Strategic Plan
In the spring of 2001 the Abbeville County Development Board contacted the South Carolina Department of Commerce (DOC) asking for assistance in preparing a county wide strategic plan for economic development. The first step in the process was the completion by local officials of a DOC Report Card. The Report Card enables a county to evaluate itself in ten key areas related to economic development:
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Existence of a strategic plan
- Water and sewer infrastructure
- Economic development
program
- Economic development properties
- Sales materials Leadership
- Quality of life Downtown
development
- Education/workforce Location/transportation
The DOC, utilizing an agreement with the South Carolina Downtown Development Association (SCDDA), asked the SCDDA to participate in the planning process. On April 24, 2001 the first of four planning sessions was held using the Report Card to establish issues that needed to be addressed. The last session was completed on June 19, 2001. Participation was strong. A list of attendees is in the appendix.
Four major issue areas (and subsequently four task force groups) emerged from the April 24th meeting. Those areas were:
- Unity Education/Workforce
- Quality of Life Economic
Development/Tourism
Each task force group developed a mission for the issue area, followed by goals, strategies, timelines and responsibilities for addressing the issue. This report is a compilation of that work.
The following people helped with facilitation of the meetings:
Walter Harris, Department of Commerce Beppie LeGrand, SC Downtown Development Association
States Clawson, Department of Commerce Betty Baird, SC Downtown Development Association
Melissa Patterson, Department of Commerce Bill Steiner, SC Downtown Development Association
George Estes, Department of Parks Recreation and Tourism
Chair: Eddie N. Moore, Jr.
Vision: Abbeville County prospers by embracing change, sharing common goals and developing consensus by strengthening relationships through open and effective communication resulting in a progressive future for all citizens.
Goal 1: Produce various communication pieces to share information: brochure, postcards, ads, videos, telemarketing piece.
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Strategy |
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1. Hold meetings of leaders in county to identify each leader’s priority issues |
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2. Conduct a survey of priority concerns of citizens |
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3. Communicate results of strategies 1 & 2 via -- Churches -- Media -- Meetings of local government -- Civic organizations -- Schools -- West Carolina Telephone’s Abbeville Web Site |
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4. Form a Public Service Committee of Unity Task Force to gather and share information |
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5. Gather information to share county-wide -- Information on youth and for youth -- Community events -- Government projects -- Who to go to for information, help, etc. -- Promote county assets: tourism, youth/students, industry, etc |
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6. Communicate information from strategy 5 via the outlets in strategy 3 |
Goal 2: Unity Task Force members to serve as "Ambassadors" for Abbeville
County
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Strategy |
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1. Learn the contents of the rest of the plan |
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2. Present the plan to all government entities |
Note: The Unity Task Force offers its services to the Abbeville County Development
Board in carrying out this plan.
Co-Chairs: Sue McCarter
Andrea Ulmer
Vision: Abbeville County will be a desirable place to live, work, and play (recreate) while maintaining its agricultural heritage.
Goal 1: Increase housing availability countywide for all persons. Note: work force housing, residential single family, planned sub-divisions, housing all age groups, lack of county-wide water system
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Strategy |
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1. Support continuation of development of countywide water system --check on current status --available land --resources-$’s |
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2. Determine demographics/types of housing needed for county/communicate to developers --contact Upper Savannah COG |
Goal 2: Manage growth in Abbeville county. Notes: Zoning, land-use, historical
characteristics, county planning department
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Strategy |
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1. Find out all services that Upper Savannah COG can offer to the Task Force; then determine what other resources to seek |
Goal 3: Increase small business development. Notes: clothing, small appliances,
restaurants, services, etc.
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Strategy |
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1. Research marketing survey by Chamber of Commerce |
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2. Update on Business Incubation project at Erskine University |
Goal 4: Improve County Appearance. Notes: litter, continue to develop
convenience centers, litter officer, inmate assistance, entry signs, downtowns,
junkyards
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Strategy |
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1. Collect information on appearance ordinances & enforcement of these ordinances County— Abbeville— Due West— Calhoun Falls Donalds— Lowndesville— |
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2. Make community aware of information collected in #1 |
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3. Develop environmental scorecard for county/all towns |
Goal 5: Educate community about healthcare/hospital services/EMS. Notes:
support for existing services needed from community, hospital facility needs
assessment
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Strategy |
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1. Support Coalition for Healthy Communities |
Goal 6: Develop recreational/cultural activities for all ages. Notes: lack of activities for teens other than sports, same for young married couples
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Strategy |
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1. Inventory existing activities/facilities both recreational/cultural
- County - Abbeville - Due West - Calhoun Falls - Donalds - Lowdnesville Contact PRT – state agency |
| 2. Communicate to public information received |
Goal 7: Support continued efforts to provide quality EMS, Fire, and Police protection.
