SCEDD operates several programs as a service to local governments. With SCEDD’s broad mandate to promote economic development, the services provided to counties are constrained only by the budget and the will of the board of directors. Over the years, new services have been added and obsolete programs have been dropped. The following list of services represents only current projects but new ventures may be considered at any time.
Technical Assistance: SCEDD’s professional staff has decades of experience across a broad spectrum of economic and community development programs. Most counties now have at least one local person to oversee economic development but these individuals are often new to the field and desire assistance in implementing their local programs. SCEDD’s executive director and professional staff have experience in business finance, developing incentive programs, industrial park management and can help communities “close the deal” with prospective businesses. Communities are encouraged to work closely with SCEDD staff as a partner in implementing local economic development projects.
Community Profile Preparation: SCEDD continues to work with local communities and economic developers to assist in preparing professional community profiles for use with prospective industries. The traditional approach to preparing these “fact books” is to gather the data, organize it in an attractive layout, and print and bind the copies for distribution by the community
Grant Preparation Assistance: SCEDD staff has broad experience in grant preparation and has made this expertise available to all local governments in SCEDD’s service area. Assistance has been provided to obtain funds for planning, feasibility studies, infrastructure, and industrial park development.
The importance of rural broadband is not in dispute. In a post-COVID world, high-speed connectivity will increasingly define have and have not communities. A lack of reliable broadband (defined as a MINIMUM 25 Mbps download speed) will handicap economic development not only for existing businesses and industry but will also serve as a barrier to developing remote workforces.