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Rural Resource Coalition 2023 Annual Meeting
Event Details
The Rural Resource Coalition (RRC) 2023 Annual Meeting will be on Wednesday, December 6 at Brookland Banquet & Conference Center in West Columbia, SC.
Featuring keynote speaker Mignon Clyburn, this year's meeting will focus on the theme "The Evolving Rural Landscape: Modern Challenges and Opportunities for Growth," and will provide chance for leaders from conservation, farming, forestry, tourism, and community economic development to meet, reconnect, and discover new ways to work together.
At this gathering, you'll learn from robust panel discussions and rural South Carolina leaders about recent successes and challenges as well as emerging opportunities to advance our vision of rural prosperity. A plated lunch will be served.
Brookland Banquet & Conference Center
1066 Sunset Boulevard
West Columbia, South Carolina
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Agenda
- 9:00 AM - 10:00 AMNetworking Breakfast with Exhibitors
- 10:00 AM - 10:10 AMWelcoming Remarks
- 10:10 AM - 10:15 AMSoloist - Taylor Goodwin
Christian Smalls
Singer at Black Diamond Band
- 10:15 AM - 11:15 AMWhat is Rural?Federal and State agencies define rural geography in different terms, and the rural landscape in South Carolina is changing with significant farmland loss, development pressures, and shifting demographics. This panel brings together State leaders, rural practitioners, and government agencies to examine current challenges and how rural small towns should position their attributes to attract new opportunities and capital investments.
Bernie Mazyck
President & CEO of SCACED
GP McLeer
Mayor of Fountain Inn & Director of the Upstate Mobility Alliance at Upstate Mobility Alliance
- 11:30 AM - 11:35 AMEnergy Justice Coalition VideoThe Energy Justice Coalition will share a minute video presentation on its purpose and policy initiatives to address South Carolina energy burdens.
- 11:35 AM - 12:05 PMState of SC Broadband AccessThe COVID -19 pandemic raised the importance of the need for high-speed broadband services, and revealed that South Carolina was deficient in internet access especially in rural areas and among the most vulnerable populations. Governor Henry McMaster signed into law Act 142, which authorized the South Carolina Office of Regulatory Staff (ORS) to address broadband needs throughout the state with funding from the federal government Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). This session features the Director of the SC State Broadband Office discussing the current state of South Carolina broadband access since 2020.
- 12:15 PM - 12:30 PMRecognition of Broadband Community Champions
- 12:30 PM - 1:00 PMLunch
- 1:00 PM - 1:30 PMKeynote AddressKeynote speaker Mignon Clyburn, Principal at MLC Strategies and former Commissioner of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), will deliver keynote remarks at the end of the luncheon.
Mignon Clyburn
Principal at MLC Strategies
- 1:30 PM - 1:35 PMSC Forestry Commission VideoThe SC Forestry Commission will present a video presentation to share what’s happening in the South Carolina timber market and the resources available.
- 1:35 PM - 2:35 PMDigital Equity and the Next GenerationAs more of our daily activities move online, a dependable and affordable home broadband internet connection is a necessity. However, for many South Carolinians this remains out of reach. What is digital equity? What are Broadband resources? And how can community champions play a role in ensuring that everyone can benefit from the federal and state investments? This panel of practitioners will discuss the State’s Digital Equity Plan, successful digital equity models, and how nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, healthcare providers, State agencies, and local governments can advance internet for all South Carolinians.
Tom Allen
Chief of Technology at South Carolina Office of Regulatory Staff
Larry "Chad" Chadwick
Federal Program Officer - South Carolina at National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA)
Paola Gutierrez
Director of External Engagement at South Carolina Office of Rural Health
Nina Staggers
Assistant Executive Director, Workforce Development of South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce
Ashlee Parra
Digital Navigator at Palmetto Care Connections
- 2:50 PM - 3:00 PMClosing Remarks
Speakers
Tom Allen
Chief of Technology at South Carolina Office of Regulatory Staff
Read BioLarry "Chad" Chadwick
Federal Program Officer - South Carolina at National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA)
Read BioMignon Clyburn
Principal at MLC Strategies
Read Bio
Ann English
State Conservationist at USDA - NRCS
Paola Gutierrez
Director of External Engagement at South Carolina Office of Rural Health
Read BioBernie Mazyck
President & CEO of SCACED
Read BioGP McLeer
Mayor of Fountain Inn & Director of the Upstate Mobility Alliance at Upstate Mobility Alliance
Read BioAshlee Parra
Digital Navigator at Palmetto Care Connections
Christian Smalls
Singer at Black Diamond Band
Nina Staggers
Assistant Executive Director, Workforce Development of South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce
Read Bio
James Stritzinger, Jr.
Director of SC Broadband Office
Read Bio
R. Gregg White
District Director of U.S. Small Business Administration
Read Bio
Sponsors and Partners
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