One Region Roadmap Draft Recommendations for Berkeley, Charleston, & Dorchester Counties Are Ready

Seeks public input to prioritize regional strategies before finalizing report

North Charleston, SC (Wednesday, February 2, 2022) — The most comprehensive partnership of business, government, academic, nonprofit and community leaders in our region’s history announced the launch of One Region Roadmap: Opportunities for All last May. After nine months of research and information gathering, One Region Roadmap recommendations are in the final stages of development.

The One Region coalition has worked to identify strategies that would make a difference in people’s lives. Now they are reporting back on what they heard and learned, and are seeking community input to prioritize which strategies are most important to residents.

One Region is requesting the public visit OneRegionRoadmap.com now through February 20 to:

• Review findings including: recent data on how our regional economy is recovering from COVID and feedback from resident & business surveys
• Provide your input and prioritize proposed strategies to help families and businesses during this time of economic uncertainty

Public feedback will be used to identify which economic recovery strategies should be prioritized by members of the One Region coalition. To get started, visit OneRegionRoadmap.com and click on the public input link. Participants are welcome to explore as many or as few of the Eight Regional Dynamics as they would like. Each individual topic area has a button to learn more, and a section to rank strategies and provide additional information. The site can be navigated in five minutes; longer if you download the summary impact draft report.

One Region Roadmap is an economic recovery and resiliency plan that will define a healthy greater Charleston while offering real solutions, implementable actions, and measurable results.

The effort is led by One Region stakeholders including BCDCOG, Charleston Metro Chamber, Charleston Regional Development Alliance, and the public, private, academic, and nonprofit sectors of our community. It is supported by a broad array of stakeholders from across Berkeley, Charleston, and Dorchester counties, and is guided by public input. The plan — built on action and outcomes — will also outline a pathway to economic security, stability, and opportunities for all in our region.

“This is an exciting opportunity for all of us to work together to address deeply rooted and systemic problems, while developing both short-term and long-term regional priorities,” said Dr. Kendra Stewart, One Region Chair and Director of the Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Center for Livable Communities at the College of Charleston. “Public input is critical in creating the most comprehensive plan our region has ever seen. Each of us is responsible for moving our community forward,” she added.

SB Friedman Development Advisors led the development of the Roadmap. The firm, which has previous and ongoing experience in the region, is renowned nationally for its analytical, strategic and financial consulting services in support of complex, high-impact development projects.

ABOUT

One Region Roadmap is the next evolution of the One Region Strategy launched in 2016. It is a new strategic planning and public input process, providing a broad platform for the community to address economic challenges old and new — and to prepare for adversities yet to come. The initiative is funded by a $400,000 U.S. Economic Development Administration grant secured by BCDCOG, with additional support from partner agencies, Charleston Regional Development Alliance, and Charleston Metro Chamber. One Region Roadmap identifies barriers to expanding our regional economy and provides residents with opportunities for economic mobility. The ultimate success of One Region Roadmap lies in its ability to create real change. For more information, please visit OneRegionRoadmap.com.

Fast Facts:

• Since May 2021, nine months of information-gathering and research formed the basis of the summary impact draft report
  • 1600+ residents and businesses completed surveys
  • 16 focus groups
  • 500+ stakeholders participating in focus groups or meetings o 24 community meeting presentations
  • 25+ non-profits engaged
• One Region Roadmap is organized around 8 Regional Dynamics: Equity and Economic Momentum are overarching themes interwoven throughout the report’s analyses and strategies
  • Economic Momentum
  • Equity
  • Affordability
  • Global Fluency
  • Infrastructure
  • Innovation & Entrepreneurship
  • Quality of Place
  • Talent