Key Programs Sponsored by Community, Leadership, and Economic Development

The Community, Leadership, and Economic Development (CLED) Extension Initiative Team provides the impetus and support for one of five major Public Service goals of the University. This 19-member team includes PSA and extension specialists, associates, and agents.

1. Palmetto Leadership's components include leadership development, team building, communication, group facilitation, group decision making, conflict management and negotiation, and problem solving skills. Technical strategic planning process skills include needs assessment, asset mapping, priority setting, tactical planning, public policy formation, program implementation. Substantive data include information on county socioeconomic profiles, trend analysis, economic development, education improvement, local government, public safety, health care, land use planning, growth management, recreation, tourism, and community cultural features. The programs were sponsored in 17 counties and municipalities in 2000-01. More than 339 citizens participated.

Youth Palmetto Leadership has been in operation for over 12 years. It includes much of the curriculum of the adult program and emphasizes leadership skills development, personal development, team building, conflict management, citizenship, community awareness, and public policy. Participants are expected to engage in a service-learning project to enhance the community. The 4-H and Youth Development program is a collaborating partner in this effort.

2. Economic Development: Business Retention and Expansion (BR&E) surveys small (micro) and locally owned or managed businesses to determine local needs. BR&E coordinators facilitate resource linkages where business owner needs are matched with existing resources. The coordinators also engage in limited problem solving within their own areas of expertise. A modification of this program is the BR&E Leadership Program initiated in a county with 14% unemployment and a declining agrarian and industrial economy. Focus groups were used to survey community leaders, business leaders, and unemployed workers. Results were compiled in a report to shape public policy in the county.

3. Public Issue Education. The Public Issues Management School graduates facilitated public meetings regarding the management plan of Lake Murray. This lake is surrounded by residences and has multiple uses: fishing, boating, hydroelectric power generation, swimming, etc. The key issue to be settled with citizen input was methods that should be used by SC DNR to control hydrilla.

4. Eco-Tourism: The Heritage Corridor is a crescent-shaped territory which begins in two northwest South Carolina counties bordering Georgia and North Carolina. The Corridor continues along the Georgia border from the Upstate, to the Midlands and Upper Savannah Valley, bends to the east through the Lowcountry, and continues to the Atlantic Ocean through the Charleston metropolitan area. The opening of Discovery Centers, creation of a Native American Task Force, African American Trail, Natchez/Pee Dee Native American Village, self-guided tour brochures for several counties, and the development of a Finance Committee Kit to aid in fund raising. A blacksmith was employed to enhance eco-tourism in small towns in the Corridor.

5. Nonprofit Education Initiative. The 13 multi-county clusters each have a program in place to offer the DIRECTIONS program. This is a nonprofit organization resource assessment workshop. Nine clusters have completed the program and four are scheduled. The program gives representatives of nonprofit organizations an opportunity to engage in facilitated self-assessment and review. As a follow-up to the assessment process where organizational needs are identified, the second element of the program is Nonprofit Organization Education and Training. This training curriculum provides the staff and volunteers with professional development training. The planned third phase of the program calls for certification and credentialing. The program also held two African-American Nonprofit workshops aimed at faith communities. Extension will collaborate with the S.C. Association of Nonprofit Organizations (SCANPO), community foundations, United Way agencies, Tech Schools and colleges.

6. Design Arts Partnership. This collaborative program provides communities with desired improvements in architectural, landscape, historical, and preservation designs. The purpose is to improve community appearance, local pride, and enhance potential economic development. City & Regional planning faculty and students operate this successful program. They designed over 15 projects involving over 300 citizens.