[From the U.S. Government Printing Office, www.gpo.gov]
0






                       ACE-BasIn
               Econonomic Forun


                                        






               Healthy Economy, Healthy Environment







                         An Action Agendafor
                   Compatible Economic Development



       HC
       107
       S6
       C65
       1996                   July 1996
 


























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                                              Published by the

                                        ACE Basin Economic Forum
                                               P.O. Box 165
                                          Walterboro, S.C. 29488





                                                 July 1996





                                                                                                          I





                                                                                                          I







                                            EXECUTWE SUMMARY




               ver the past year, more than 100 Colleton County          0  Economic development and environmental conserva-
       residents and other interested individuals have worked               tion are not mutually exclusive -instead, they can be
       hundreds of hours helping to prepare the county and                  mutually reinforcing.
       the ACE Basin for the years ahead. The forum includes             0  Conservation of natural resources and protection of
       individuals with a wide range of interests and back-                 the environment can lead to economic opportunity
       grounds who participated in numerous meetings, a day-                for local residents.
       long retreat, task groups, and a final review session. The        -  Economic development need not lead to environmen-
       process was overseen by an 8-person Steering Commit-                 tal damage and loss of natural and cultural heritage.
       tee and sponsored by the-Colleton County Resource and
       Development Board, the Walterboro-Colleton -County                This view is not wishful thinking. We found here, in
       Chamber of Commerce, the Colleton County Council, the             Colleton County and the ACE Basin, just like elsewhere
       Lowcountry Council of Governments and The Nature Con-             in the nation, that those concerned about jobs and those
       servancy. The Pew Charitable Trusts, Mary Flagler Cary            dedicated to resource conservation can discover ways
       Charitable Trust, Hillsdale Fund, S.C. Forestry Commission        to find common ground across their respective agendas
       and U.S. Forest Service funded the work. The Corpora-             and develop solutions for mutual benefit.
       tion for Enterprise Development, a nonprofit economic
       development consulting firm, provided advice and pro-             Furthermore, achieving this vision of compatible devel-
       f6ssional assistance.                                             opment must be guided by a clear sense of the values
                                                                         that we seek to support and enhance in our community.
       After working together for twelve months, the group has           They include:
       created an action agenda for compatible development
       which it believes will foster job creation and business           - Expanding opportunity
       development, while still protecting the area's -unique            0 Increasing self-sufficlency
       natural resources and rural way of life.                          0  Preserving our heritage
                                                                         0  Conserving the environment
       Indeed, our work has been underpinned by three guid-
       ing principles:


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       The action agenda
       presents a planfor
       economic idtallby while
                                              4
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       conservin the area's           7_
             9
       cultural and natural
       assets. The McLeod
       house (ca. 1835), is
       among thefine homes
       found in Wolterboro's
       historic district a major
       (1vei



















       tourism attraction in               _1
       Colleton County. Photo
       by Ron Anton Rocz.
                                              4   4









                                                                                 ï¿½ Support the Scenic Parkway Concept Plan and des-
                                                                                   ignation effort
                                                                                 ï¿½ Develop a consistent ACE Basin graphic identity that
                                                                                   would apply to all brochures, maps and other visl-'
                                                                                   tor-related materials
                                                                                 ï¿½ Support a rails-to-trails project
                                                                                 ï¿½ Develop primary and secondary environmental and
                                                                                   heritage education programs
                                                                                 ï¿½ Develop college courses on coastal resources plan-
                                                                                   ning and economic development
                                                                                 ï¿½ Create educational and awareness programs and
                                                                                   materials designed to educate and orient people liv-
                                                                                   ing in the region about its natural and cultural assets
                                                                                   and their value to the region when developed in a
                                                                                   sustainable fashion


                                                                                 Strategy three: Promote environmentally compatible business
                                                                                 development

                                                                                 0 Create a business development planning process and
                                                                                   initial business feasibility plans for natural resource-
                                                                                   based products
                                                                                 - Create and implement branding and trademarking
                                                                                   of area products
           The Edisto Nature Trail, located in Jacksonboro, welcomes visitors to the ACE0Provide assistance to local businesses in creating
           gasin, a region rich in biological and historic resources. Photo by Michael business plans and identifying necessary resources
           Prevost.                                                                to implement those plans
                                                                                 0 Develop a full-scale marketing plan for natural and
           Based on our task group planning process and the re-                    cultural resource-based tourism in the region
           search conducted by our consultants, we recommend                     0 Build on existing rural tourism efforts and assets
           that our area's leadership tackle three strategic priori-             0 Create management standards for visitor safety and
           ties:                                                                   resource impacts for tourism in the ACE Basin
                                                                                 - Mobilize business development resources to benefit
           ï¿½ Strategy one: Create aframeworkfor responsible growth                 Colleton County
           ï¿½ Strategy two: Enhance the awareness, understanding, and             - Establish educational programs for businesses oper-
              appreciation of the ACE Basin                                        ating in the region on how to operate in an environ-
           ï¿½ Strategy three: Promote environmentally-compatible busi-              mentally conscious manner with respect to waste
              ness development                                                     management, wildlife impact and other resource
                                                                                   considerations
           The Action Agenda
                                                                                 Progress on this ambitious agenda will not happen over-
           Working in task groups, community residents have                      night. To succeed, we need to get going today on those
           forged an action agenda for building a vibrant economy,               initiatives that need to be implemented first, as well as
           while preserving our natural and cultural heritage.                   show early results on some of our longer-range goals.

           Strategy one: Create aframeworkfor responsible growth                 If we are to accomplish our objectives of winning in the
                                                                                 marketplace and also preserving our area's quality of
           ï¿½ Develop a comprehensive land use plan and a sup-                    I ife, we need to work together. This plan is not the agenda
              portive ordinance                                                  of one segment of the community - it is and must be our
           ï¿½ Develop an integrated development tourism, and                      game plan.
              resource management plan
                                                                                 We need your help. Our agenda for promoting compat-
           Strategy two: Enhance the awareness, understanding and ap-            ible economic development requires building a new part-
           preciation of the ACE Basin                                           nership for economic opportunity and for quality of life.

              Develop a visitor/interpretive center in the ACE Ba-               Join us.
              sin near US Highway 17
                                                                          2








       ;M-1
                   HEALTHY ECONOMY, HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT

                                      EMBRACING THE CHALLENGE





                   merica is not only a country comprised of                of natural communities and 1,500 species of plants and
       states and of towns and cities. It is also a nation of re-           animals. Still in a nearly natural condition, the ACE Ba-
       gions: the Mississippi Delta, the Deep South, the Chesa-             sin is virtually unpolluted. It has an isolated and unde-
       peake, the Eastern Shore, the Upper Peninsula, the Four              veloped character that adds to its ecological significance
       Comers, the ACE Basin.                                               and uniqueness.

       In many respects, this is the real America. State and lo-            Indeed, it is a priority region for habitat protection under
       cal economies are jurisdictional fictions. Cultural identi-          the North American Waterfowl Management Plan. It is
       ties cross county boundaries. Working ecosystems are                 one of 35 world-class conservation sites in The Nature
       larger than the national and state conservation lands,               Conservancy's Last Great Places Program. It is a National
       preserves and land trusts that seek to protect their indi-           Estuarine Research Reserve.
       vidual environmental integrity.
                                                                            Thomas Lovejoy, an internationally famous biologist, an
       The ACE Basin is no different. Located 45 miles south-               assistant secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, and
       west of Charleston, South Carolina, this multi-county re-            founder of Nature, the most popular long-term series on
       gion is rich in history and tradition. It is where the               public television, describes it as -a place where the glo-
       Ashepoo, Combahee and Edisto rivers flow into a com-                 ries of the South Carolina Lowcountry are at their peak.
       mon embayment, an interlocking web of upland and                     It is a place for sandpipers and for sand between your
       wetland ecological systems - supporting over 30 types                toes. It is a place for snakebirds, porpoises, magnificent

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       The Pon Pon
       Chapel of Ease                                                                       t
       (ca. 1706),
       located near
       Jacksonborp,
       represents one of
       Colleton County's
       manycultural
       resources.
       Photo by Ron
       Anton Rocz.









                                                                             nature. The area also faces economic difficulties. Poorer
          cypress trees and waterfowl in. abundance. It is a show-           than the rest of the state and nation, but doing some-
          case for nature and a wonderful classroom of the glo-              what better than many similar rural areas, its public and
          ries and importance of wetlands for all.who can be in-             private leadership needs to overcome the obstacles hold-
          duced to come.                                                     ing back its economic fortunes. These forces, include:
                                                                             wide income disparities, an economy which is still mostly
          But the ACE Basin is more than a natural laboratory. It            low-end and low-wage, weak labor force skills and the
          is also our home - a, place where people descended                 need for more governmental and business investment.
          from a variety of different ethnic backgrounds have built          Yet, there are also factors pushing the region forward: its
          their livelihood on its biological riches. Our efforts to          strong entrepreneurship, its strength in particular indus-
          create a way of life and a better home for our children            trial sectors, its economic relationship to Charleston, its
          have shaped the Basin's history, culture, and sense of             better than average health and housing resources, its
          identity. Our food, music, settlement patterns, architec-          healthy natural resource base and its high quality of life.
          ture and occupations all subtly reflect the past and our
          connection with the land.                                          How can the citizenry of the ACE Basin area best ad--
                                                                             dress these twin challenges? How can we expand our
          Our people have taken good care of the Basin's lands.              economic opportunities without undermining our natu-
          Careful stewardship has left our resources and the eco-            ral and cultural assets? How can the job of conservation
          system in excellent condition. Thousands still are em-             become an economic development task as well?
          ployed in and profit from industries that still depend on
          productive timber, farmlands and waters.                           This is the mission that the people of the ACE Basin and
                                                                             especially the residents of Colleton County have tackled.
          But today the human and non-human inhabitants of the               We are choosing to create new working models for pro-
          ACE Basin face new challenges. Its natural systems may             moting more environmentally compatible economic de-
          be threatened in the future by growing numbers of                  velopment. The rest of this report describes the back-
          people, misuses of land, water and natural resources and           ground for this decision and maps out the area's new
          the resulting pollution caused by growth and modern                path to prosperity.
          technologies.
                                                                             The report starts by providing some further information
          The challenges we face are not only environmental in               on how it was created. Next, it describes the guiding







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                                                                                                                          The Basin's
                                                    1A,
                                                    4la                                                AN
                                                                                                                          abundant timber
                                                                                                                          resources are
                                           kw_     M,
                                                                                                                          important to the
                                                                                                                          economic base Of
                                                                                                                          the region. Photo
                                                                                                                          courtesy of SC
                                                  @Z@3                                                                    Department of
                                                                                                                          Natural Resources
                     406
                                                                         4









                    The Historical Library (ca.
                    1820), currently located
                    on Wichman Stred was
                    used at its original site to
                    set Walterboro's town
                    boundaries. Photo by
                    Ron Anton Rocz.








