COLUMBIA, S.C. – On Friday, May 15, three local leaders completed the South Carolina Economic Development Institute. Newberry County Councilman Scott Cain, Jasper County Councilman Marty Sauls and Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College President Dr. Walt Tobin received their Certificates of Completion at the conclusion of May’s community development session held at the Central Carolina Technical College Health Sciences Center in Sumter County.
A partnership between the South Carolina Department of Commerce and the South Carolina Economic Developers’ Association (SCEDA), the Institute emphasizes elements necessary to be competitive in today’s global economy and educates supporters of economic development on emerging trends in community and economic development.
Now in its 25th year, the program is comprised of quarterly, two-day sessions for which participants travel to various locations throughout South Carolina that have been successful in community development and attracting and expanding their business and industrial base. Attendees gain insight into issues relating to: water and wastewater infrastructure, available industrial or business buildings and the importance other community development components necessary to attract investment.
The Institute is open to participants from a wide variety of organizations and entities, including city, town and county councils, local economic development practitioners, county economic development boards, county school boards, regional economic development boards, utility companies and local and state government employees.
Sixty participants are enrolled in the program’s 2015 class, which began in February and will conclude this November. For more information on the South Carolina Economic Development Institute, interested attendees should visit www.sceda.org or contact the South Carolina Economic Developers’ Association at 803-929-0305.