What's Up With the Blog?

Greetings All,

You have been such an encouragement to me during this time of remarkable transition from an unbelievable real estate “BOOM” to a more moderate “Balancing” of conditions here in The Lowcountry.

Indeed, it is in response to these changing times that I am prompted to reassess how and where my time is invested each working day. On occasion and with purposed regularity, we would be wise to examine the economics of our time and how we spend what is so precious.

Do our actions reflect our hearts’ desire? Do we tell others what we value only to devote time and energy to unrelated endeavors?

Does our speech communicate one thing and our actions reveal something quite different? May it not be so!

Consistency is beneficial – Consistency is respectable – Consistency is valuable

Therefore, in recognition of this challenging environment where even basic issues can delay or even prevent the sale from closing, I am suspending the blog to exemplify my commitment to what is most important: Helping my buyers – BUY & Helping my sellers – SELL!

Nonetheless, as the original purpose was to keep the public informed, I will leave the blog up in order to serve as an ongoing resource.

Until next time, remember: It is a Gift to be at Home in the Lowcountry™ and, if you know of anyone who is thinking of or planning to move, I’d Love to Help!™

Economic Development Clusters

In addition to quality of life issues like greenbelts, I'm glad to see Charleston County intentionally creating an environment to attract business . . . the sort of business that can in turn provide the revenue to support the programs that contribute to a desirable quality of life! For a long while we sort of coasted on our natural charms, and I'm glad to see such thoughtful, inclusive planning for the future instead of just taking what comes. It's great to know this place that I love is going to be a a place my children can love, too!

"In Charleston County, like other places, economic development often centers on feeding the small fish, rather than trying to catch the big one. That’s why the county sees its small business enterprise program as an economic engine. It’s limited to companies with revenues under $7.5 million, but the idea is that they’ll grow and attract other companies.

The program, which helps business locate bid opportunities on government contracts, launched after a report showing disparities in the county’s hiring of minority- and women-owned businesses to provide goods and services. But the county is now emphasizing it as 'race and gender neutral' in an effort to ensure the entire small business community can benefit.

Not only will those companies grow themselves, they’ll add the groundwork to attract more business, he said.

'When big companies come here, you have to have these small feeder companies that are going to need to supply support to these firms,' Tolbert said. 'When you can tell a large corporation we already have the firms here to give you the technical support that you need, that’s a recruitment tool.'

To date, 268 businesses have registered in the program, which started in Dec. 2007.
Another 50 have pending applications, Tolbert said.

The program stems beyond identifying ways to secure government contracts. It also helps companies gain enterprise certification that will help them connect with other contractors as well. In addition, the county sponsors numerous workshops for businesses registered in the program, which essentially provides a professional network for companies seeking information and work, Tolbert said.

'Our concern is helping them grow so they can hire more people. We’re forming a resource network of information and technical assistance,' he said. "

For the full Charleston Regional Business Journal article: http://www.charlestonbusiness.com/current/14_16/news/12520-1.html

Charleston Greenbelt Project

It's encouraging to see Charleston County take such a proactive stance toward acquiring public green space, helping to ensure that the Lowcountry will be just as beautiful for my grandchildren! Careful planning to preserve areas of natural beauty throughout the area maintains the integrity of our whole community, rather than allowing strip mall corridors leading into perfectly preserved historic pockets.

"The goal of the greenbelt is to protect 40,000 acres from suburban sprawl as area population continues to grow. Projections by the S.C. State Budget and Control Board and the U.S. Census Bureau show that the region will have an estimated 200,000 more residents by the year 2030. In the past, those estimates have been conservative.

In the first year and a half that funds have been available, the county has preserved more than 7,400 acres of undeveloped land by providing $30.37 million in grants to nonprofit agencies and municipalities. Rather than becoming high-rises, gas stations or residential subdivisions, the land will be parks, playgrounds and nature preserves.

The other was a small, yet expensive, piece of land, and the applicant was unable to generate matching funds. Matching funds are not required but are preferred, Ruff said. To date, projects have generated matching funds of $50.5 million, or 166% of what the county has spent.

Approved projects include $1.41 million for a 232-acre Charleston park that will abut Long Savannah, a 1,300-acre mixed-use development in West Ashley and $4 million for the 900-acre Tibwin Project in the Francis Marion National Forest.

Greenbelt funds are split into two pots of money: one for rural projects outside of the county’s Urban Suburban Growth Boundary and one for urban projects within it.

Rural project areas include the West St. Andrews area in West Ashley, Wadmalaw Island, Edisto Island, the St. Paul’s area, Hollywood, Meggett, Ravenel, Rockville, Awendaw,
McClellanville and portions of Johns Island, West Ashley and East Cooper.

Urban project areas include the cities of Charleston, Folly Beach, Isle of Palms and North Charleston; the towns of Mount Pleasant, James Island, Kiawah Island, Seabrook Island, Sullivan’s Island and Lincolnville; and other unincorporated parts of Johns Island, West Ashley and East Cooper."

For the full Charleston Regional Business Journal article: http://www.charlestonbusiness.com/current/14_16/news/12518-1.html

For a pdf list of existing Greenbelt purchases: http://www.charlestonbusiness.com/issues/pdfs/Greenbelt_Proejcts.pdf