       principles about the relation-
       ship between smart develop-
       ment and wise resource man-
       agement and outlines the
       shared vision and values that
       underpin its proposals. Fol-
       lowing this, it grounds its
       hopes for the future in the real
       facts about the economic and
       environmental strengths and
       weaknesses of the area. It
       does this by presenting the
       results of a detailed study of
       these topics by an external
       consulting firm. The report
       closes by outlining the strategic priorities that follow from          In many ways the origins of our planning efforts rest on
       this analysis and the community's values and dreams                    an earlier study, A Study of the Economicimpact of theACE
       for a better future and by summarizing more than a dozen               Basin Project on Colleton County, South Carolina, authored
       detailed recommendations for promoting environmen-                     by professors at the Department of Economics and Ge-
       tally compatible development in the region and in                      ography at the University of North Florida. The report
       Colleton County.                                                       proposed that 'What is now needed is a strategic plan
                                                                              that is focused on economic growth. A strategic plan
                                                                              facilitates the identification of proper goals and objec-
                                                                              tives for the county, identifies the best strategies for their
       The ACE Basin Economic Forum in Action                                 accomplishment, and encourages frequent revision of
                                                                              both goals and strategies. It is one of the most useful
       Over the past 12 months, more than 100 Colleton County                 tools a local planner or decision-maker can have at his
       residents and other interested individuals have worked                 disposal. It is recommended that a cooperative effort of
       hundreds of hours helping to prepare the county and                    the Colleton County Council, the Colleton County Re-
       the ACE Basin for the years ahead. We have attended a                  source and Development Board, and the City and County
       one-day retreat, numerous task group meetings, and fi-                 Joint Planning Commission be undertaken to generate
       nal review sessions as part of an action planning pro-                 such a plan, and to establish a mechanism for updating
       cess sponsored by the Colleton County Resource and                     both the plan and its objectives over time."
       Development Board, the Walterboro-Colleton County
       Chamber of Commerce, the Colleton County Council, the                  Thus, the focus for this strategizing effort was to de-
       Lowcountry Council of Governments and The Nature                       velop a community-based plan for compatible and sus-
       Conservancy and funded by the Pew Charitable Trusts,                   tainable economic development in the ACE Basin and
       Mary Flagler Cary Charitable Trust, Hillsdale Fund, S.C.               the surrounding area. Our goals were:
       Forestry Commission and U.S. Forest Service. A project
       steering committee comprised of eight persons together                 1. To develop a practical planforpriority action -mapping
       with four task group chairs supervised the process. We                 responsibilities, clear and measurable goals, timelines and
       sought advice and project assistance from the Washing-                 an exciting, but realistic vision for the area.
       ton, D.C.-based Corporation for Enterprise Development
       (CFED), a nonprofit economic development consulting
       firm, and logistical assistance from the staff of the Colleton          Joseph Perry, Louis Woods, and Jeffrey Steagall, A Study of the Economic im-
                                                                              PaCt of the ACE Basin Paect on Colleton Counly. S.Q Pages 4-5. Department of
       County Resource and Development Board.                                 Economics and Ceography, University of North Florida-Jacksonville, 1993.
                                                                         5









              2. To identify priority business opportunities for compatible
              development.

              3. To enable local citizens and public officials to gain a
              better understanding of the area's economic, social and
              environmental conditions, and of the potential options
              for compatible development.

              Guiding Principles


              This entire project has been driven by a view that the
              Basin's economic development and conservation agen-
              das can be better meshed together. This perspective is
                                                                                                                     A
              supported by three guiding principles.                                                 ik 11, ,1
                  Economic development and environmental conser-
                  vation are not mutually exclusive -instead, they can                               The South Carolina Artisans center, located in Walterboro, offers indigenousfine
                                                                                                     crafts andfolk artfrom more than 3 00jurored artists, attracting visitorsfrom
                  be mutually reinforcing.                                                           around the world. Photo by Ron Anton Rocz.
              ï¿½ Conservation of natural                resources and protection of                           markets for "green' products, healthier foods, and:crafts
                  the environment can lead to economic opportunity                                           constitute new niches for more profitable use of existing
                  for local residents.                                                                       natural resources. Protecting the environment and tap-
                                                                                                             ping its resources in a more sustainable fashion can be
              ï¿½ Economic development need not lead to environmen-                                            good business, as well as good conservation.
                  tal damage and loss of natural and cultural heritage.
                                                                                                             A Shared Vision

              Th  is view is not wishful thinking. Increasingly, economic
              development professionals and conservationists are find-                                       If we are to move beyond the false choices, such as the
              Jng common ground across their respective agendas.                                             environment versus jobs, or opportunity versus competi-
              New environmentally-based industries are gaining mar-                                          tiveness, we need to think outside the old boxes and
              ket share and constitute strong contenders for tapping                                         adopt a different vision for development, one that seeks
              overseas markets in developed nations, developing coun-                                        to better mesh conservation and job creation goals. We
              tries and emerging market economies. Some of the fast-                                         see this new mission for development as achieving a
              est growing rural economies are those whose amenities                                          widely shared and sustainable quality of qe.2
              attract tourists and new residents. Waste reduction, en-
              ergy efficiency, and pollution prevention cut costs for                                        What does this mean? How do we know if we are get-
              companies and raise profits and productivity. Emerging                                         ting there?


                                                                                                                               The ACE Basin National Wildi#e
                                                                                                                               Refuge and otherpublic natural
                                                                                                                               resource areas attract visitorsfrom
                                                                                                                               across the country. Photo courtesy
                                                                                                                               of US Fish and Wildlife Service.








                      X




                                                                                                                                    What is described in the "Shared vision" section is quite
                                                                                                                                   similar to the earlier vision statement authored by the local
                                                                              . . . . . . . . . .
                                                                          7-
                                                                                                                                   LEAP planning effort: "Colleton County will enter the 21 st
                                                                                                                                   Century as a clean, progressive community. The education
                                                                                                                                   facilities will be modern, well-equipped, and provide local
                                                                                                                                   Industries with a labor force equipped to compete world wide.
                             ,f- O@A5@                                                                                             The availability of county wide services such as water, sewer,
                                                                                                                                   emergency services, and trash disposal complemented by a
                                                                                                                                   wide range of recreational opportunities will result in a high
                                                                                                                                   quality of living for residents throughout the county."








        This is our vision for the future:                                   They include:

           Development our economy is growing. Our stan-                       Expanding Opportunity We must ensure that our de-
           dard of living is rising. We are creating more and bet-             velopment agenda benefits all - creating a range of
           ter jobs. New firms are forming. Existing enterprises               job opportunities, aimed at the most and the least-
           are expanding, modernizing and targeting more prof-                 skilled, both within and outside the ACE Basin.
           itable market niches. New businesses are being at-
           tracted.                                                            Increasing Self-Sufficiency We must ensure that our
                                                                               community develops in such a way that we encour-
           Shared Development We are expanding the oppor-                      age enterprise, responsibility, and ownership - thus
           tunity to produce. There are greater opportunities for              reinforcing the independence that characterizes rural
           local residents to participate in the ownership and                 America. We must create more family-wage jobs so
           management of the area's economy. More of the                       that the numbers of our poor decrease and all have
           young people are continuing to live and work pro-                   the opportunity to live as the middle-class.
           ductively in the area. The economic gap between the
           races has been narrowed.                                            Preserving Our Heritage We must ensure that we
                                                                               maintain our traditions, our values and the quality of
           Sustainable Development We are achieving these                      our cultural environment as we pursue ways to com-
           goals in a manner that invests for the long haul, that              pete better in our changing global economy.
           is not detrimental to our limited clean air, water and
           countryside, that preserves the region's high quality               Conserving The Environment We must ensure that
           of life and that meets "the needs of the present with-              the development projects that we propose and imple-
           out compromising the ability of future generations to               ment do not, at a minimum, undermine the quality of
           meet their own needs.'                                              the local environment. Moreover, we wish that some
                                                                               of our initiatives go beyond this basic standard and
        Indeed, this is what today's residents of the ACE Basin                actually reduce environmental threats and demon-
        wish to do. We want to thank God, nature, and our an--                 strate more sustainable use of natural resources.
        cestors for the riches that they have bequeathed us by
        handing over this sacred trust to future generations.
                                                                             Our development plans cannot solely rest on our hopes
        Guiding Values                                                       and dreams. They also must be grounded in our reali-
                                                                             ties. The next section helps to do just this by answering
        To succeed in achieving this vision, we must choose ac-              questions like: How does this community stack up against
        tions that are guided by a clear sense of the values that            its competitors? From where has its economy come?
        we seek to support and enhance in our community.                     What is happening to it? What are its critical challenges?





                                 Nature-based tounsm offers
                                 signtficant opportunities to
                                 broaden the region's
                                 economy. Photo by Cherie
                                 Pittillo.








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                                HOW DOES THIS COMMUNITY RATE?



                      n order to ensure that this development plan-            were principally used in the original retreat, which se-
          ning effort did not set off in a wrong direction, the com-           lected the task group areas upon which to focus.
          munity asked its consultants, CFED, to provide an inde-
          pendent view on the area by putting together a data                  Second, the community's view May be colored by myths
          profile and by talking to local residents about the region's         which should be dispelled by more accurate informa-
          development past, present and prospects.                             tion. The analysis can help here as well.

          More specifically, this analysis was designed to be used             The third way was as a source of data that can help the
          in three ways. The first is to help the people of Colleton           steering committee and task group leaders to define and
          County and the ACE Basin to develop a shared idea of                 work on specific project planning ideas.
          where the community is today. All too often, communi-
          ties stumble early on in the planning process, because               The rest of this section looks at what the quantitative
          residents have very different ideas about what the                   data said about the community's economic and envi-
          community's problems are. By providing its planning                  ronmental health and what its own citizenry had to say
          effort with some basic economic, social and environ-                 about its development strengths, weaknesses and po-
          mental data, the consultants hoped to paint a broad pic-             tential destiny. (For more detail and factual support for
          ture of where the area's economy is today - a picture                the interpretations presented below, readers may want
          that would be used by the county's residents as a re-                to consult the complete economic and environmental
          source in building a shared idea of the key issues and               assessments.)
          problems facing the community. This was how the data


                                                                                                             Extensive salt marshes support an
                                                                                                             important regional seafood industry.
                                                                                                             Photo by Jeff Lepore.
                                                            


                                                             
                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  
                        

                         

                                       












                                                      

                                                    
                                          
                                             
               


















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                                   . .... . . .... . ..
 






            Colleton"s Economic Health

            In order to fully assess how well Colleton stacked up                                               it is not as good as the U.S. and South Carolina, but
            against its peers, CFED conducted comparisons of                                                    better than many peer counties in the number of doc-
            Colleton County to South Carolina and United States av-                                             tors per capita, the number of hospital beds per capita,
            erages, 14 similar U.S. counties, regional competitors, and                                         the rate of high school graduation and the low amount
            neighboring counties in its regional econoMy.3 It looked                                            of substandard housing.10
            at:                                                                                                 But, the crime rate is higher than most of the other 14
                                                                                                                counties, and it is well above South Carolina average
               Economic Status - How well is the community's                                                    in teen pregnancy, the low percentage of mothers re-
               economy performing? In other words, how well is                                                  ceiving prenatal care and the percent of teens who
               the economy doing its job of offering people the op-                                             were "idle' (not in school or working)."
               portunity for a better life?
                                                                                                             What about population growth? Here we find that:
               Business Vitality and "ftends - How vital are the
               community's businesses? What are the businesses that                                          *  Meanwhile, contrary to national rural trends, people
               compose the area's economy? How dynamic and                                                      are moving into Colleton            .12
               adaptive and strong are they?                                                                 .  But, this may be little more than a "bedroom commu-
                                                                                                                nity- effect relating to Charleston. (Of the 15 peers,
            ï¿½  Development Capacity - How strong is the                                                         Colleton had the highest percent of people working
               community's ability to provide the resources needed                                              outside in another county.)            13
               by businesses in today's global economy? Are the
               resources in place to fuel and sustain economic growth                                        By far the most disturbing finding is that there are signifi-
               over the long term?                                                                           cant economic disparities between blacks and whites
                                                                                                             which have only worsened in recent years, not improved.
            ï¿½ Competitive Positioning - How equipped is the over-
               all economy to meet todays development challenges?                                               While poverty for Colleton's whites is 9.5 percent, it is
                                                                                                                40 percent for the county's blacks (much higher than
            EconornkStafus                                                                                      the rates for all blacks in South Carolina and the U.S.)
                                                                                                                - and the gap has widened since 1980. Meanwhile,
            In comparison to South Carolina and the U.S., Colleton's
            economy is not performing well:

                                                                                                             3[the 15 peer counties] The peer counties were chosen according to 7 criteria:
            *  Colleton has a higher percentage of people living in                                          population size (between 18,000-48,000), racial composition (40%-70% White
               poverty, and average income is only two-thirds of the                                         and 30%-60% Black), population density (5-35 persons per Sq. KM), number of
               U.S. average      .4                                                                          farms (240-720), percent income from farms (1-75%), manufacturing (15-40%)
                                                                                                             and services (10-25%).
            .  Employment growth has been slow and unemploy-                                                 1990 Census of Population and Housing, Summary Social, Economic and Housing
               ment high since the early 1990s.1                                                             aaracterist(cs, South Carolina, Bureau of the Census, US Department of Commerce,
            *  The gap between rich and poor may be widening as                                              Washington, DC.
               income from dividends, interest and rent has increased                                        I The Regional Economic Information System, Bureau of Economic Analysis, US De-
               while income from wages and salaries has decreased                            .6              partment of Commerce, Washington, DC, may 1995.