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Strategy |
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1. Greater awareness of Public Safety Systems—EMS, Fire, Police |
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2. Support recruitment of volunteers - public education --Develop publication—How to Volunteer --Utilize Western Carolina Bulletin Board web page |
Education/Workforce Development Task Force
Chair: Don Campbell
Vision: Strengthen the education support base in order to provide high quality education and training that will prepare our citizens for success.
Goal 1: To increase the graduation rate and percentage of high school graduates who go on to higher education in order to position Abbeville County to be in the top 5 percent of South Carolina School Districts
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Strategy |
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1. Lower the Teen Pregnancy Rate. The Interagency council will develop a plan for addressing the teen pregnancy problem. |
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2. Identify and implement best practices from other areas that affect both the graduation rate and the percentage who go on to post secondary education a. Follow through with interviews of recent graduates to identify areas that need improvements and also to identify areas that need to be expanded. b. Contact the State Department of Education to determine best practices
c. Contact Clemson University National Dropout Prevention Program
d. Seek funding for workable programs |
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3. Have each major employer print a list of hiring requirements. The Abbeville County Development Board will contact each industry and publish this information. They will then distribute this information to guidance counselors and others needing this information within the school district. |
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4. Develop an incentive system with local industry to get kids to stay in school to include bonuses and mentoring. The Abbeville County School Board will evaluate the "Host" program for possible implementation. |
| 5. Make students aware of programs that fund grants, loans and scholarships for college attendance. The guidance counselor at the Career School will coordinate with other guidance counselors and with all 2 and 4 year colleges in the area and exchange the necessary information. |
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6. Increase the school-to-career activities through business and industry involvement. School to work activity will increase by 20% in one year. |
Goal 2: To have more than 25% of Abbeville County students score in the upper
quartile on all standardized tests for public schools
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Strategy |
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1. Develop "how-to" courses on study skills. The School District and the World Class Committee will get business and industry representatives involved. The first step in the process will be for the Education/Workforce Task Force to meet with the World Class Committee to develop an implementation procedure. |
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2. Develop a volunteer tutoring program on needed skills |
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3. Develop competitive programs (games) to enhance academic preparedness |
Goal 3: To have quality school facilities with state of the art technology
for all students
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Strategy |
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1. Get all secondary schools to adopt a complementary academic schedule to enhance distance learning opportunities |
| 2. Have a permanent Piedmont Tech facility in Abbeville County |
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3. Enhance the grant application capacity in Abbeville County |
Goal 4: To have better educational training available for all adult citizens
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Strategy |
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1. Have a permanent Piedmont Tech facility in Abbeville County |
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2. Develop an adult incentive program to get adults enrolled in educational programs |
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3. Encourage industry to expand tuition assistance programs for workers |
Goal 5: Expand, support and integrate the World Class Plan with the Abbeville
County Strategic Plan
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Strategy |
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1. The Education/Workforce Development Task Force will meet with the World Class Committee by Fall of 2001 to work out an implementation process for both plans |
Economic Development/Tourism Task Force
Chair:
Mission: Working together, we have built, developed and diversified economic development in Abbeville County in the areas of industry, retail, and tourism while preserving our hometown flavor.
Short Term Goals
Goal 1: Seek more government involvement
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Strategy |
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1. Present goals to joint cities/county meeting |
Goal 2: Educate citizenry of the state of tourism/industry and needs for development.
Solicit input of the citizenry.
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Strategy |
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1. Create a connection with the media to encourage publication of tourism/industry information articles |
| 2. Create speakers series to speak with civic groups, churches, other organizations, etc. |
Goal 3: Preserve historical sites and resources.
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Strategy |
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1. Push for historic preservation ordinance |
| 2. Promote incentives to help people restore buildings |
Goal 4: Develop resources for funding economic development efforts.
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Strategy |
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1. Find government/private/corporate groups to put up money for development |
| 2. Investigate the development of a revolving loan program |
Goal 5: Encourage development of Lake Russell.
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Strategy |
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1. Create a letter of support for the development |
Goal 6: Market Abbeville County.
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Strategy
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| 1. Inventory what county has to sell |
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2. Define target market |
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3. Create marketing materials and distribute plan |
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4. Execute marketing plan |
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5. Seek funding for comprehensive county marketing plan |
Long Term Goals
Goal 7: Develop industrial sites/buildings/incubators.
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Strategy |
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1. Publicize plan that describes development zones |
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2. Encourage Erskine to participate in incubator program |
Goal 8: Develop critical mass attractions/retail.
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Strategy |
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1. Identify possible attractions |
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2. Develop tourism attraction themes |
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3. Devise a way to accumulate tourism information from visitors |
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4. Determine how to make income from tourism |
Goal 9: Continue to develop infrastructure.
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Strategy |
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1. Begin to learn who is developing infrastructure in the county |
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2. Participate in infrastructure decisions |
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3. Research the transportation system and seek possible improvements |
