COG held its Annual Board Retreat in Sumter

Santee-Lynches Regional Council of Governments' Board of Directors along with regional City and County Administrators attended the annual board retreat. This year's theme was "Back to Basics" where staff presented on Economic Development, Human Services and Community Enhancement. Staff worked with COG Board members on creating partnerships and collaboration among the many other agencies and civic organizations they serve on to assist all citizens throughout the region.

Executive Director, Chris McKinney, presented board member perfect attendance awards to Shirley Keels, Julia Nelson, and Dwight Stewart of Clarendon County; and Jim Campbell, Jim McCain, and Earl Wilson of Sumter County. Mr. McKinney also presented three National Association of Development Organization Awards for the following projects:
* Heartfelt Patriotism - Veteran Directed Home and Community Based Services Program for veterans of any age who are at risk of nursing home placement, are not on Medicaid, and can self-direct. The goals of the program are to improve access to and increased options of services; consumer choice of services; empowerment; support of families and family caregivers of Veterans; and to stay in their homes and be engaged in their communities. Partners were the South Carolina Lt. Governor's Office on Aging; Dorn VA Medical Center and its community based outpatient centers; and Public Partnerships, LLC - fiscal agent.
* "Hire Me" Industry Specific Regional Hiring Events for Economic Development Prospects - In late 2016, Crown Health Care Laundry Services was considering investing more than $12 million and creating 150 jobs in Lee County. To ensure the necessary number of applicants to fill the hiring needs of the company, "Hire Me!" events were executed mid-December in Bishopville and Sumter. Company officials wanted at least 600 applications and 685 applicants attended the event. Partners were Lee County, City of Bishopville, Sumter County, TheLink Economic Development Alliance, and Sumter Economic Development Board.
* Understanding the Green Heart of South Carolina - Santee-Lynches Green Infrastructure Inventory - The Santee-Lynches region covers over 2,400 square miles and is home to nearly 230,000 residents. Our assets include Lakes Wateree and Marion, portions of four major rivers, and numerous state parks, state forests, heritage preserves, and wildlife refuges. These "Green Infrastructure" elements combine to make Santee-Lynches a unique place to live, work and play. Through a partnership with the SC Forestry Commission, staff built a public geospatial database to inventory Green Infrastructure in the region and identified goals and objectives for region partners to consider as they carry out their projects and programs. Partners were the counties of Clarendon, Kershaw, Lee and Sumter; the cities of Manning, Camden, Bishopville and Sumter; along with Congaree Land Trust, Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina State Park Service, and Central Carolina Technical College.

Community Outreach for Clarendon County Council on Aging

Santee-Lynches RCOG staff collected and delivered over 200 canned goods/staple foods to the Clarendon County Council on Aging (CCCOA) in Manning as part of their quarterly community outreach. The food will assist those older adult residents in need throughout the county. Thank you to COG Board 2nd Vice Chair Mayor Julia Nelson (City of Manning) for her assistance in delivering these items. Jennifer Powell, CCCOA Director, thanked the COG for their support of senior adults in Clarendon County. COG staff continue to work with local communities in the four-county region on quarterly outreach projects.

Job Seekers attend Sumter County Job Fair

Santee-Lynches Regional Council of Governments and SC Works along with its many partners held the Sumter County Job Fair at the Sumter Civic Center. The Job Fair hosted over 700 citizens seeking employment in Sumter and surrounding areas. Having approximately 60 vendors from around the region such as Continental Tire, Caterpillar, South Carolina Department of Public Safety, Thompson Construction, and RetireEase Senior Services to connect with for employment was beneficial to job seekers.

Santee-Lynches RCOG hires new Executive Director

Chris McKinney has been selected as the Executive Director of the Santee-Lynches Regional Council of Governments (SLRCOG).

McKinney will facilitate the strategic vision and oversee all assistance provided to the four county region, consisting of Clarendon, Kershaw, Lee and Sumter Counties and all of the associated municipalities. Based in Sumter, South Carolina, the SLRCOG has a professional staff of 30 people who serve a population of approximately 223,000 people.

McKinney will assume the role of Executive Director on October 16, 2017.

In September 2017, he retired from active duty in the United States Air Force after over 30 years of service. Prior to retiring, McKinney served as the Command Chief Master Sergeant for the 20th Fighter Wing, Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina where he was an executive advisor to the Wing Commander and the installation's senior enlisted leader. He was responsible for the training, professional development of 8,500+ military personnel, and the morale and welfare of over 31,000 families and retirees at the nation's largest F-16 fighter wing in the Combatant Air Forces.