                                                                                                             Vd.

            This may be a product of still being a rural county -                                            The City and County Data Book Bureau of the Census, Economic and Statistics
            when compared to 14 other similar counties, Colleton                                             Division, US Department of Commerce, Washington, DC, 1994.
            actually does fairly well:                                                                       ibid.
            .  Colleton has fewer poor (only four of the other 14 rank                                       The Regional Economkinformation System, Bureau of Economic Analysis, US De-
                                         7                                                                   partment of Commerce, Washington, DC, May 1995.
               better in poverty).
            .  Income is average for a rural area.8                                                          10 The City and County Data Book Bureau of the Census, Economic and Statistics
            .  The employment and earning outlook is moderately                                              Division, U.S Department of Commerce, Washington, DC, 1994.
               good (notably, ranking fourth best in unemployment).9                                         11 ibid.
            Colleton's mixed quality of life and population growth                                           12 ibid.
            may be cause for cautious optimism. Let's look at qual-                                          13 1990 Census of Population and Housing, Summary Social, Economic and Housing
            ity of life:                                                                                     Characteristics, South Carolina, Bureau of the Census, US Department of Commerce,
                                                                                                             Washington, DC.


0






                  almost half (44.9 percent) of all African-American chil-                                     But in the past five years or so, growth in the number
                  dren in Colleton live in poverty.             14                                             of proprietors and their earnings has slowed to levels
                 The gap persists beyond poverty. Whites make more                                            near or below S.C. and the U.S. average. Also propri-
                  than twice as much as blacks in Colleton - in all of                                         etor growth is not outpacing wage and salary work-
                  South Carolina White income is 80 percent more than                                          ers anymore       .20
                  black."
                 Blacks have a much harder time finding jobs than                                            The sectoral breakdown of Colleton's economy shows
                  whites in Colleton. The unemployment rate for whites                                        tendencies to favor low-end, low-tech and low-value-
                  is barely 2 percent - below"full employment'- while                                         added sectors, with the exception of strength in some
                  the unemployment rate for blacks is above 10 per-                                           manufacturing sectors.
                  cent  .16
                                                                                                              ï¿½ Services and retail account for over 40 percent of
                                                                                                               Colleton's employment, but they have some of the
                 Business Vitality and Trends                                                                  lowest earnings; only farm earnings are lower                                                                                                                                     ï¿½The two smallest sectors are wholesale trade and
                 Entrepreneurship, a key com-
                 ponent of a vital and dynamic business sector has 
			been strong in Colleton for the past decade, though it may be weakening              .. ... ..... .... .
                                                                  
                                                                                   
                    People who own a business are doing better  in Colletion than those
			working for others. They are                                                                               
                                                                                                   
                  earning more and seeing  their earning increase at                                                         
                                                                                               
                                                                                                                   
                 .faster rate in the last 10
                  years.17
                  Colleton's black- and                                                        
                  women-owned businesses
                  employ people at a higher
                                                              
                  rate than in the rest of the
                  U.S.18
                  There was a large increase
                                                                                                                                                A
                  in the number of new com-
                  panies in Colleton, even as                                 
                  the number of new compa-                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                                                     
                                                                   
                  nies decreased in both                         
                  South Carolina and the U.S.
                  as a whole in the early                    St. Helena Sound's nearshore waters are productive grounds for commercial shrimping. Photo courtesy of SC
                  1990s.19                                   Department of Natural Resources.





                 The 1980 and the 1990 Census of Population and Housing, Summary Social, Eco-                 18 1987 Economic Census: Survey OF Minority-Owned Business Enterprises and 1987
                 nomic and Housing Characteristics, South Carolina, Bureau of the Census, US De-              Economi Census: Women-Owned Businesses, Bureau of the Census, US Department
                 partment of Commerce, Washington, DC; and South Carolina State Budget and                    of Commerce, Washington, DC.
                 Control Board and the South Carolina Department of Health and Human Ser-
                 vices, Kids Count South Carolina (revised edition: August 1995).                              South Carolina Employment Security Commission, South Carolina Department
                                                                                                              of Commerce.
                 Bureau of the Census, US Department of commerce, Washington, DC.
                                                                                                              20 The Regional Economic Information System, Bureau of Economic Analysis, US
                 South Carolina Employment Security Commission, South Carolina Department                     Department of Commerce, Washington, DC. May 1995.
                 of Commerce.
                                                                                                              21 The Regional Economic Iformation System, Bureau of Economic Analysis, US
                 17 The Regional Economic Information System, Bureau of Economic Analysis, US                 Department of Commerce, Washington, DC, May 1995.
                 Department of Commerce, Washington, DC, May 1995.


                                                                                                  10
 







               transportation/communications/public utilities, the
               two sectors with the highest earnings in Colleton                      .22
               The most pronounced growth in the past ten years
               was in sectors that do not require many specialized
               skills: retail and wholesale trade, and to a lesser ex-
               tent, serviceS.23
               However manufacturing, the third largest sector, fol-
               lows a different pattern. Although it has consolidated
               and lost some jobs, compared to the U.S. and S.C., it
               has seen significant increases in pay and in the num-
               ber of large establishmentS.24


           Development Resources

           Colleton's businesses and industries need access to strong
           resources to be competitive and innovative:

           ï¿½ A skilled workforce
           ï¿½ Access to high technology
           ï¿½ Adequate financial resources
           ï¿½ Strong modem infrastructure

           Combined with a good quality of life, and a dynamic
           and entrepreneurial business sector, resources can pave
           the way to increased economic well-being - for all
           Colleton's citizens. But, like its economic performance
           and quality of life, Colleton's resources are mixed. Let's
           look first at its resource weaknesses.



                                                                                                                                                  AW 4,
           Colleton's human resources are poorer than other coun-
           ties, making it extremely difficult to encourage growth
           in high-end industries.                                                                    A valuable blue crobfishery isfound in the salt and brackish waterportion
                                                                                                      of the Basin's rivers. Photo courtesy of SC Department of Natural
           .   SAT scores are low,           and are falling faster than S.C.                         Resources.
               and the    U.S.25
           .   Few students graduate high school, and very few go                                     22 ibid.
               on to college     .26                                                                  23.
           .   A smaller percentage of adults have graduated from                                        Ibid.
               high school or college than in S.C. or the                 U.S.27                      24. ibid.

           Colleton county's public coffers are low, taking in little                                 2' Educational Testing Service, Princeton, New Jersey; telephone conversation
           revenue, and restricting its ability to invest in itself. Most                             May, 1995.
           pointedly Colleton is:                                                                     16 1990 Census of Population and Housing, Summary Social, Economic and Housing
                                                                                                      Charaderistics, South Carolina, Bureau of the Census, US Department of Commerce,
           .   Last out of 15 peer counties in local government gen-                                  Washington, DC.
               eral revenue per $1,000 of local citizen's income                    .28               27 ibid.
           .   10th of 15 in federal funds received per capita (with                                  21 Ithe 15 peer counties] The peer counties were chosen according to 7 criteria,
               little improvement).29                                                                 population size (between 18,000-48,000), racial composition (400/o-70% White
           .   Low in per capita spending, with little growth (14th                                   and 30% Black), population density (5-35 persons per Sq. KM), number of farms
                                                                                                      (240-720), percent income from farms (1-75%), manufacturing (15-40%) and
               out of 15) in comparison with the peer counties, but                                   services (10-25%).
               relatively high compared with other rural counties in                                     Local Government revenue from 777e Oly and CountyData Book, Bureau of the
               South Carolina      .30                                                                Census, Economic and Statistics Division, US Department of Commerce, Wash-
                                                                                                      ington, DC, 1994.
           Financial resources are limited, meaning less money to                                     29 Ibid.
           fund new business start-ups and expand existing ones.                                      30 Ibid.


0







                Colleton has few banks per capita (11 th out of 15 peer
                                                                                                   
                counties) and fewer deposits (13th Out Of 15).31

            Now, let us examine the area's resource strong points.

                                                                                                     
            Colleton's housing stock is good for a rural county:

                The value of much of Colleton's housing stock is high                                                                               
                and getting better compared to peer counties (though
                low versus the U.S.): out of 15 counties it ranks 4th in
                median home value and 3rd in the increase in me-
                                       32
                than home value                                                                                                                   
                But, the picture is not completely rosy, as the county
                ranks only about average in measures of overcrowd-
                ing (8th), the percent of units that are substandard
                (8th), and the percent of homes that are vacant (13th)               .33

            Colleton's health care resources, though not as strong
            as those of many urban areas, are very strong for a ru-
            ral community.

                                                                                                                                                             A
                The county ranks in the middle (8th) in doctors per                                                                                                      
                100,000 and moderately high (5th) in hospital beds
                per 100,000 versus peers           .34
                                                                                                               

            Hope Plantation and many other privately owned former
            lice plantations have been perpetually protected through
            conservation easements. Conservation easements allow
            compatible uses, including forest management, agriculture
            and hunting, to continue. Photo by Jeff Lepore.


            

                                                                                                                                     High quality maritime forests border salt
                                                                                                                                     marshes. Photo by Carol Weeks.



                                                                                                   COMPetitve P0sitiong

                                                                                                   Two sets of regional forces are pulling Colleton in differ-
                                                                                                   ent directions. Historical economic and geographic ties
                          
                                                                                                to the Lowcountry are strong. Traditionally, Colleton has
                                                                                                   been grouped with its southern rural neighbors, but it
                                                                  
                                                                                                   appears to be moving from its agricultural roots. Not
                                                                                                   many are still farming and those who do are making
                                                                                                   less and le
                                                                                                                ss money.31
                                          _




                                                                                                   31 ibid.

                                                                                       Is             Ibid.

