Promise Zone – Building a better South

May 29, 2018May 29, 2018

Center to hold June 14 workshops on traditional, online marketing

Half-day sessions set for morning, afternoon in Walterboro

MAY 29, 2018 | The Center for a Better South will offer two identical half-day workshops on June 14 in Walterboro to help people living and working in the S.C. Lowcountry Promise Zone to learn how to use traditional and online marketing tools in their businesses, nonprofits and other organizations.

NOTE: The workshops are only for residents of Allendale, Bamberg, Barnwell, Colleton, Hampton and Jasper counties who live or work in the Promise Zone. The workshops are not for people who live outside the zone.

Each workshop, which will be taught by longtime Charleston communications professional Andy Brack, is limited to 20 participants. Brack, who also chairs the Center, has served as a U.S. Senate press secretary and provided strategic communications advice to political and corporate clients over the last 20 years..

9 a.m. to noon, June 14: Colleton Museum and Farmers Market, 506 East Washington St., Walterboro, S.C. Click here to register for the morning session.
1 p.m. to 4 p.m. June 14: Colleton Museum and Farmers Market, 506 East Washington St., Walterboro, S.C. Click here to register for the afternoon session.

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May 18, 2018May 24, 2018

Center offered nonprofit training in May

MAY 18, 2018 | More than two dozen people attended May 17 workshops in Walterboro to learn how to start a nonprofit and how to operate an existing nonprofit more effectively.

The workshops in Walterboro and Denmark, which were coordinated by the Center for a Better South, featured trainers Lisa Van Bergen of Charleston and Zakiya Esper of Columbia .

“These are new workshops offered by the Center to help people who have dreams of having a successful nonprofit become successful,” Better South President Andy Brack said. “These session are designed to help people build capacity so we can accomplish Promise Zone goals.”

Since last year, the Center has provided training to more than 265 people in seven sessions across the Promise Zone, which includes all or part of Allendale, Bamberg, Barnwell, Colleton, Hampton and Jasper counties.

Van Bergen makes a point during training on nonprofits.

March 30, 2018May 29, 2018

Three dozen attend March grant workshops

MARCH 30, 2018 | The Center for a Better South held two separate one-day grant-writing courses that attracted 37 people who wanted to know more about how to seek grant funding available through the S.C. Lowcountry Promise Zone.

The all-day workshops were on March 28 in Walterboro and on March 29 in Barnwell.

“These workshops, like similar ones we’ve had, will provide training to people who live and work in the Promise Zone of the basics of writing grant proposals so they can access money for needed projects,” Better South President Andy Brack said. “These sessions are designed to help people build capacity so we can accomplish Promise Zone goals.”

Since last year, the Center has provided training to more than 235 people in seven sessions across the Promise Zone, which includes all or part of Allendale, Bamberg, Barnwell, Colleton, Hampton and Jasper counties

Trainer Patrick Patterson discusses how to write grants during a Walterboro session.

December 15, 2017May 24, 2018

Entrepreneurial Boot Camp draws a dozen

DEC. 14, 2017 | A dozen people across the Promise Zone received training on how to start a small business during a Dec. 13 workshop offered by the Center for a Better South.

The Entrepreneurial Boot Camp in Barnwell targeted to people who want to start for-profit businesses, but also offered advice for people interested in non-profits.

“Through the experts at the South Carolina Small Business Development Center, we’re pleased to be able to bring this kind of high-quality training to people in the six counties of the Promise Zone,” said Center President Andy Brack. “If you have a hobby that you want to turn into a business or want to brush up on business basics to make your existing small business work better, this free class may be just the thing for you.”

The course was taught by Earl Gregorich (shown above at right), who is senior business counselor with the S.C. Small Business Development Centers. An entrepreneur for more than 20 years, he recently received the Small Business Administration’s SBDC Excellence and innovation Award. An Air Force veteran, he and his wife live in Chapin.

November 15, 2017May 24, 2018

Two grant-writing courses offered in Promise Zone

NOV. 15, 2017 | More than three dozen people took part this week in grant-writing courses in Yemassee and Denmark through the Center for a Better South.

The workshops are funded in large part through a new $20,000 grant awarded by USDA Rural Development this fall to the Center. Last year, the Center won more than $50,000 in federal funding for Promise Zone projects.

“Thanks to this new grant, we’re going to provide more people with the skills they need to apply – and I hope win – federal and other funding to improve communities throughout the Promise Zone,” Better South President Andy Brack said. “Our new grant-writing sessions are designed to help people build capacity so we can accomplish Promise Zone goals.”

Since the beginning of the year, the Center has provided training to about 190 people in seven sessions across the Promise Zone, which includes all or part of Allendale, Bamberg, Barnwell, Colleton, Hampton and Jasper counties

Trainer Patrick Patterson makes a point during the training at Voorhees College.

July 9, 2017May 24, 2018

New video showcases Better South’s Promise Zone trainings

From February to June 2017, the Center for a Better South facilitated seven training sessions in the challenged counties of the S.C. Promise Zone in the lower part of South Carolina. From lasses on writing compelling grants to full-day sessions to help community leaders understand asset-based community development, the Center trained more than 10 dozen people from Walterboro and Early Branch to Allendale and Blackville thanks in large part to a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. More trainings are planned.

May 23, 2017May 23, 2018

Center to hold June classes on understanding, mobilizing community assets

Training in Yemassee, Barnwell to offer tools to local governments, organizations

MAY 24, 2017 | The Center for a Better South will offer two one-day classes by a nationally-acclaimed trainer next month in the S.C. Promise Zone to help neighborhood, nonprofit and local government leaders understand community assets and mobilize them to their advantage.

