News & Updates

 

 

SC Association of CDCs Elects 2010 Board 

Charleston, SC – January 5, 2010 – The South Carolina Association of Community Development Corporations, Inc. recently elected its board of directors for 2010.  The board functions as the governing body of the association and determines the official policy of the organization. 

 

Deborah Livingston was elected to serve as SCACDC board chairperson for 2010.  Livingston has served on the board of directors since 2008.  She is the executive director of the Columbia Housing Development Corporation and the TN Development Corporation.  These two non-profit development corporations provide quality affordable housing for the citizens of Columbia, SC.  Since joining the City in January of 2000 she is responsible for more than fifteen million dollars in new development within the City.  She designed and implemented the award winning P.O.W.E.R. Center, an acronym that stands for Providing Opportunity for Work by Empowering Residents.  READ MORE

 

South Carolina Clean Economy Fact Sheet

South Carolina has a small but fast-growing piece of America’s clean energy economy.

Jobs in the state’s clean energy economy grew 16 times faster annually than

total jobs between 1998 and 2007. Although South Carolina did not attract

clean technology venture capital investments in the last three years, the

state has experienced significant job growth in the category of Clean

Energy. South Carolina’s Renewable Energy Grants and Loans Program

could spur more growth with low-interest loans for building renewable

energy generation facilities, including those powered by wind, solar and

biomass resources.  Click here to see full fact sheet provided by The Pew Charitable Trusts. 

Click here to view the entire US report provided by The Pew Charitable Trusts.

 

SCACDC Op-Ed to Senator Graham
December 10, 2009

On Friday, the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced that our national unemployment rate stands at 10 percent.  While a slight improvement from October, this number is still staggering.  In South Carolina, we’re not ready to breathe a sigh of relief yet: the state unemployment rate was 12.1 percent in October, the fifth-highest rate in the country.  How we respond to this employment crisis in the short term was the subject of a high profile ‘jobs summit’ hosted by President Obama at the White House last week.  A long-term solution to our economic challenges may rest with the comprehensive climate and energy legislation that Senator Lindsey Graham is now crafting with his colleagues in the Senate.  No other initiative will more profoundly affect our state’s economy and the basic pocketbook issues faced by our families.  READ MORE 

 

SCACDC Convening Leaders for South Carolina's Green Economy
December 1, 2009

There is a logical and credible reason for the S.C. Association of Community Development Corporations (SCACDC) to lead the convening of an Energy Efficiency/Green Economy Cluster in South Carolina.  SCACDC and the CED industry is building on an 8 plus year track record of developing over 1,000 units of affordable housing, building over 180,000 square feet of commercial space, creating or retaining over 3,000 jobs.  READ MORE

 

SCACDC Celebrating 15 Years of Service
November 3, 2009


Dear Members, Friends and Allies,
 
In 1994, the South Carolina Association of Community Development Corporations (SCACDC) was established by four local CDCs to advance the interest of their industry.  As a statewide trade association and intermediary for community development corporations and community economic development stakeholders, the organization’s mission is “to raise the quality of life for low-wealth families and communities by advancing the community economic development corporations through the provision of: grassroots leadership development; access to capital; advocacy; and technical assistance.”

 

Fifteen years later, the SCACDC directly supports 69 community-based organizations committed to expanding wealth and employment opportunities for low-wealth households and communities.  Over the past ten years, the South Carolina community economic development industry has garnered a total project value of $96.8 million, $156 million in economic impact, and 3,000 new jobs.  These are numbers to CELEBRATE!!!

 

Our industry also has garnered the support from the state legislature with a $2.4 million appropriation through the S.C. Community Economic Development Act to support certified CDCs in South Carolina.  Additionally, the CDC industry in South Carolina recently was awarded over $15 million in Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) funding, representing an historic mark for our community development corporations.  Each day, more and more corporate and financial institutions are seeking opportunities to partner with community-based development organizations who have demonstrated the ability to generate such a significant economic impact in under-invested communities. Our friends and allies recognize that CDCs help leverage their investments in the community on average 5 to 1. Together, we have revitalized places that mainstream America has written off.

 

These are just a sample of significant numbers our community development members, associates, and partners should be proud to call their own.  Take a moment read through our anniversary publication for more statistics that demonstrate the incredible work being done by South Carolina community economic development practitioners. 

 

We attribute these significant accomplishments to creativity, vision and passion.   As president and CEO, I wish to thank the founders of SCACDC: Atlantic Beach CDC, Charleston Area CDC, UNEDC, and S.C. Coastal CDC.  The founding sponsor of SCACDC is the Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation, and our legislative trailblazers are Rep. Gilda Cobb-Hunter, Sen. John Matthews, and Rep. J. Roland Smith.  I would be remised if I didn’t thank three ladies who Sheppard SCACDC to a level of maturity: Mary Cleveland, Pearlie McCoy, and Liz Santagati.

 

The SCACDC Board of Directors expects over the next five years to build an industry of community-based organizations with the capacity to revitalize communities in a way that advances sustainable development and ensures the viability of the CDCs in South Carolina.  The CDC industry, in the nation as a whole, and in South Carolina, continues to evolve and mature.  We have reason to celebrate these significant accomplishments to date, but we must continue to remind ourselves that we have much work ahead of us. We look forward to you joining this effort to “Build Wealth One Community at a Time.”

 

Bernie Mazyck
President & CEO
SC Association of CDCs

SCACDC & Members to Receive NSP Funding
March 26, 2009


Dear Members, Friends and Allies,
 
 
It gives me great pleasure to inform you that SCACDC has been awarded $1 million in Neighborhood Stabilization Funding from the South Carolina Housing Finance and Development Authority to stabilize communities in Greenwood and Laurens counties.
 
In addition to SCACDC, four members of SCACDC also were successful in NSP awards. They include the following: Community Assistance Providers, Community Development Improvement Corporation, Santee Lynches CDC, and TN Development Corporation. Please help me in congratulating these members.
 
As you all know, the State Housing Finance Agency is administering $44 million in federal NSP funding throughout South Carolina. The CDC industry collectively was awarded over $15 million in NSP funding. This represents an historic day for the CDC industry in South Carolina. Click here to read the press release issued yesterday by State Housing, Finance and Development Authority.
 
Thanks to all of you for your efforts in advancing the CDC industry in South Carolina.
 
Sincerely,
 
Bernie Mazyck
President & CEO
SC Association of CDCs