                                                                                                   33 Ibid.


                                                                                                   34 Ibid.


                                                                                                   35
                                                                                                      The Regional Economic information System, Bureau of Economic Analysis, US
                                                                                                   Department of Commerce, Washington, DC, May 1995.
                                                                                          12
 







          Then, there is the growing relationship to Charleston to
          the north and that citys growing service-based economy.
          This evolution is increasingly Colleton's future. The area
          has strong commuting patterns back and forth between
          Charleston, Berkeley and Dorchester counties - but not
          with Beaufort and Jasper counties              .36 The Charleston re-
                                                                                                                                          F-@;r
          gion is doing well in terms of jobs and wages in com-
          parison to its competitor regions in spite of the Navy
          Yard closure     .37                                                                                                   AS


          However, Colleton has had difficulty in participating in
          its region's overall economic success. Its employment                                                                         qU
          growth and per capita income are far below the region's.
          Only strong recent growth in per capita income signals
          that Colleton may be beginning to reap the benefits of
          its links .38

          Thus, poorer than the rest of South Carolina and the U.S.
                                                                                                                                                                          1119
          but better off than many similar counties, Colleton needs
          to overcome a number of obstacles that characterize tra
                                                                  large racial in-                                                        V
          ditional rural economies in the South
          come and employment disparities, an economy too de
          pendent on low-skill and low-wage jobs, low educational                                                                    Productivefarmland is a valuable asset
          levels, and limited       public and private capital resources.                                                            contributing to the local economy.
          Yet, other factors         - its entrepreneurial initiative, its                                                           Photo by Michael Prevost.
          strength in particu-
          lar manufacturing
          sectors, its eco-
          nomic ties to the
          growing Charles-
          ton economy and
          its better-than-av-
          erage health care
          and housing re-
          sources - are
          forces for progress.





                                                                    77
                                                                        A










            AS seen by the fact that
          Colleton is linked with
          Charleston, Dorchester and
          Berkeley but not with Beaufort and Jasper In calculations for Commuting Zones
          from the 1990 Census. Available from the Economic Research Service of the US                                          Thousands of acres offormer tidewater rice
          Department of Agriculture. See the Regional Performance Benchmark System                                              fields, datingfrom the mid-eighteenth
          (The Corporation for Enterprise Development, 1993) for fuller discussion.                                             century, are now maintained as important
                                                                                                                                habitatfor wetland wildift. Photo
          37 Analyzed using data measures of the Regional Performance Benchmark Sys-                                            courtesy of US Fish and Wildlife Service.
          tem, which were calculated from employment and earnings data provided by
          the Bureau of Economic Analysis, US Department of Commerce.


                                                                                         13






                                         Colletion's                                                         0  Its pristine beauty and its variety of plants and wildlife
                                                                                                                make it a place with great potential for further out-
                        Environmental Health                                                                    door recreation, birding, and nature-based tourism
                                                                                                                development.
               The earlier part of this section provided a fairly detailed                                   .  Its unique ecological character creates significant op-
               snapshot of where the community is today, economi-                                               portunities for environmental research and education.
               cally. This part will examine the area's environmental                                        0  The quality and distinctiveness of the Basin's ecosys-
               health. Its purpose is not solely to be concerned about                                          tem is also recognized and acclaimed nationally.
               public health or habitat protection.                                                          Next, how healthy are its environmental assets?
               Instead, there are strong and compelling economic de-                                         Colleton County and other ACE Basin counties are placed
               velopment rationales for conducting such an evaluation.                                       in the top national and state ranks in:
               Because it is increasingly clear that the health of an area's
               economy - the level of its water and air pollution, the                                       0  WateirQuality - good supplies of fresh water and low
               uniqueness of its local amenities and overall quality of                                         levels of water pollution
               life, and the productivity and vitality of its natural re-                                    0  Forest Resources - a significant supply of timber and
               source assets such as its timber, its soils and agriculture,                                     high profitability
               its wildlife and its fishing grounds - has significant mar-                                   0  Fishing Resources - abundant aquatic life and pro-
               ketplace implications in generating jobs and income.                                             ductive fishing waters, continuing potential forjob and
               How do you take the measure of an area's environmen-                                             income generation
               tal quality and assets? On the surface the answers are                                        0  Farm Resources - healthy soils and proper farmland
               simple. Less toxic pollution is better. Less soil erosion is                                     stewardship to minimize erosion
               better. Less impaired rivers and streams are better. Fewer                                    In conclusion, the ACE Basin is recognized, internation-
               nitrates in wells are better. Less polluted shellfish waters                                  ally and nationally, as a "world-class' ecosystem. Major
               are better.                                                                                   progress has been made on conserving the area based
               Although the data sources for reaching these conclu-                                          on unique partnerships between landowners, conserva-
                                                                                                             tion organizations, and government agencies. But, to
               sions are more meager than the vast information banks                                         date, Colleton County has yet to make the use of the
               of social and economic facts, we can still construct a                                        comparative economic advantage offered by the ACE
               reasonably accurate and useful picture of environmen-                                         Basin. However, there is still even a larger challenge:
               tal health of both Colleton County and the ACE Basin.                                         can it do so, without eroding its original advantage - its
               Now, let's answer a few key questions.                                                        wonderful natural amenities - as new economic activity
               To begin with, why is the ACE Basin important?                                                is fostered and population size and density increases?
               This ecological system performs important natural func-                                       Local Voices
               tions and provides direct economic uses:
                                                                                                             These data findings were confirmed through other, more
               ï¿½  Wetlands are natural filters that fight pollution and                                      qualitative research. During the earliest phase of the
                  maintain water quality.
               ï¿½  Wetlands provide natural flood control.
               ï¿½  Wetlands are essential spawning and nursery grounds
                  for recreational and commercial fisheries.
               ï¿½  The ACE Basin provides the timber for commercially                                         38 ibid.
                  important forest products. More than 67 percent of                                         39 Percentage of Timberland: USDA Forest service, Forest Statistics for South Caro-
                  Colleton County's land is timberland, of which 29.2                                        lina, 1993; Volume of Growing Stock and Sawtimber on Timberland: USDA For-
                                                                                                             est Service, Forest Statistics for South Carolina, 1993; and Cash Receipts from
                  percent is owned by the forest industry. In 1992,                                          Forest Products: Clemson University Forestry Department, Value of Forest Prod-
                  Collet6n County had $24,317,000 in cash receipts,                                          ucts Sold from all of South Carolina Woodlands, 1992.
                  nearly double the receipts of the average South Caro-                                      40 Project Plan: The ACE Basin. South Carolina Wildlife and Marine Resources
                  lina county.39                                                                             Department. August 1989. 22 pp.
               ï¿½  it is a habitat for game (historically up to 14 percent                                    11 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 1991. Ashepoo-Combahee-
                  of the dabbling ducks in the Atlantic Flyway overwin-                                      Edisto (ACE) Basin National Estuarine Research Reserve in South Carolina. Final
                  ter in the Basin)40 and for endangered and threatened                                      Environmental Impact Statement and Draft Management Plan. U.S. Department
                  species (the Basin has the highest concentration of                                        of Commerce. Washington, D.C. 115 pp.
                  nesting Southern bald eagles in the state)41 and sup-                                      41 ACE Basin Biological Inventory Report 19913-92. 1993. The Nature Conser-
                  ports over 30 types of natural plant communities.42                                        vancy 36 pp.
                                                                                                   14










                                                         Ricefield trunks,
                                                        originally used to
                                                 manipulate water levels
                                                for rice culture, are now
                                                     used to manage rice
                                                      fields as waterfowl
                                                      habitat Photo by                                             0- -
                                                       Michael Prevost.





                                                                                                                  gp
                                                                                                                                                                   V    F       R.
                                                                                                                                    MAX            is
                                                                                                                                                            -A

                                                                                                                                                  -A
                                                                                                                                                                      -40
            project, our consultants, CFED, did not restrict
            their work to only number crunching - they
            also interviewed more than 50 people, seek-
            ing their views on the ACE Basin, Colleton
            County and the future of the area. Tlhey
            spoke to:                                                                       x,,A Ia


            ï¿½  Company owners and plant managers
            ï¿½  Foresters and lumber companies
            ï¿½  Farmers
            ï¿½  Fishermen
            ï¿½  Realtors
            ï¿½  State and federal agencies
            ï¿½  Local politicians and officials
            ï¿½  Conservation organizations
            ï¿½  Tourism and industrial development organizations
            ï¿½  Education leaders                                                                        But measures taken so far to protect the ACE Basin are
            ï¿½  Business groups                                                                          also perceived by some as liabilities, because they may
            ï¿½  Landowners                                                                               involve:
            ï¿½  Community activists
                                                                                                        .  Tlhe removal of land from the tax rolls
            The goals of these conversations were to gather local                                       .  The reduction of land for development
            wisdom about the area from a broad cross-section of                                         .  An infringement of individual property rights
            the community, to shape the structure of the planning                                       *  its symbolism of government interference
            process, to identify initial development priorities and con-                                .  The exclusion of local interests
            cerns and to help the consultants to better interpret the                                   0  The possibility for increased environmental regulation
            quantitative data about the area that they were collect-
            ing and analyzing. In summarizing their interviews, CFED
            reached the following conclusions.
                                                                                                        What Do We Have Going For Us?
            ACE Basin: Asset or Liability?                                                              The ACE Basin also is a direct source of development
            First, the ACE Basin is viewed by the populace as an as-                                    strength and opportunity. The interviews pointed out
            set for the following reasons:                                                              that it is:
                                                                                                        *  An important and emerging regional tourism center
            ï¿½  It is a nationally recognized area of unspoiled envi-                                       - nature-based tourism, historic attractions and an edu-
               ronment.                                                                                    cational center - a creator of local employment and
            ï¿½  The Basin is regionally important resource for hunt-                                        revenues
               ing and fishing.                                                                         *  A marketing concept -"produced in the ACE Basin'
            ï¿½  It is a growing regional tourist attraction.                                             0  A symbol of quality of life for industrial attraction to
            ï¿½  The area possesses significant sustainable forestry and                                     Colleton County
               marine fishery reserves.                                                                 .  A preserver of traditional uses of land and natural re-
            ï¿½  Successful conservation partnerships between land-                                          sources
               owners, conservation organizations and government                                        a  A comprehensive teaching laboratory for local schools
               agencies exist in the ACE Basin.
                                                                                               15


0






             The local voices also highlighted the Colleton County's                             The Artisans Center is a successful new initiative that
             other strengths and opportunities:                                                   serves both tourism, arts, and educational goals.
                                                                                                 .The County Museum is an under-valued resource.
              Nationally successful companies have located in the
               area.                                                                             What's Holding Us Back?
              It possesses a good labor force - adaptable to mod-
               em production methods, with low turnover and ab-                                  The interviews did not pull any punches and described a
               senteeism (but limited by education levels).                                      number of troubling weaknesses, such as:
              Environmental regulation is effective and efficient -
               companies did not complain about compliance diffi-                                .Little or no preparation for the expected surge of
               culties.                                                                           growth along coastal region in the next two decades
              The Walterboro Airport and the Industrial Park pro-                              - there are no plans to ensure sustainable, long-term
               vide a focus for industrial attraction.                                            benefits.
              Local resource-based industries have great untapped                               .Unregulated growth is leading to sub-divisions whose
               potential for developing secondary products and                                    costs exceed tax revenues and to unsightly strip malls.
               markets.                                                                         Slow educational attainment is limiting industrial de-
              Good accessibility is provided by Interstate 95.                                   velopment and expansion and individual opportunity.
              The University of South Carolina-Salkehatchie is an                               .Community divisions - county versus city, along with
               unrecognized educational and economic resource.                                    racial and income cleavages - might hold the area
              The county school administration is seeking new po-                                back.
               tential for upgrading area schools.                                               .Often the community's expectations are too low - they
              The earlier LEAP planning process provided a strong                                accept being "second best.'
               and clear community vision within which to work.                                  *Earlier difficulties in progressing on the Highway 17
              Leadership Colleton is cultivating new leaders who                                 expansion show the kinds of divisions that can plague
               are looking for new opportunities to make creative                                 the region.
               things happen.                                                                    -The area's limited local financial resources constrain
              Walterboro is an attractive small southern town and                                adequate investments in the future.
               sub-regional center.

