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.”

Deborah McKetty inducted into Greenville Business Magazine's Hall of Fame Class of 2022

Greenville Business Magazine
Deborah McKetty, President of South Carolina Community Loan Fund (SCCLF), was recently inducted into Greenville Business Magazine's Hall of Fame Class of 2022.

McKetty has more than 30 years’ experience working in the community economic development field as a banker and nonprofit leader. She has served in leadership roles in several local, state, and regional organizations, including United Way of Greenville County, Greenville Chamber Board of Advisors, CommunityWorks Carolina, Greenville Housing Fund, SCACED, SC Community Capital Alliance, Richmond FED Community Investment Community, and the Self-Help Credit Union Board. 

SCACED President & CEO, Bernie Mazyck, appointed Chair of Federal Reserve of Richmond's Charlotte Board of Directors

CRBJ BizWire

CHARLESTON, S.C. —The Board of Directors of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond (“Richmond Fed”) appointed Bernie Mazyck, President & CEO of the South Carolina Association for Community Economic Development (SCACED), as Chair of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond’s Charlotte Board on December 8, 2022.

Mazyck has served on the Federal Reserve of Richmond’s Charlotte Board since 2019 and is currently on his second three-year term. He’ll serve as Chair of the Charlotte Board for a one-year term through the end of 2023. Mazyck also previously served on the Federal Reserve of Richmond’s Community Development Advisory Council.

Part of the nation’s central bank, The Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond is one of 12 regional Reserve Banks working together with the Board of Governors to support a healthy economy and deliver on their mission to foster economic stability and strength. The Richmond Fed connects with community and business leaders across the Fifth Federal Reserve District — including the Carolinas, District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia, and most of West Virginia — to monitor economic conditions, address issues facing our communities, and share this information with monetary and financial policymakers.

Metanoia SC: Jefferson Award recipient generates positive change in North Charleston

ABC News 4

CHARLESTON S.C. (WCIV) — Wonderful things can happen when a community comes together.

Lowcountry non-profit, Metanoia SC, is listening to the people who live in North Charleston's Chicora-Cherokee neighborhood.

Over the past 20 years, Metanoia has been implementing programs to meet residents' needs to generate positive changes.

Shawn Saulsberry is the Board Chair of Metanoia.

"It's a huge responsibility because Metanoia is literally serving the area that I grew up in," Saulsberry said.

Saulsberry remembers growing up in what's known as "Charleston Heights," or the "Heights" in North Charleston.

SC Community Navigator Pilot Program Creates 700 Jobs, Approves Over $20 Million in Small Business Funding in 2022

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

Greenville picked up the pace on affordable housing in 2022. What’s next?

The Post & Courier

GREENVILLE — In 2022, the Greenville Housing Fund helped add and preserve more affordable units in Greenville than in the previous four years combined. 

Since January, the nonprofit has contributed to projects providing a total of 486 affordable residences throughout the city, compared to 481 between the fund’s launch in 2018 and 2021. 

Housing Fund Advocacy and Community Engagement Manager Tina Belge said the spike in activity over the past 12 months marks a major step forward for her organization.