News Release

Board Members Sought for Gullah Geechee Historic Neighborhoods Community Development Corporation

January 9, 2023

The Town of Hilton Head Island seeks to appoint a well-qualified and diverse group of individuals to serve on the board of directors for the Gullah Geechee Historic Neighborhoods Community Development Corporation.

Town Council created the corporation last September to support the preservation, advancement, and sustainability of historic and culturally sensitive communities on Hilton Head Island. Those communities include the Bay Gall, Big Hill, Chaplin, Gardner, Grassland, Jarvis, Jonesville, Marshland, Mitchelville, Spanish Wells, Squire Pope, and Stoney areas. The corporation will achieve its objectives by:

• 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; and
• Providing critical financial opportunities.

"Over the last several months, we have been laying the necessary groundwork for this important initiative, including development of bylaws and approval from the state for the corporation to be formed. With this groundwork completed, we are now able to begin recruiting board members to lead this important effort," said Town Manager Marc Orlando. "This is an opportunity for community members to use their talents in a way that will significantly contribute to our Island’s future and the preservation of what makes it so unique. We are looking for qualified Board members with dynamic experience, expertise, and knowledge to guide the work of this corporation."

"As Town Council members, we are excited to see this corporation serve these Island communities and help preserve the significant cultural heritage that each one of them represents. These board members will have some high-level responsibilities in making sure this corporation achieves its goals. Once they are carried out, I am confident these efforts will be beneficial in uplifting and sustaining our Gullah Geechee communities," said Hilton Head Island Mayor Alan Perry.

The board will consist of a maximum of nine voting directors and will be structured as follows:

• Two Town Council members who represent historic Gullah Geechee neighborhoods. Those neighborhoods are a part of Town Council Wards 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6.
• Seven members of the community who represent a variety of backgrounds and interests and can help facilitate community building. They may include:
  • Representatives from a historic Hilton Head Island neighborhood or the greater Hilton Head Island Gullah Geechee community;
  • Representatives from public utilities;
  • Local religious leaders and educators;
  • Individuals possessing experience in business leadership, banking or financial services, community/urban planning, entrepreneurialism, and visionary skills;
  • Representatives from the Hilton Head Island – Bluffton Chamber of Commerce;
  • Representatives of the Island’s cultural tourism industry; and
  • Individuals who have legal experience regarding land and/or real estate development.

Board members will be responsible for:

• Providing oversight and guidance to the executive director of the corporation;
• Establishing a comprehensive strategic plan for the corporation;
• Assisting with implementation of the strategic initiatives;
• Developing operational and capital budgets that support the corporation’s strategic plan;
• Establishing annual performance metrics and other similar objectives for the corporation;
• Overseeing the annual financial reporting and auditing process; and
• Communicating key initiatives to the public.

Individuals interested in serving on the board may apply online through the Town's website at https://www.hiltonheadislandsc.gov/gullahgeecheecdc/ or in person at Town Hall,1 Town Center Court, Hilton Head Island. 

For more information on the board, please contact Krista Wiedmeyer, Town Clerk, at KristaW@hiltonheadislandsc.gov or 843-341-4701.