																	Wood ducks and other waterfowl in the Atlantic Flyway find critical habitat in the basin's wetlands. Photo courtesy of Sc Department of Natural resources.









                                
                                                                                                               





                                    WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?





                      e wish to constructively and creatively shape
        the future rather than leave it to chance. Furthermore,                                                White-tailed deer are an
                                                                                                               important game animal on both
        while recognizing that the world is rapidly changing and                                               public and private lands. Photo
        that we live in turbulent times, we wish to better position                                            courtesy of SC Department of
        our community in the global market-                                                                    Natural Resources.
        place, without harming our natural                                                                         W
        and cultural heritage or breaking with
        the values and ideals that we cherish.


        Earlier in this report, we have wrestled
        with questions such as: What are we?
        From where have we come? What is
        happening to us? What do we want
        to be? Where can we go?

        Now, we wish to shift gears and fo-
        cus  on the key questions: Where
        should we go? What is our game
        plan?


        Strategic Priorities

        Based on the analysis of the local
                                                                                           niNl@          -A@
                                                                             4%  xr
        economy and the changes in the glo-                                                          N
                                                                                                                k,
                                                                              414
        bal and regional economy affecting
        the ACE Basin and Colleton County,      R                                    sk,
        is necessary that the area's leadership
        tackle three strategic priorities.
            Strategy One: Create a framework                                     Strategy Two: Enhance the awareness, understanding
            for responsible growth A desired future does not just                and appreciation of the ACE Basin Compared to many
            happen: it must be made. Undertaking a comprehen-                    other places of great beauty, the ACE Basin is rela-
            sive land use planning process and enacting appro-                   tively unknown. But by raising its profile as a tourism
            priate ordinances are the best ways to help a commu-                 destination, a quality living environment, and an area
            nity to be what it wants to be and to mesh more effec-               with rich cultural traditions, its tourism potential could
            tively its conservation and development goals. By                    be increased. However, when it comes to the ACE
            doing so, it can act on its values and heritage, pre-                Basin, strictly speaking, and not just the larger region,
            serve what it cares most about and manage its growth                 these tourism development efforts must also be done
            in a more orderly and proactive manner. Likewise, it                 in a fashion which does not harm its beauty and its
            can help to ensure that its most important economic                  environmental systems. The first steps in puttin the
            assets are not sacrificed thoughtlessly through allow-                                                                   -9
            ing imprudent land uses. Furthermore, by not making                  Basin on the map are: increasing its visibility through
            these mistakes and setting land use priorities more                  developing environmental and cultural education pro-
            deliberately and democratically, an area's leadership                grams that are offered to residents and outsiders, cre-
            avoids having its future made "behind its back" by a                 ating a logo that is on all visitor-oriented materials,
            plethora of small, but significant, decisions. Wise plan-            making critical investments in destination sites like a
            ning can lead to the sort of smarter growth, that gen-               visitor/ interpretive center on Highway 17 and under-
            erates greater benefits over the long term.                          taking a concerted marketing@ effort to acquaint tour-
                                                                                 ists with the charm of the region, its accessibility and
                                                                        17










                                                                                                         The Old Jail, constructed
                                                                                                         in 1855-1856, now
                                                                                                         houses the Colleton
                                                                                                         County Museum, a
                                                                                                         valuable community
                                                                                                         asset. Photo by Ron
                                                                                                         Anton Rocz.
                                                             "Y






                                                                                  X .             <mv
                                                                 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .





                                                                                            'A





                                        01
                                                            AV


             its closeness to other attractions. Quality environ-            Action Agenda
             mental education in the schools, at the university
             and at public facilities is needed to ensure that the
             environmental integrity of the area is maintained.              The Local Task Groups
             Strategy Three: Promote environmentally compatible              The strategies listed above are very broad and can en-
             business development Without attracting new firms,              compass a wide variety of activities. Creating a frame-
             fostering new enterprise development and expand-                work for responsible growth, enhancing the awareness,
             ing existing businesses, the area cannot generate the           understanding and appreciation of the ACE Basin and
             jobs and prosperity that its residents need. But the            promoting environmentally compatible businesses -
             citizens of Colleton County and the ACE Basin want              each are significant tasks, entailing the mounting of ini-
             to go beyond the typical development agenda of most             tiatives in a variety of areas.
             communities. We intend for our initiatives to pass
             two hurdles - the tests of the marketplace and the              To identify specific, practical steps the community could
             need to protect the Basin's environmental assets. This          take in pursuing each strategy, the community formed
             requires exploring new strategies to make its tradi-            four task groups. The task groups covered the following
             tional natural resource-based industries in agriculture,        topics:
             timber, seafood-and local crafts develop higher value-
             added products and operate in a more sustainable                   Colleton County Land Use Planning Task Group
             fashion. it means that those who serve today's na-                 (Chair: Donald Lyons, Vice-Chair: I.N. Rizer) The Task
             ture tourists practice what they preach and adhere to              Group believes that land use planning can help resi-
             the highest standards of environmental stewardship                 dents achieve their economic development, quality of
             and quality assurance. It entails that all businesses in           life and conservation goals for Colleton County into
             the region avail themselves of the latest ways that                the next century. The Task Group has asked the
             they can cut costs and raise profits by becoming more              Colleton Area Joint Planning Advisory Commission to
             energy efficient, preventing pollution and cutting                 appoint it as a subcommittee and to request that the
             waste. Indeed, if properly packaged as a develop-                  County Council endorse the proposed process to de-
             ment strategy and not just as a conservation initia-               velop a land use plan for the County.
             tive, the environmental and the ACE Basin angles can
             enhance other traditional development activities, such             Value Added Products Task Group (Chair: Mike Dav-
             as marketing sites and the area, attracting infrastruc-            enport, Vice-Chair: Sandy Watkins) This Task Group
             ture monies and creating new small business devel-                 sought to create a process that leads to strategies and
             opment services.
                                                                       18











               Off er Island is a vital                                                                                                              5"
               component of the
                                                                                                                                                             -IlN @A 41,
               National Estuarine
                                                                                                                                                                    I r&P
                                                                                                                                                                       _4
               Research Reserve.
               Photo courtesy of
                    The Nature
                   Conservancy.
                                                                                                                                                             -VA, W,
                                                                                                                                                                     W

                                                                                                                                                                  Airs, !"Y
                                                                                                                                                                "@gs dr





                                                          k



                                                        A
                                  WAM7,


















               programs which will assist residents to create new, or                            Task Group was motivated by an effort to answer the
               strengthen existing businesses, by adding value to                                following question: "How can we identify, develop, and
               products they market through association with the ACE                             promote sustainable economic opportunities in the
               Basin. Initially, the effort will focus on marine fishing,                        ACE Basin region, while conserving its natural and
               agriculture and forestry. Later, crafts and other prod-                           cultural values?' Its solution lies with creating a high
               ucts might be considered. The Task Group believed                                 quality, strategic approach to promoting nature and
               that the area will derive much more benefit from its                              heritage-based tourism in the area. For instance, a
               natural resource assets if more value was added                                   proactive effort will target business development ef-
               through developing new products, identifying new                                  forts differently in various parts of the region. For
               markets and exploring trademarking strategies for ACE                             example, in the Basin's sensitive natural resource ar-
               Basin products that meet a particular quality standard.                           eas, there would be limited infrastructure development,
               Although the Task Group looked at a number of prom-                               stringent design standards and maximum public use
               ising product ideas, it recommends that more techni-                              control. But, adjacent to the Basin, there may be mod-
               cal feasibility studies be undertaken that would con-                             erate development with sensitivity to the Basin's pres-
               duct an inventory of resources, both in terms of raw                              ence and values. In the larger area of influence, there
               materials and current sectors of involvement of local                             could be more and larger developments and the tie
               businesses; and provide a market analysis of each                                 to the Basin would be optional; but development
               sector to assess environmental compatibility, market                              would be still guided by the land use plan and zoning
               size, market growth trends, larger forces that will af-                           ordinances. Such a strategic approach to developing
               fect the market (e.g., technology, leg         'islation, regula-                 new tourism products and making necessary infra-
               tion, etc.), and competition. Next, it called for the cre-                        structure investments is the best method of ensuring
               ation of a technical assistance system for helping en-                            that conservation and development work hand-in-
               trepreneurs successfully launch these new product                                 hand.
               ideas. Lastly, it proposed additional research on trade-
               marking and other techniques for developing more                                  Educational Attainment Task Group (Chair: Joseph
               regional visibility for area products and services.                               Hamilton, Vice-Chair: Diane Jones) The Task Group
                                                                                                 looked at educational issues from a variety of angles
               Nature- and Heritage-Based Tourism Task Group                                     and proposed that it work with local education and
               (Chair: Charlie Sweat, Vice-Chair: Denise Simmons) This                           citizen leaders to form an ongoing task group which
                                                                                      19












                                                                                                         The National Estuarine
                                                                                                         Research Reserve offers
                                                                                                         valuable learning
                                                                                                         experiencesforyoung
                                                                                                         people. Photo courtesy
                                                                                                         of SC Department of
                                                                                S?A@
                                                                                                         Natural Resources.


                                 D -
                              ge

                                                                                               rg@
                                                                                             MV,
                                                                                                 -O-Z












             would collaborate with local schools to develop cur-               Each task group generated a number of useful ideas (in
             ricula and programs which educate local students on                fact, many more than could be undertaken over the next
             the history, culture and natural environment of                    several years). Working from the best or most promis-
             Colleton County and the ACE Basin, and partner with                ing ideas, the task groups generated more specific work
             the University of South Carolina at Salkehatchie to                plans, in some cases with assistance from CFED. The
             develop accredited courses in coastal resources and                project steering committee and task group chairs have
             economic development planning.                                     selected the items that they deemed the highest priori-
                                                                                ties and that should be implemented in the short term.
             Indeed, the Group sees educational action as critical              Within each strategic area, the items are listed in order
             for the fortunes of Colleton and the region for two                of their priority, with the first options having the greatest
             big reasons. First, education reform and workforce                 importance.
             development policies have vaulted to the forefront
             of America's economic agenda as we come to recog@                  Based on the work of the task groups, these specific ac-
             nize that the ability of our nation to compete success-            tion ideas have been incorporated into an overall work
             fully in world markets will depend heavily on the skills           plan, or action agenda, for environmentally compatible
             and availability of our workers. Given the high level              economic development. They are summarized in the fol-
             of experimentation underway in every community in                  lowing table.
             the U.S., Colleton County will be left
             behind if it does not act. However,
             the Task Group also thought that this
             was a very large agenda, beyond its
             ability to affect. Furthermore, with
             recent ongoing efforts by Leadership
             Colleton and its alumni to get in-
             volved in school issues, that there
             was no need for an additional ini-
             tia6e at this time. Second, protect-
             ing and marketing the ACE Basin, en-
             couraging citizen support of environ-
             mentally compatible development
             and promoting new 'green' business
             and career development all depend
             on leaming the facts about the work-
             ings and specialness of coastal eco-
             systems like the ACE Basin. Enhanc-
             ing such awareness will contribute
             mightily to achieving these goals.
                                                      High quality recreationalfishing opportunities arefound throughout the Basin. Photo courtesy of SC
                                                     Department of Natural Resources.
                                                                         20


