Gullah Geechee Historic Neighborhoods Community Development Corporation

Town Council took a historic step towards protecting its historic and culturally sensitive neighborhoods September 20, 2022, through the creation of the Gullah Geechee Historic Neighborhoods Community Development Corporation.

The corporation will serve the Town's historic neighborhoods, which have been identified as including the Bay Gall, Big Hill, Chaplin, Gardner, Grassland, Jarvis, Jonesville, Marshland, Mitchelville, Spanish Wells, Squire Pope, and Stoney areas of the Island.

Town Council had identified a significant threat to these areas due to a sustained and continuing absence of viable economic opportunities, lack of access to safe, respectable, and quality affordable housing options, limited access to critical skills, training, and education programs. The results of these threats could continue to negatively impact these communities unless and until significant investments are made to ensure their long-term sustainability.

The focus of this organization will be the promotion of cultural resources and the protection of cultural assets within the Island's historic communities, thus:

• Enhancing the quality of life for community residents.
• Encouraging entrepreneurialism.
• Preventing gentrification.
• Assisting in business attraction, expansion, and retention.
• Providing land planning and development assistance.
• Pursuing affordable housing opportunities.
• Identifying infrastructure needs.
• Providing critical financial opportunities.

Next steps in this process call for Town Council to appoint a dynamic board of directors to oversee and guide the development of the corporation and its organizational objectives. The board will then work with the Town to hire a talented individual to serve as the executive director.

For more information regarding the Gullah-Geechee Historic Neighborhoods Community Development Corporation, contact Josh Gruber, Deputy Town Manager, at 843-341-4634.

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