conservation voter group. (FILE/PHOTO)

WACH Fox 57

SOUTH CAROLINA (WACH) — The Conservation Voters of South Carolina Education Fund (CVSCEF) announced that three members will be joining their board of directors.

Michael Brown of the Sustaining Way, Ken Harvin of the South Carolina Association for Community Economic Development (SCACED) and Ann Warner of the Women's Rights and Empowerment Network (WREN)will be joining the board, according to a statement from the group on Tuesday.

Brown, the Executive Director of Sustaining Way, served 12 years to his community as the District One Representative for Spartanburg County Council, first African American Vice-Chair and chaired the Public Safety and Judiciary Committee, and was a member of the Economic Development Committee establishing 20,000 jobs delivering more than $8 billion of development. He has a bachelor's in political science from Alabama A&M University, a master's of public administration from the Ohio State University, and a J.D. from the University of South Carolina School of Law.

Harvin, Rural Program Director at SCACED, spent 20 years as a community development practitioner in communities of color, addressing issues of social inequality using community-building and organizing principles. He was honorably discharged from the United States Marine Corps, later gaining a master's degree in nonprofit management with a specialization in community development finance from the New School Milano School of International Affairs, Management, and Urban Policy, according to an official statement.

Warner, CEO of WREN, leads strategic visioning and planning for the organization. According to a statement, she has more than 20 years of experience advocating for the rights of women and girls around the world. She was a joint master of international affairs and master of public health from Columbia University and a bachelor's of arts in English from Wellesley College. As well as a graduate from the Riley Institute's Diversity Leaders Initiative.

“Ann, Ken, and Michael are all leaders at organizations that partner closely with CVSCEF in our work to protect our environment in an equitable way,” said John Tynan, CVSCEF Executive Director in a statement. “Their individual and community-based expertise will ensure that the policies and programs that CVSCEF advances will reflect input from both partners and communities, continuing to help us build a strong, effective, and equitable conservation movement in South Carolina.”

Officials say CVSCEF is dedicated to maximizing the participation of conservation-minded citizens in public policy decisions at the state and local levels regarding South Carolina’s environment and natural resources.

Statewide Community Economic Development Association Honors South Carolina Legislative Black Caucus with SCACED 2022 Legislator of the Year Award

Soda City BizWire

COLUMBIA, S.C. —After years of milestone successes and achievements in the South Carolina General Assembly, and for championing numerous community development initiatives, the South Carolina Legislative Black Caucus (SCLBC) received the 2022 Legislator of the Year Award from the South Carolina Association for Community Economic Development (SCACED) at the association’s 2023 Legislative Luncheon on Wednesday.

SCACED’s annual Legislator of the Year Award recognizes legislators who support the community economic development industry. In 2022, SCLBC played a key role in supporting the appropriation of $2 million for the Community Economic Development Fund which provides grants to certified community development organizations. The community economic development grants support workforce and attainable housing development and preservation, small business funding and technical assistance, workforce training, and other community development initiatives.

“On behalf of the members of the South Carolina Legislative Black Caucus, I thank SCACED for bestowing us this honor on the 50th anniversary of the caucus’ formation,” said SCLBC Chairman Representative Ivory Torrey Thigpen. “We reaffirm our support and commitment to the work SCACED does in our communities. We too envision a South Carolina where each person has the opportunity to build, grow, and own their future.”