“Understanding and Mobilizing Community Assets” will be held June 20 in Yemassee and June 21 in Barnwell. The trainer is Ron Dwyer-Voss, founder of Pacific Community Solutions in Sacramento, Calif., through an arrangement with the nationally-acclaimed and congressionally-chartered NeighborWorks America, a nonprofit that helps build skills at the grassroots level.

“Each all-day class will guide people to strengthen their communities from the inside out by providing tools to better understand local assets, build on them and, we hope, generate economic activity,” said Better South President Andy Brack. “We’re fortunate to have a professional of Ron’s caliber join us in the Promise Zone to share his knowledge on how communities can use asset-based community development effectively.”

Each morning session will focus on building on the assets of area communities. Afternoon sessions will outline how to develop neighborhood assessments to improve communities. Lunch will be provided to participants at no cost. Classes are being held in two locations to make the information more accessible to area citizens.

Yemassee session: 9 a.m., June 20. Location: Board room, Lowcountry Council of Governments, 634 Campground Road, Yemassee, S.C. 29945. The class is open to 35 participants. (Note: This location is near the Point South interchange on Interstate 95. It may be more convenient for people from Colleton, Hampton and Jasper counties.)

Barnwell session: 9 a.m., June 21. Location: Edisto Room, SouthernCarolina Alliance, 1750 Jackson Ave., Barnwell, S.C. The class is open to 35 participants. Parking is behind the SouthernCarolina building at 54 Irving St. (This location may be more convenient for people in Allendale, Bamberg and Barnwell counties

Register for either class online: http://www.BetterSouth.org/register

Interested in attending?

There is no cost to attend but to attend, you must register. Each class is limited to 35 participants. To register for either class (one session per person only), please go to the link below and follow the instructions for registering.

http://www.BetterSouth.org/register

Important information

Attendance is limited. Reservations are offered on a first-come, first-served basis. If a class fills up, you will be put on a waiting list in case a spot opens. If a spot does not open, we will contact you if a new class is offered.
Lunch will be provided. Participants will receive a lunch at midday.
No show policy. If you register and can’t come, please let us know as soon as possible so we can make a space available to someone else. If you reserve a place and don’t attend, you will be billed $20 to reimburse the Center for lunch. Signing up for the class is a commitment by you to attend for free or pay the lunch fee if you don’t.
Transportation. You will have to provide your own transportation to a class. If you need a ride, please let us know so that we can determine whether there are any carpooling opportunities for you.
Questions. Please send questions by email to: brack@bettersouth.org.

Trainings offered by the Center are provided through a Rural Business Development Grant awarded in 2016 by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The Center for a Better South was a leading driver of the area’s combined effort to apply for and be successful in winning the federal designation for the region to be a Promise Zone. You can get updates on the Promise Zone at its website: http://www.SCPromiseZone.org.

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April 24, 2017May 11, 2017

More than 30 get grant training in Promise Zone

*Patterson explains the grant-writing process to a group at the Lowcountry Council of Governments in Yemassee. Photos by Andy Brack.*

APRIL 24, 2017 | More than 30 people received grant training in classes last week in Bamberg and Yemassee to help give area leaders more confidence and tools to submit more applications for funding. The classes, taught by South Carolina native Patrick Patterson of Global Partners for Fathers & Families, were funded through a technical training grant to the Center for a Better South by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

In the months ahead, the Center plans to have more classes to teach nonprofit and entrepreneurial skills to people who live and work in the Promise Zone, a federal designation that benefits persistently challenged counties in the federal grant process. The next class on May 9 is an Entrepreneurial Boot Camp. (Note: This class is full.)

April 20 training in Bamberg

More than a dozen people met April 20 at the Bamberg County Public Library for the all-day training, which focused on providing tools to make grant-writing more understandable. Part of the benefit of living inside the Promise Zone is it provides extra points on an array of federal grant applications that can give applicants the leg up they need to win funding. Some photos:

*Gidget Stanley-Banks of Allendale offered observations during the training.*

*Leaders listened carefully during the Bamberg training.*

*Columbia resident Courtni Miller made a point during the class as Allendale’s Kiwania Sanders looked on.*

*The Bamberg training class was a diverse group of area leaders.*

April 21 training in Yemassee

On the following day, Patterson met with 17 people at the Lowcountry Council of Government’s facility in the Point South/Yemassee area for the same class to help build capacity for organizations to make grant applications. Some photos:

*Richard Guisti Sr. of Ridgeland discussed material during the Yemassee class as Kathy Bradford of Beaufort, left, and Brenda Singleton of Hardeeville, look on.*

*Patterson makes a point. In the background are participants Geneathea Williams, left, and Jessie Gooding, both of Walterboro.*

*From left are Yemassee Police Chief Greg Alexander, USC Salkehatchie Prof. David Cherry of Walterboro and Joanna Brailey of Garnett, S.C.*

March 7, 2017

Center trains 13 on grants in Walterboro

*Walterboro participants with Vanessa Nelson-Reed, fourth from the left.*

Thirteen Promise-Zone area residents met all day Saturday in Walterboro to learn about how to write grant applications from South Carolina native Vanessa Nelson-Reed through an agreement with the University of South Carolina.

“It gave an introduction to grant writing and piqued my interest in the grant-writing process and what requirements are needed to successfully complete a grant application,” one participant said.

Another added, “I think now I have a better understanding that you have to specify what you are hoping to accomplish and keep a good record of how and what you buy to be on point.”

The Center for a Better South, through a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, is planning other trainings for April and May. More will be announced as details are confirmed.

Here are some other pictures from the training session in Walterboro: