News
One Region Roadmap: Opportunities for All Aims to Guide Tri-County Through Recovery, Into Prosperity — and Beyond
Press Release
The most comprehensive partnership of business, government, academic, nonprofit and community leaders in our region’s history on Thursday announced the launch of One Region Roadmap: Opportunities for All. The Roadmap is an economic recovery and resiliency plan that will define a healthy greater Charleston while offering real solutions, implementable actions and measurable results.
The effort is supported by a broad array of stakeholders from across Berkeley, Charleston, and Dorchester counties, and will be guided by public input. The plan — built on action and outcomes — will also outline a pathway to economic security, stability and opportunities for all in our region.
“This is an exciting opportunity for all of us to work together to address deeply rooted and systemic problems, while developing both short-term and long-term regional priorities,” said Dr. Kendra Stewart, One Region Chair and Director of the Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Center for Livable Communities at the College of Charleston. “Public input is critical in creating the most comprehensive plan our region has ever seen. Each of us is responsible for moving our community forward,” she added.
One Region Roadmap: Opportunities for All is the next evolution of the One Region Strategy launched in 2016. It begins a new strategic planning and public input process, providing a broad platform for the community to address economic challenges old and new — and to prepare for adversities yet to come. The plan should be completed by February 2022.
“One Region Roadmap builds upon the previous five-year global competitiveness strategy and its core values, and will serve as a blueprint for continuing the economic momentum our region has built over the last 10 years, while eliminating disparities and creating opportunities for all residents to thrive,” said David Ginn, CRDA President & CEO.
The effort is led by One Region stakeholders including BCDCOG, Charleston Metro Chamber, Charleston Regional Development Alliance, and the public, private, academic, and nonprofit sectors of our community.
SB Friedman Development Advisors has been retained to lead the development of the Roadmap. The firm, which has previous and ongoing experience in the region, is renowned nationally for its analytical, strategic and financial consulting services in support of complex, high-impact development projects.
One Region Roadmap is possible thanks to a $400,000 U.S. Economic Development Administration grant secured by BCDCOG, with additional support from partner agencies.
“This partnership is built on the shared desire of the public and private sectors to make our region stronger and more resilient when facing major disruptions such as the global pandemic, and addressing long-standing challenges such as those related to inequality,” said BCDCOG Executive Director Ron Mitchum.
One Region Roadmap will identify barriers to expanding our regional economy and providing residents with opportunities for economic mobility.
The ultimate success of One Region Roadmap lies in its ability to create real change.
“This plan will provide an intentional focus on equity and economic mobility, creating implementable action items to ensure our region offers all residents the opportunity to live, learn and earn,” said Charleston Metro Chamber President and CEO Bryan Derreberry.
The One Region Roadmap effort kicked off today with a community-based, 500-invitee, virtual focus group. Multiple engagement opportunities will be available for the entire community through the end of 2021, including a survey this summer and public meeting in the fall.
For more information, please visit OneRegionRoadmap.com.
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Virginia Jamison
July 18, 2021 at 11:35 am
Thank you for the inclusion of our communities. Sometimes, your information is so complex that you lose the average person in our tri-county areas. That being said, for the revenue we spend on bringing change to this locale, we have not prepared our residents educationally. Our school systems need revision. We must be inclusive of all children and the things that would promote growth in all communities. I am not sure if you realize that economic growth has primarily benefited the Haves. We catered to new industries without investing in the preparation of our citizens. If you look at the job and the income in these markets, you will see that the locals have been left behind. Please take this effort to be inclusive, make our work population.
(locals) ready for work. Evaluate high school readiness, evaluate college or trade school readiness, cost of living, and the emotional infrastructure of our communities. Are we fair?
Lastly, quality of life and livability in our locale and noise reductions for our residential communities are negatively impacted by the growing commercial corridors, which is a necessity.