0







										









							LIST OF STRATEGIES


                  Strategy one; create a framework for responsible growth

                  ï¿½ Develop a comprehensive land     use plan and a supportive ordinance
                  ï¿½ Develop an integrated development, tourism, and resource management plan


                          STRATEGY TWO; ENHANCE THE AWARENESS UNDERSTANDING AND APPRECTIATION OF THE ACE BASIN
                  ï¿½ Develop a visitor/interprefive center in the ACE Basin near US Highway 17.
                  ï¿½ Support the Scenic Parkway Concept Plan and designation effort
                  ï¿½ Develop a consistent ACE Basin graphic identity that would apply to all brochures, maps and
                    other visitor-related materials
                  ï¿½ Support a-rails-to-trails project
                  ï¿½ Develop primary and secondary environmental and heritage education programs
                  . Develop college courses on coastal resources planning and economic development
                  ï¿½ Create educational and awareness programs and materials designed to educate and orient people
                    living in the region -about its natural and cultural assets and their value to the region when
                    developed In a sustainable fashion


                  Strategy three; Promote enviromentally comparible business development


                  . Create a business development planning process and Initial business feasibility plans for natural
                    resource-based products
                  . Create and implement branding and trademarking of area products
                   Provide assistance to local businesses In creating business plans and identifying necessary re-
                    sources to implement those plans
                   Develop a full-scale marketing plan for natural and cultural resource-based tourism in the region
                   Build on existing rural tourism efforts and assets
                    Create management standards for visitor safety and resource impacts for tourism in the ACE
                    Basin
                    Mobilize business development resources to benefit Colleton County
                    Establish educational programs for businesses operating in the region on how to operate In an'''
                    environmentally conscious manner with respect to waste management, wildlife impact and other
                    resource considerations











                                                                  21
 






                                                                                 Strategy One: Create
                                                                                 a Framework for
                                                                                 Responsible Growth

                                                                                    Develop a comprehensive land use plan and a sup-
                                                                                    portive ordinance for Colleton County The Task Group
                                                                                    explored the desirability of creating a land use plan
                                                                                    for the area and concluded that one was needed for
                                                                                    the following reasons. Just like any business, com-
                                                                                    munities need to plan for their future so that they can
                                                                                    make intelligent decisions about the use of scarce re-
                                                                                    sources and improve their chances of achieving eco-
                                                                                    nomic prosperity. For instance, land use planning pre-
                                                                                    pares for proper growth. It provides a way for the
                                                                                    community to express its aspirations for the future. It
                                                                                    promotes sound stewardship of community assets. It
                                                                                    identifies priorities for public investment. It manages
                                                                                    the fiscal impact of development. It safeguards owner
                                                                                    investment against the impact of "bad neighbor' de-
                           5 7_1                                                    velopment. It avoids the attraction of unwanted ac
                                                                                    tivitles rejected by other counties with tighter plan-
                                                                                    ning controls. It builds consensus on critical issues,
                                                                                    while providing a formal means of resolving disputes
                                                                                    between the community and the individual and be
                                                                                    tween development and conservation priorities. The
          For area students, the Basin is                                           Task Group also chose to undertake a participatory
          an important community
          resource. Photo courtesy of                                               process for developing such a plan, including com-
          SC Department of Natural                                                  munity forums, visioning and goal setting sessions and
          Resources.                                                                public comment hearings. Facilitation and coordina-
                                                                                    tion of the process will be accomplished by CFED and
                                                                                    the Lowcountry Council of Governments.           They will
                                                                                    adhere to all required state and local laws, working
                                                                                    closely with both the Joint Planning Commission and
                                                                                    the Colleton County Council. The plan and zoning
                                                                                    ordinance will be finalized by June 1997
          ProposedAction Agenda                                                     Lead - Colleton Land Use Planning Task Group
                                                                                    Support - Colleton-Walterboro Joint Planning
                                                                                                   Commission
          Based on the initial recommendations of the four task                               - Colleton County Council
          groups and further deliberations within the Steering Com-                           - Colleton County Resource and
          mittee and with the broader community, we have devel-                                    Development Board
          oped the following action agenda. Many of the task
          groups also suggested actions that the other groups pro-                  Develop an integrated development tourism and re-
          posed. For instance, the nature- and heritage-based                       source management plan Such a plan might focus
          group called for appropriate land use planning and busi-                  on making a complete inventory of all infrastructure,
          ness development in natural resource-based sectors.                       natural and cultural resources and attractions related
                                                                                    to sustainable tourism in the region, using GIS and
          indeed, there are powerful synergies between the work                     other technologies where appropriate. It should con-
          of each of these task groups and success on one project                   vene a group of key stakeholders (representatives from
          is likely to have positive benefits on other initiatives. They            local communities, businesses, resource management
          are organized under their most relevant strategic prior-                  entities and landowners) to participate in the planning
          ity. (Greater detail on many of these options is available                process. It should focus especially on Highway 17 and
          in other documents researched and written within this                     developing a starting point for exploring the ACE Ba.-
          planning process.)                                              22








            sin. This recommendation directly links with the land                  site. The center also would serve as a focal point for
            use planning efforts, whose interim research products                  casual visitation, as well as a source of educational
            actually answer these questions and will be taking ad-                 and informational materials and programs. It could
            vantage of advanced planning, mapping, and research                    serve as the control point for organizing visitation to
            technologies. So, as its research and data products                    other, more remote and sensitive parts of the Basin.
            are completed, a tourism planning and marketing                        The center also might offer a reservation and trans-
            group could use these resources to craft additional                    portation service, provide administrative offices for
            development actions.                                                   ACE-related education and conservation activities, of-
                                                                                   fer a range of experiences to different types of tour-
            Lead - Colleton Interpretive Center Committee                          ists, have "green' lodging (e.g., low-impact, low den-
            Support - S.C. Department of Parks, Recreation and                     sity eco-cabins), etc. Satellite visitor facilities might be
                          Tourism                                                  organized to offer other low-impact experiences at the
                     - ACE Basin Task Force                                        National Wildlife Refuge headquarters on Grove Plan-
                     - Westvaco Corporation                                        tation, Donnelley and Bear Island Wildlife Manage-
                     - Colleton Land Use Planning Group                            ment Areas, National Estuarine Research Reserve field
                     - Nature and Heritage-Based Tourism Task                      station at Bennett's Point, Edisto Beach State Park, and
                           Group                                                   Hunting Island State Park. Design and interpretation
                                                                                   would be all coordinated between these sites. Tack-
                                                                                   ling such a large concept would entail working with
        Strategy Two: Enhance the                                                  all major stakeholders, securing land for the central
                                                                                   site, addressing the design issues of all the facilities,
        Awareness, Understanding and                                               attracting funding, tapping private investors, conduct-
                                                                                   ing further market research, developing exhibits and
        Appreciation of the ACE Basin                                              tie-in education programs, looking closely at the car-
                                                                                   rying capacity of the sites (how much tourism impact
            Develop a visitor/interpretive center in the ACE Ba-                   can they take) and using management tools like user
            sin near Highway 17 A plan for siting this center and                  fees, visitor permits, timing restrictions, signage, and
            defining its services needs to be crafted, which would                 limiting conveniences and services in some areas to
            look in detail at a variety of issues, such as accessibil-             efficiently manage the visitation impacts.
            ity, an ability to withstand high impact, its location                 Lead - Colleton Interpretive Center Committee
            near a representative natural resource (e.g. a marsh),                 Support - S.C. Department of Parks, Recreation and
            it serving as a distribution site for advertising area at-                       Tourism
            tractions and the visual appeal of the building and                               ACE Basin Task Force


                                                                                                                         tv












                                                          X


                                                              @J



                                                                                        %





                                                       14
                                              Z

          The Edisto River Canoe and
             Kayak Trail is a valuable
               asset in building rural
               tourism efforts. Photo
            courtesy of Lowcountry
                and Resort Islands
             Tourism Commission.
                                                                          23









            - Westvaco Corporation                                              Support a rails-to-tralls project The Lowcountry Coun-
            - S.C. Department of Transportation                                 cil of Governments and the Colleton County Council
            - Colleton Land Use Planning Task Group                             have worked together on submitting a proposal for a
                                                                                federal grant. This proposed project would entail the
            Support the Scenic Parkway Concept Plan, devel-                     creation of a bicycle and footpath along an old rail-
            oped by Robert E. Marvin and Associates for US High-                way line between Walterboro and Green Pond. If con-
            way 17 Task Group members believe that this plan                    structed, it would be a new tourism asset for the re-
            would greatly enhance eco-tourism efforts in this sen-              gion to market, as well as connect tourism opportuni-
            sitive region by designating an appropriate portion                 ties in the town more closely with options in the ACE
            of highway the "ACE Basin Scenic Parkway.' This                     Basin.
            would help to maintain the area's natural beauty and
            its healthy environment while still creating a tourism              Lead - Lowcountry Council of Governments
            asset that can be marketed to the larger traveling                  Support - Colleton County Council
            public. A detailed plan for developing this scenic high-                     - Colleton County Resource and Development
            way has been already written by Robert Marvin and                                  Board
            Associates, the nationally-known landscape architec-                         - Walterboro-Colleton Chamber of Commerce
            ture firm, which is based in Walterboro. Without en-                         - S.C. Department of Parks, Recreation and
            dorsing every specific recommendation, we believe                                 Tourism
            that the plan is an excellent starting point for larger
            community-wide discussions and should be studied                    Develop primary and secondary environmental and
            closely by the comprehensive land use planning ef-                  heritage education programs The ACE Basin and the
            fort that is currently underway. The final version of               surrounding region are rich in both cultural and envi-
            the scenic highway plan must allow for efficient move-              ronmental resources, which are presently unrecog-
            ment of traffic, good highway safety, environmental                 nized and underutilized by the education community.
            conservation, and aesthetic preservation and design.                Significant opportunities exist to develop new public
            Subject to requirements by state and federal law, the               education programs in area schools and universities
            Colleton County Council, the South Carolina Depart-                 which would better acquaint local students and teach-
            ment of Highways and Public Transportation and our                  ers with the area's important ecological, cultural and
            elected legislative representatives should be asked to              historicassets. A working group involving the Colleton
            enact provisions to establish the ACE Basin Scenic                  County School District, the University of South Caro-
            Parkway.                                                            lina-Salkehatchie campus, the South Carolina Depart-
                                                                                ment of Natural Resources, the National Estuarine
            Lead - Colleton Interpretive Center Committee                       Research Reserve Program and The Nature Conser-
            Support - Colleton County Council                                   vancy has been created to fundraise, to develop a
                      - Walterboro-Colleton Chamber of Commerce                 series of program offerings and to test them during
                      - Colleton County Resource and Development                the next year. It is expected that, when successful,
                          Board                                                 these educational and field trip offerings will help to
                      - S.C. Department of Parks, Recreation and                create a deeper understanding of the region's natural
                           Tourism                                              and cultural heritage and enhance educational options
                      - ACE Basin Task Force                                    for K-12 and college students.
                      - Westvaco Corporation
                      - S.C. Department of Transportation                       Lead - S.C. Department of Natural Resources
                      - Colleton Land Use Planning Task Group                   Support - University of South Carolina - Salkehatchie
                                                                                         - Colleton County School District
            Develop a consistent ACE Basin graphic identity that                         - The Nature Conservancy
            would apply to all brochures, maps and other visi-                           - Walterboro-Colleton Chamber of Commerce
            tor-oriented materials This would help to establish                                Education Committee
            a link between all tourism options and marketing ef-                         - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
            forts, as well as establish a unique ACE signature. It
            should be an "early bird' action.                                   Develop college courses on coastal resources plan-
                                                                                ning and economic development Increasingly, the
            Lead - Value Added Products Task Group                              development and conservation communities and pro-
            Support - ACE Basin Task Force                                      fessions feel the need to learn each other's business
                      - Lowcountry Resort Islands and Tourism                   and to discover new ways that "win-win' solutions to
                           Commission                                           development and environmental conflicts can be
                      - Nature and Heritage-Based Tourism Task                  found. The university could offer new courses in each
                           Group                                                of these fields and develop a curriculum that synthe-
                                                                       24








