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USDA and Stronger Economies Together (SET) Announcement Regional Team

Name
Erica Salley
Release Date

COLUMBIA, S.C., July 13, 2016 – One region comprised of counties within South Carolina has been selected to participate in a new “Stronger Economies Together (SET)” Program to receive training and technical assistance for rural regional economic development. 

The Central South Carolina SET Collaborative Region comprised of Richland, Lexington, Newberry, Fairfield, Kershaw, Lee, Clarendon, Sumter, Saluda, Calhoun, and Orangeburg counties is the regional team that was awarded the opportunity for the training. 

The regional team will develop a vision and goals, examine regional demographics, opportunities, assets and barriers, and create a regional economic development plan. Training and technical assistance will be delivered by a core team of Clemson Extension, South Carolina State University, Rural Development staff as well as state-wide and area resource providers and experts.

USDA Rural Development (USDA RD), the Clemson Agribusiness Extension Program and South Carolina State University are collaborating on this initiative.  The purpose of this initiative is to strengthen the capacity of rural communities and counties to work together in developing and implementing economic development blueprint that strategically builds on the current and emerging economic strengths of the region. The SET Program is sponsored by USDA RD and the nation’s four Regional Rural Development Centers.

The selected region was part of an application process in April of this year and was self-designated.  The award process and scoring of the applications were facilitated by representatives from Clemson University Extension, South Carolina State University 1890 Extension and USDA RD and other State and local partners.

“I am proud that South Carolina was awarded this opportunity to participate in the SET Program. The program is designed to help regional teams develop new approaches to strengthen and enhance regional economic development,” said USDA RD Acting State Director Michele J. Cardwell. Furthermore, “I look forward to the enhanced partnership between RD, South Carolina State University and SC Clemson Institute”. 

 For questions contact Dr. R. David Lamie, Clemson Extension Agribusiness and Development Specialist at dlamie@clemson.edu or Mr. Charles Q. Artis, South Carolina State 1890 Extension Adult Leadership and Community Development Extension Program Coordinator at cqartis@scsu.edu.