Friday, November 10, 2017

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.