           sizes a new framework for implementing environmen-
           tally compatible development planning and initiatives.              Strategy Three: Promote
           Lead - University of South Carolina - Salkehatchie                   Environmentally-Compatible
           Support    S.C. Department of Natural Resources                     Business Development
                      Colleton County School District
                      The Nature Conservancy                                      Create a business development planning process and
                      Walterboro-Colleton Chamber of Commerce                     initial business feasibility plans for natural resource-
                          Education Committee                                     based products This would be a multi-step process,
           Create educational and awareness programs and                          entailing an inventory of current involvement of area
           materials designed to educate and orient people liv-                   businesses in natural resource-based activities, an ex-
           ing in the region about its natural and cultural as-                   amination of the market potential and environmen-
           sets and their value to the region when developed                      tal effects of each major sector, and the evaluation of
           in a sustainable fashion Program delivery might oc-                    these results relative to local resource capability. The
           cur through community workshops, schools, field trips,                 local task group has already done some preliminary
           and eco-research internships and volunteer efforts.                    work in this area by looking at ideas like creating or
           (See environmental education options above for fur-                    attracting a processing plant to facilitate packaging
           ther details)                                                          and shipping of all products of the ocean and rivers,
                                                                                  developing and marketing indigenous products (e.g.,
           Lead - S.C. Department of Natural Resources                            joggling boards, rice field trunk models and sweet grass
           Support - University of South Carolina - Salkehatchie                  baskets), assisting existing farms that already own their
                    - Colleton County School District                             own packaging operations to better market their prod-
                    - The Nature Conservancy                                      ucts, helping expand the supply and demand for blue
                    - Walterboro-Colleton Chamber of Commerce-                    crabs and South Carolina oysters, developing aquac-
                          Education Committee                                     ulture and mariculture products, creating a research
                    - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service                              kitchen and incubator for new food products and ex-
                                                                                  panding the fuel market for wood chips. Next, it en-
                                                                                  tails developing an analytical process that can be used
                                                                                  to assist local firms in evaluating the options for get-
                                                                                  ting involved in attractive business sectors and new
                                                                                  product lines. The process would help them to look
























           Nature trails are available on
                   Donnelley Wildlft
           Management Area as well as
              otherpublic access areas.
                Photo courtesy of Sc
              Department of Natural
                          Resources.
                                                                        25


0










			at and evaluate; the enviromental implications
                                                                                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                         
                   in specific business ventures (each must be, at                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                    
                   attractiveness of the products in terms of con
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         
                   relationships of the product to the image of the                                                                                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                                           
                   ACE Basin; and the ability of local businesses to
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
                   produce necessary quantities with acceptable                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         
                   quality.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
       Lead - Colleton County Resource and  Development Board

	Support- Value Added Products task group                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           -The Nature Conservancy
                                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                            

                   C
                     reate and implement branding and trade-
                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               list should be the exploration of branding and                                   
                   trademarking of products. High on the priority list should be the exploration
of branding and trademarking of products. Doing this well will
                   be very difficult, but it could be a valuable tool in
                   marketing products and identifying them, as well
                   as the ACE Basin, as unique and of high quality.

                                                                                                                       
                  Lead-Colleton County resouce and        Development Board
                   Support -Value Added Products Task Group
                                ,-The Nature Conservancy



                   Provide assistance to local businesses in creat-
                   ing business plans and identifying necessary re-
                   sources to implement those plans There are a
                   variety of resources within the region, the state
                   and the nation which can be tapped for providing                                                                                            Wading birds, such as the great
                                                                                                                                                             egret are commonly observed in
                   high quality technical assistance to promising firms                                                                                        wetlands throughout the Basin.
                   and venture ideas. This also should include creating                                                                                               Photo by Cherie Pittillo.
                   management procedures for businesses to use to mea-
                   sure performance against plan and provide for a con-                                            Lead - Colleton County Resource and Development
                   tinuing relationship between the business and advi-                                                           Board
                   sor. By doing so, the program would build-in stron-                                             Support -Value Added Products Task Group
                   ger quality control and help these entrepreneurs deal                                                       - Nature- and Heritage-Based Tourism Task
                   with the inevitable problems facing all startup, young                                                              Group
                   and small firms.                                                                                            - The Nature Conservancy
                                                                                                                               - S.C. Department of Parks, Recreation and
                   Lead - Colleton County Resource and Development                                                                     Tourism
                                 Board
                   Support -Value Added Products Task Group                                                        Build on existing rural tourisT efforts and assets
                                -The Nature Conservancy                                                            Colleton County and the ACE Basin are already in the
                                                                                                                   forefront of South Carolina's rural, heritage and na-
                                                                                                                   ture tourism efforts. Its Edisto River Canoe and Kayak
                   Develop a full-scale marketing plan for natural and                                             Commission was recently honored for its outstanding
                   cultural resource-based tourism in the region As the                                            rural tourism program. They have created the state's
                   first projects are implem ented, the area will have much                                        first canoe and kayak trail, initiated an annual Edisto
                   more to promote. A well-developed marketing plan                                                Riverfest and offer nearly two dozen guided canoe
                   to better position the area for competing for the tour-                                         trips per year for the general public. The area holds a
                   ist dollar will then be needed.                                                                 yearly Rice Festival and the ACE Basin Triathion. An
                                                                                                                   Artisans Center has been built and is putting the area
                                                                                                     26
 







          on the map regarding crafts. Furthermore, many of its
          leaders are actively working with the state's South              Lead - Nature and Heritage-Based Tourism Task Group
          Carolina Heritage Corridor project.                                Support - S.C. Department of Parks, Recreation and
                                                                                           Tourism
          There are a number of ways that the region and                              - Westvaco Corporation
          Colleton County could build on its current accomplish-                      - Walterboro-Colleton Chamber of Commerce
          ments and on-going programs. For instance, its tour-
          ism leadership should consider developing further the              Create management standards of visitor safety and
          Edisto River and Kayak trail. With help with other                 resource impacts for tourism in the ACE Basin The
          state and regional partners, it could create a multifac-           South Carolina Nature-Based Tourism Association has
          eted recreational river corridor by developing addi-               already developed guidelines for operating tourism
          tional recreational opportunities along the river, while           activities and businesses in a manner that will not
          still protecting the natural and scenic quality of the             degrade an area's natural and cultural resources. This
          Edisto River. Earlier analysis by the state government             work needs to be built on and applied more specifi-
          has demonstrated that the Edisto possesses high qual-              cally to the ACE Basin region so that the tourism in-
          ity inland fisheries, natural features, flatwater boat-            dustry adheres voluntarily to the highest standards of
          ing, wildlife habitat, water quality, backcountry boat-            ethics, visitor safety, stewardship and quality assur-
          ing, and recreational fishing. Doing this right requires           ance in educational and interpretation programs.
          convening an active community and regional plan-
          ning group that would develop ideas for creating ad-               Lead - South Carolina Nature Based Tourism
          ditional campsites, developing a series of inns situ-                            Association-
          ated near some parts of the river, a canoe livery, fur-            Support - S.C. Department of Parks, Recreation and
          ther landings and so on. For this sort of large effort,                          Tourism
          the community would need to work closely with South                         - ACE Basin Task Force
          Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation and Tour-                          - Nature and Heritage-Based Tourism Task
          ism (PRT) and other relevant agencies and additional                             Group
          monies would need to be raised to cover technical
          planning costs and the required infrastructure improve-            Mobilize business development resources to benefit
          ments. Such an effort could put Colleton in a leader-              Colleton County The Colleton County Resource and
          ship position in terms of developing new eco-tourism
          activities within the Heritage Corridor initiative.













                                                 6












             Freshwater wetlands
             provide vital wildlife
             habitat and support
                            t
                   naturalplan
           communities. Photo
                courtesy of SC
                                                                                                             0
                                                                                                  1%      Q-
                Department of                                                                               2,
             Natural Resources.
                                                                    27









             Development Board and a variety of other organiza-                    lyst for these types of reflections, for additional action
             tions are active on a number of development fronts,                   planning, and for new fund-raising activities by area
             covering topics such as downtown revitalization in                    development and civic improvement groups. In fact,
             Walterboro, business recruitment, quality of life im-                 other communities have found that an action plan
             provements, tourism and crafts development. Each                      like this makes an effective statement to funders that
             of these arenas provides scope for new ways of think-                 this area "means business' - that it is well organized,
             ing and marketing and new project development in                      possesses a good working consensus, thoughtfully
             the light of this planning process. Indeed, develop-                  takes action, and has a business plan that sets devel-
             ment professionals across the U.S. are focusing more                  opment priorities for the future.
             energies on areas of 'synergy" between previously
             separated development efforts, like tourism, business                 Lead - Colleton County Resource and
             retention and expansion, industrial attraction, tour-                      Development Board
             ism development, downtown development, and so                         support - Walterboro-Colleton County Chamber
             forth. Briefings of these groups about the report                          of Commerce
             should be held. The managers of ongoing develop-
             ment programs should think about how their activi-                    Establish educational programs for businesses oper-
             ties could benefit from the success of this plan, how                 ating In the region on how to operate in an environ-
             they could be supportive of its agenda, and what ad-                  mentally conscious manner with respect to waste
             ditional complementary efforts they could undertake.                  management, wildlife Impact, and other resource
                                                                                   considerations For example, the state of North
             For instance, the area might consider cross-training                  Carolina's Office of Waste Reduction provides assis-
             business recruitment, tourism marketing, and hospi-                   tance along these lines. It often targets its services on
             tality-based businesses in marketing the area to pro-                 a countywide basis, offering training and technical
             spective business, residents, and tourists. Likewise,                 assistance in pollution prevention in local manufac-
             the business recruitment effort should consider how                   turing firms, waste reduction for city governments,
             it might target companies and market the area differ-                 locates markets for recyclable materials and helps
             ently in the light of this larger plan. Similarly, new                companies find and utilize recycled materials. A simi-
             companies often need help in a variety of areas, rang-                lar partnership could be structured with relevant South
             ing from putting together a sound business plan to                    Carolina agencies and experts at Clemson University
             marketing, from tax and permit issues to accessing                    and at the South Carolina Department of Health and
             appropriate financing. How might support systems for                  Environmental Control (DHEC).
             starting and growing new companies be expanded?
             How might additional attention be focused on self-                    Lead - Walterboro-Colleton Chamber of Commerce
             employment and minority enterprise development?                       Support - University of South Carolina - Salkehatchie
             What more is needed to keep and expand existing                                - Clemson University
             firms? What additional investments in business de-                             - S.C. Department of Natural Resources
             velopment infrastructure - such as industrial parks,                           - South Carolina Department of Health and
             small business incubators, a revolving loan fund, etc.                               Environmental Control
             - might be required to realize the full potential of                           - Colleton County Resource and Development
             this strategy document? The report could be a cata-                                  Board



