From April 2013 until June 2015, McKinney served as the Group Superintendent in the 33rd Operations Group at Eglin AFB, Florida where he was an executive advisor to the Operations Group Commander. He helped provide oversight to facilitate the training of F-35 pilots, F-35 intelligence professionals and Air Battle Managers. He was also responsible for the training, professional development, morale and welfare of 368 military personnel.

His military service includes combat tours of duty in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Iraq and Afghanistan.

A native of Texas, he has an Associate's Degree in Meteorology from the Community College of the Air Force. He also holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Business Management (Leadership Focus) from American Military University and a Master of Science Degree in Organizational Leadership from Columbia Southern University.

Upcoming Job Fair in Sumter County

Santee-Lynches Regional Council of Governments and SC Works along with TheLink will host a Job Fair in Sumter County. The Job Fair will be held on Wednesday, October 18, 2017 at the Sumter County Civic Center located at 700 West Liberty Street in Sumter. The Job Fair will be open to all Veterans at 9:00 a.m. and at 9:30 a.m. to all other job seekers. Professional dress is required for entry along with your resume to provide the approximate 80 vendors seeking candidates for their company or organization.

Community Outreach for Sumter County United Ministries

Santee-Lynches RCOG staff collected and delivered over 200 canned goods/staple foods to Sumter County United Ministries as part of our quarterly community outreach. The food will assist the Ministries with feeding Sumter County families who are in need. Thank you to COG Board Members Jim McCain (Sumter County Council Chair) and Jim Campbell for their assistance in delivering these items. COG staff continue to work with local communities in the four-county region on quarterly outreach projects.

Lee County Job Fair A Success

Approximately 200 job seekers participated in the Lee County Job Fair held at the old Bishopville High Gymnasium. Santee-Lynches Regional Council of Governments and SC Works along with partners such as WLTX News 19, Lee County Council, Tabernacle of Champions, and REP Communications Network held the four-hour event. With 35 vendors from around the region set up to host job seekers there were many positions to fill. Lee County companies of Carolina Metal Finishing, Coca Cola, Palmetto Corporation, and the new Crown Health Care Laundry Services were looking for the right candidate.

Santee-Lynches RCOG receives three Innovation Awards from NADO

The National Association of Development Organizations announced its Innovation Awards for 2017. Santee-Lynches Regional COG receives three: Heartfelt Patriotism; Hire Me - Industry Specific Regional Hiring Events for Economic Development Prospects; and Understanding the Green Heart of South Carolina: Santee-Lynches Green Infrastructure Inventory. https://www.nado.org/congratulations-to-the-2017-nado-innovation-award-winners/

Lee County Job Fair

Santee-Lynches Regional Council of Governments and SC Works will host a Job Fair in Lee County. If you or someone you know is looking for a job, please come visit the Job Fair scheduled for Wednesday, August 9 at 121 East College Street (old Bishopville High Gymnasium) in Bishopville. The event begins with Veterans only at 9:00 a.m. and all others at 9:30 a.m. Partners for the Job Fair are Tabernacle of Champions, Lee County Council, WLTX News 19, and REP Communications Network.

COG names Interim Executive Director

Kathy Powell has been named Interim Executive Director for Santee-Lynches Regional Council of Governments by the Board's Executive Committee. She will assume this role beginning July 17, 2017. Mrs. Powell has been with the agency since May 1987 and currently serves as the COG's Deputy and Finance Director.

COG ELECTS NEW OFFICERS TO ITS BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Santee-Lynches Regional Council of Governments is pleased to announce new appointments to its board of directors for Fiscal Year 2017, which begins July 1.

Travis Windham, Chair of Lee County Council has been elected Chairman. Vivian McGhaney, member of Sumter County Council has been elected 1st Vice Chair. Julia Nelson, Mayor for the City of Manning has been elected as 2nd Vice Chair. Jim Campbell, an at-large member of the board from Sumter County, has been named Secretary/Treasurer.

Dr. Michael Mikota, COG Executive Director: "I congratulate the newly elected offices and I am very excited about working with them and our uniquely positioned professional organization to bring leaders together in the spirit of cooperation to further improve the quality of life for all citizens in our four county region."

