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Welcome to the BCD Council of Governments digital newsletter. This newsletter is published once a month to bring you highlights of projects and activities being undertaken at the agency. Should you have any questions or would like to request additional information, please do not hesitate to contact us.
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BCDCOG's Revolving Loan Fund Assists New Local Business
The Runaway Bay is a newly formed restaurant at Riverfront Park, which is part of the redevelopment of the Old Navy Base in the City or North Charleston. The owners are  Linette Kong-Howes, Lileeth Kong, and Donna Kong-Jeffries. The Runaway Bay Restaurant is focused on serving Charleston's growing demand for an authentic Jamaican and Caribbean eating experience. The BCDCOG Executive Committee approved a Revolving Loan Fund in the amount of $200,000 for renovations and working capital. The project will bring 28 new jobs to the area. Revolving Loan Funds are available to assist other qualified projects, contact Jacquelyn Ideozu for more information. |
HUD Announces Funding for HOPE IV and New Choice Neighborhoods Program
HUD recently announced $124 million for HOPE VI and $65 million for new 'Choice Neighborhoods' programs. The federal HOPE VI program will disburse $124 million for five or six public housing redevelopment projects in the coming fiscal year. HUD will also give $65 million in grants through a new pilot program, Choice Neighborhoods, which will build on the accomplishments of the 17-year-old HOPE VI program. Applicants have until November 22nd to submit applications for the new round of HOPE VI funds. The new Choice Neighborhoods demonstration grants will consist of $3 million in planning grants (a maximum of $250,000 each) and a separate $62 million in funds to transform distressed neighborhoods and public assisted projects into viable and sustainable mixed-income neighborhoods. The BCDCOG is available for technical assistance, contact Kathryn Basha for more information. |
Bicycling Magazine's BIKETOWN Coming to BCD Region
Can a new bike change life for you or someone you know? Find out by completing and submitting a fifty word essay at http://www.bicycling.com/enter-biketown - Deadline is September 18th. The editors of Bicycling Magazine have selected the Charleston area as one of their BikeTown USA markets for 2010 and will give away 30 bikes from a leading manufacturer. Recipients may be nominated by friends, employers, or family. All s  elected participants will recieve a new Jamis Commuter 1 bike, a helmet, bike locks (provided by the local Coastal Cyclists organization) and a bike light (provided by the BCDCOG). Biketown, Jamis, and Metlife Insurance will be at the Green Fair on September 26th to give away the 30 bikes to the people best responding to the request of how a new bike would change their life. Winners must be present to receive the bike. The local Charleston Bicycle Co. & Running Shop was selected to build the bikes to fit each participant. |
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Walk to School Day! - October 6, 2010
International Walk to School Day is on Wednesday, October 6th. Walk to School Day is expected to include 5,000 schools from all 50 states. Walk to School events work to create safer routes for walking and bicycling, and emphasize the importance of issues such as increasing physical activity among children, pedestrian safety, traffic congeston, concern for the environment, and building connections between families, schools, and the broader community. These efforts also bring attention to the fact that pedestrian injury is the second leading cause of injury-related death in the US for children age 5-14, claiming the lives of 544 children in 2006 alone. Parents, teachers, and neighbors are encouraged to coordinate walks with children on October 6th with their local schools. MUSC's Safe Kids Trident Area has put together an easy Guide to Conducting a Walk to School Day Event (http://www.musckids.com/safekids/index.html). Area partners on this safety initiative include the BCDCOG, school districts, DHEC and Federal Express. For more information on how to get your school involved, contact Vonie Gilreath. |
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Planning for Food Access | |
Physical and financial access to food is an integral part of a healthy community. In an effort to assist the City of North Charleston in identifying locations for full service grocery stores, community gardens, and other food options in the southern area
Rev. Bill Stanfield, Metanoia CEO and Mari Gallagher met with health partners and local leaders in North Charleston | of the city, the Metanoia Community Development Corporation partnered with the city and the Lowcountry Housing Trust to bring in nationally known food desert expert, Mari Gallagher. Ms. Gallagher has worked with stakeholders in the Cities of Savannah, Detroit, Chicago, and Birmingham, Alabama in understanding the effects of food scarcity and lack of food balance on the overall health of a community, particularly low income and elderly residents. In addition, she worked with community leaders to identify strategies for attracting grocery stores to traditionally underserved communities. During her visit to the City of North Charleston, Ms. Gallagher met with health professionals and city leaders to gather information for an initial assessment of the City. For information on food deserts and Ms. Gallagher's projects, please visit http://marigallagher.com/projects. |
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Our Region Our Plan News
 On August 24th, the BCDCOG's Regional Planning Committee re-started the BCDCOG's regional planning effort, Our Region Our Plan, and committed to hosting three sub-regional workshops scheduled for early October. "Now, more than ever, we have the chance to define a strong and realistic vision through Our Region Our Plan which can support new investment and provide a framework with opportunities when renewed economic forces return," says BCDCOG Regional Planning Committee Chairman, Larry Hargett. This October's Round One Workshops will be conducted in each of three counties. These hands-on workshops will offer the opportunity to examine maps and growth patterns while addressing opportunities for achieving regional goals and strategies. Dates and locations will be announced through local media and on the planning efforts' website www.ourregionourplan.org |
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Come visit the BCDCOG at the Charleston Green Fair
The BCDCOG will have a booth setup on September 26th from 1-8pm at the Charleston Green Fair along with DHEC and Tricounty Link to provide education and promotion of alternatives modes of transportation. Our CARTA partners will also be at the event! Bring your family for food, live music, and a educational tent. Please consider taking a bus, walking, or bicycling to this green event. There will be additional bike racks available for bike parking. | |
Planning Training Opportunities Available
The BCDCOG will continue to provide planners and planning and zoning officials with the chance to earn credit hours for attending training. The Friday series of continuing education webcasts at the COG will continue through the fall. The next
session will be held on September 10th from 1:00-2:30pm focusing on Economic Development. Please contact Kathryn Basha for more information.
Dorchester County QuickJobs Center now open
Dorchester County's QuickJobs Training Center is now open. The center is located at 5164 E. Jim Bilton Ford Bouelvard in St. George. The facility offers work force training, educational opportunities and a public computer center. The BCDCOG assisted Dorchester County with obtaining a $1.3 million grant from the S.C. Department of Commerce, Community Development Block Grant Program. Additional funding was provided by Trident Technical College.
The Berkeley One Stop Career Center has moved!
New Address:
100 South Highway 52
Moncks Corner, SC 29461
(843) 889-8736 | |
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