                                                                          28








                                                          CONCLUSION




                     rogress on this ambitious agenda will not                viding an adequate and up-to-date infrastructure, pre-
       happen overnight. But to succeed, we need to get going                 serving an area's environmental assets, and improving
       today on those init                                                    a community's quality of life, economic development is
                             iatives that need to be implemented              no longer the sole domain of the local   ICIhamber of Com-
       first, as well as show early results on some of our longer-
       range goals.                                                           merce or county government or an industrial recruiter.
                                                                              These organizations have neither the time nor the re-
       If we are to accomplish our objectives of winning in the               sources to address the range of needs and opportunities
       marketplace and also preserving our area's quality of                  in a rural community. Rather, economic development is
       life, we need to work together. This plan is not the agenda            everybody's business, from the local minister, banker,
                                                                                                                  forester and school
       of one segment of the                                                                                      principal to the teacher,
       community - it is and                                                                                      county        extension
       must be our game                                                                                           agent, farmer and small
       plan.                                                                                                      businessperson. Each
       Compatible devel p-                                                                                        can play a role in cre-
                                                                                                                  ating the foundations
       ment, furthermore,
                                                                                                                  for a better economic
       happens when real
                                                                                                                  future in the ACE Basin
       partnerships are cre-
                                                                                                                  and in Colleton County.
       ated and a community
       mobilizes more of its
                                     & Is WF.
       problem-solving and                                                                                        We need your help.
                                    1E F Ry -
       creative potential. In                                                                                     Our agenda for pro-
                                                                                                                  moting compatible eco-
       an era when local                                  A"Il                                                    nomic development re-
       prosperity requires ex-
                                                                                                                  quires building a new
       panding the supply of                           0                          A                               partnership for eco-
       availability of capital                      / 11 @
       for industry, develop-                     JAY                                                             nomic opportunity and
                                                  T7,
                                                                                                              A   for quality of life.
       ing a highly-skilled and                 a
                                                0
       flexible workforce, pro-
                                                                                                                  Join us.


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                                                                      i _7*                                       The bald eagle is a common
                                                                                                                  fall and winter resident.
                                                                                                                  Photo courtesy of The
                                                                                                                  Nature Conservancy.
                                                                       29








                                                               PARTICIPANTS

                             The following is a list of participants in the ACE Basin Economic Forum's Strategic Plan.



           COMMUNITY RETREAT -                                 Diane Jones                                       Diane Jones (Vice-Chair)
           JUNE 1995                                           Jim Killian                                       Margaret Barnes
                                                               Ted Kinard*                                       Gordon Chipukites
                                                                                                                 Katherine Doak
           Obafemi Akintunde                                   Ann Kirkley                                       Robert L. Hodges
           Bob Bacon                                           Charles Lane                                      Becky Lee-Grigg
           Billy (Tadpole) Baldwin, Jr.                        Jane Lareau                                       Nancy R. Lockhart
           Billie Baldwin, Sr.                                 Rebecca Lee-Grigg                                 Whit McMillan
           Lee Baldwin                                         Jon Liles                                         Ray Summers
           Marion Barnes                                       Nancy Lockhart                                    Carol Weeks
           Barry Beasley                                       Greg Low*                                         Art Williams
           Chris Bickley*                                      Donald Lyons
           Donny Browning                                      Robert Marvin
           Gene Butler*                                        David Maybank, III                                Land-use Planning
           Ann Carmichael                                      John McDermott
           Ron Carter                                          Mike McKenzie                                     Donald Lyons (Chair)
           Gordon (Chip) Chipukites                            Tony Merck                                        I.N. Rizer (Vice-Chair)
           Fred Covert                                         Jeff Powers                                       Marion Barnes
           Ronnie Crosby                                       Michael Prevost*                                  Chris Bickley
           Wait Dagley                                         Budd Price                                        Floyd Bucker
           Danny Danndridge                                    Lee Pye                                           Mary Ann Burtt
           Mike Davenport                                      Susan Reid                                        Samuel Givens
           Joan Davis                                          Chris Rigby                                       John Gooding
           Katherine Doak                                      I.N. Rizer                                        Charles Griffith
           Michele Ford                                        Marion Sams                                       Calvert Huffines
           Robert Fowlkes                                      Ed Sharp                                          Marvin Jones
           Lynnette Fryar                                      Denise Simmons                                    Jon Liles
           Bruce Funderburke                                   Mendel Smith                                      Robert Marvin
           Megan Gallagher                                     Phillip Smith                                     Ed Sharp
           Linda Gaskins                                       Tay Smith
                                                                                                                 John Stuart
           Alfred Givens                                       Pete Stuckey                                      Jacob Tingman
           Samuel Givens                                       Charlie Sweat
           Buzz Glenn                                          Paul Terni
           John Gooding                                        Sally Tuten                                       Nature-andHerltage-based
           Charles Griffith*                                   Karey Waldrop                                     Tourism
           Jeff Grigg                                          Sandy Ward
           Joe Hamilton                                        Sandy Watkins*                                    Ch .arlie Sweat (Chair)
           Joseph Hamilton                                     Carol Weeks                                       Denise Simmons (Vice-Chair)
           Theron Hamilton                                     Jim Wescott                                       Obaferni Akintunde
           Karen Hewitt*                                       Art Williams                                      Bob Bacon
           Lila Anna Hiers                                                                                       Donny Browning
           Bert Hines                                          *Steering Committee Member                        Gene Butler
           Kenneth Hodges                                                                                        Joan Davis
           Reverend Robert Hodges                                                                                Ryan Easterling
           Shirley Holloman                                    TASK GROUPS                                       Michelle Ford
           Lawton Huggins                                                                                        Charles Griffith
           Lynn Huggins                                        Education                                         Jeff Grigg
           Doc Huributt                                                                                          Joe Hamilton
           Ray Jacobs                                          Joseph Hamilton (Chair)                           Theron Hamilton
           Coy Johnston
                                                                              30







         Dean Harrigal                                       Michael Crosby                                   COMMUNITY RETREAT-
         Lila Anna Hiers;                                    Brian Dabson                                     April 1996
         Tony Merck                                          Boyd Dodd
         Budd Price                                          Allen Driggers
         Phillip Smith                                       J. Forest Eley                                   Bob Bacon
         John Tibbetts                                       Kardell Ferguson, Sr.                            Marion Barnes
         Sally Tuten                                         Buddy Fields                                     Chris Bickley
         Carol Weeks                                         Barnwell Fishbume                                Phillipe Boucher
         Jim Wescott                                         Lynette Fryar                                    Mary Ann Burtt
                                                             Bruce Funderburke                                Gene Butler
                                                             Vladimir Gavrilovic                              Dean Carson
                                                             Samuel Givens                                    Ron Carter
                                                             John Gooding                                     Nellie Cloninger
         Value-added Products                                Terry Grayson                                    Liz Crane
                                                             Charles Griffith                                 Katherine Doak
                                                             Herman Guess                                     Buddy Fields
         Mike Davenport (Chair)                              Joseph Hamilton                                  Robert Folk
         Sandy Watkins (Vice-Chair)                          Buccie Harley                                    Lynette Fryer
         Bill Anderson                                       Charlotte Heaton                                 Bruce Funderburk
         Sara Borbrow                                        Gary Hermann                                     Linda Gaskins
         Dean Carson                                         Karen Hewitt                                     Charles Griffith
         Ronnie Crosby                                       Lisa Hofbauer                                    Tim Hahn
         Parker Dempsey                                      Marvin Jones                                     Joe Hamilton
         Robert Folk                                         Ted Kinard                                       Joseph Hamilton
         Lawton Huggins                                      Annie Mae Kinsey                                 Dean Harrigal
         Ted Kinard                                          Matthew Kizer                                    Karen Hewitt
         Marion Laney                                        Norris Laffitte                                  Bert Hines
         Mike McKenzie                                       Jon P. Liles                                     Reverend Kenneth Hodges
         Jerry Norris                                        Greg Low                                         Lisa Hofbauer
         Michael Prevost                                     Donald Lyons                                     Boris Hurlbutt
         Susan Reed                                          Donell Manigo                                    Deryl Jevons
         Micky Scott                                         Robert E. Marvin                                 Coy Johnston
         Dave Smith                                          Brian Matthews                                   Marvin Jones
         Phillip Smith                                       Dan Morgan                                       Ted Kinard
         Al Stokes                                           Ned Oswald                                       Ann Kirkley
         Mike Upchurch                                       Mike Padgett                                     Marian Laney
                                                             Sam Pinckney                                     Donald Lyons
                                                             Wendell Polk                                     Robert Marvin
                                                             Michael Prevost                                  David Maybank, III
         COMMUNITY LAND-USE                                  I.N. Rizer                                       Mike McKenzie
         PLANNING MEETING -                                  Marion Rizer                                     Jim Outlaw
         JANUARY 1996                                        Ruth Saunders                                    Michael Prevost
                                                             Lawrence A. Savage                               Budd Price
                                                             Ed Sharp                                         Sharon Richardson
         P. W. Ackerman, SL                                  Bob Smith                                        Denise Simmons
         W.S. (Billie) Baldwin, SL                           Tay Smith                                        Skip Starkey
         Marion Barnes                                       A.L. Smoak, Jr.                                  Charlie Sweat
         Howell Beach                                        Mark Steedley                                    Rick Tobin
         Belle Behling                                       Deborah B. Stone                                 Sandy Watkins
         Tommy Bennett                                       Tracy Swagler                                    Carol Weeks
         Chris Bickley                                       Charlie Sweat
         Janis Blocker                                       E.H. Billy Thomas
         Jerry Breland                                       Andy Ulmer
         Eric Budds                                          Sandy Ward
         Gene Butler                                         Duncan Warren
         Jimmy Cook                                          Leroy Womble, Jr.
         Dick Covington

                                                                             31





















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                                                                                                                                                                     EDISTO
                                                                                                                                                                     BEACH S.P.
                                                                                                                                                                DISTO         0
                                 L E G E N D                                                                                            ST. HELENA             BEACH
                                                                                                                                           SOUNL
                                                                                             BEAUFOR
                               CONSERVATION EASEMENT                                             fe
                               NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE (N.W.R.)

                               N.W.R. - PROPOSED

                               NATIONAL ESTUARINE RESEARCH                                                                                HUNTING
                               RESERVE - (N.E.R.R.)                                                  N                                    ISLAND S.P.

                               N.E.R.R. - PROPOSED


                               WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA (W.M.A.)
                                                                                                                                                     0        5                            20
                               WESTVACO COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT                                                                                       Miles

                               SOUTH CAROLINA STATE PARKS                                            S


                          @.wmm@ ACE BASIN BOUNDARY
                          1.   EDISTO NATURE TRAIL                              T11 11E ACE BASIN                                                            COLU BIA
                          2.   DONNELLEY W.M.A.
                                                                               PREPARED FOR THE ACE BASIN EcoNomic FORUM
                          3.   BEAR ISLAND W.M.A.                                            PREPARED BY PARADIGM DESIGN                                                          CHARLESTON
                          4.   ACE BASIN N.W.R. HEADQUARTERS                                           JULY 1996                                                            SAVANNAH

                          5.   N.E.R.R. FIELD STATION                                                                                                       LOCATION MAP









































































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                    Printed on recyyad paper.