COG Staff Outreach to Lee County

Santee-Lynches RCOG staff collected and delivered canned goods to Lee County Cooperative Ministries through Bethlehem United Methodist Church as part of our quarterly community outreach. The goods will assist the Cooperative Ministries with feeding families who are in need within the county. Thank you to Incoming COG Chairman, Travis Windham; Gail Player, Ministry Chair; and Zack Medlin from Bethlehem UMC for their assistance in delivering these items. COG staff works quarterly on an outreach project within our region.

COG Employees and Board Members Participate in the Honorary Commander Program

Fourteen civic leaders including COG Executive Director, Dr. Michael Mikota; Economic and Community Sustainability Director, Kyle Kelly; and board members Alfred Mae Drakeford (Chair), James T. McCain, and Vivian McGhaney, joined the ranks of honorary commander on March 3, 2017. The honorary commander program gives community leaders and their corresponding commanders the opportunity to share information, learn from one another, and participate in special events. To find out more about the program and see photos, visit the Shaw Air Force Base website.
Photo Source: http://www.shaw.af.mil/News/ArticleDisplay/tabid/6105/Article/1102572/20-fw-welcomes-new-honorary-commanders.aspx

COG Staff Outreach Project

Santee-Lynches RCOG staff collected and delivered canned goods to United Way in Kershaw County as part of our quarterly community outreach. The goods will help families who are in need within the county. Thank you to COG board member Brad Hanley for his assistance in delivering these items. COG staff will be completing outreach projects quarterly for other communities in our region.

Santee-Lynches Regional Long Range Transportation Plan

The Santee-Lynches Regional Council of Governments (Santee-Lynches) is providing public notification of proposed updates to the 2040 Long Range Transportation Plan, originally adopted in 2014.

The proposed revisions to the LRTP include additional data on pavement quality, traffic volume, and crashes occurring in the region, as well as updates to the proposed project list and rating criteria to ensure continued compliance with SCDOT and State of South Carolina Law.

Pending consideration of public comments, the updated LRTP will be reviewed by the Santee-Lynches Economic and Community Sustainability Committee and considered by the Santee-Lynches Regional Council of Governments Board of Directors).

Public Comments will be accepted until the close of business on March 2, 2017.

The document for public comment can be found at the following website, which also includes a link to the comment form http://www.santeelynchescog.org/transportation. Citizens may also send comments via mail or may provide them in person at the Santee-Lynches Regional Council of Governments offices located at 2525 Corporate Way, Suite 200, Sumter, SC 29154.

The Santee-Lynches Area Plan

The Health and Human Services staff is meeting today to work on the Area Plan for the Santee-Lynches region. The Area Plan is a document that is updated and maintained by HHS department and submitted to the Lt. Governor's Office on Aging. It identifies how services will be rendered to seniors in Sumter, Lee, Clarendon, and Kershaw Counties and how funds will be spent to provide these services and supports. For more information on the Area Plan and the services provided by the HHS Department, visit our website at www.santeelynchescog.org or call our office at 803-775-7381.

City of Manning Comprehensive Planning

---

The COG is currently assisting the City of Manning as they write their new 10 year Comprehensive Plan. The Plan documents the current physical, social, and economic characteristics of a community and provides a vision and series of goals and objectives to guide community development in the future. Comprehensive Plans help facilitate and coordinate local decision-making, involve residents and stakeholders in the planning process, and inform landowners and developers about the community and its goals.
A critical component of developing an effective Comprehensive Plan is strong public engagement. The City needs feedback from residents about the current conditions in the community and about the aspirations residents have for Manning. The opinions offered by residents provide the basis for developing a vision for Manning and establishing a set of short-term and long-term objectives.
There are multiple ways for residents to get involved in this process. Throughout the month of January, a

survey is available online, at the Harvin Clarendon County Library, at City Hall, and at various restaurants and businesses throughout the city. You can find a list of participating businesses below or follow the link to the online survey on the City's website (www.cityofmanning.org), the Facebook page, "Tomorrow Together:Planning Manning for the Future"(www.facebook.com/PlanningManning) or on the Santee-Lynches Council of Governments' website, (santeelynchescog.org/community-development). Additionally, planning staff from the COG will be available at the library on Monday, January 23 from 4-8pm, Wednesday, January 25 from 9am-12pm, and Thursday, January 26 from 12pm-3pm to collect in-person feedback and answer any questions.
If you would like more information, please visit the Facebook link above or contact Santee-Lynches planner Susan Landfried via email at slandfried@slcog.org.

---