Landowner Resource Workshop Coming to Clarendon County

To meet the need of providing educational and entrepreneurial resources to landowners in rural South Carolina communities, a statewide non-profit is offering a Landowner Resource Workshop webinar series. Beginning in March and running through September, the virtual workshop series is focused on eight (8) different counties and Clarendon County’s workshop is scheduled for Tuesday, May 4 from 5:30 to 7:30pm. Hosted by South Carolina Association for Community Economic Development (SCACED), each workshop will give landowners the opportunity to learn about USDA-NRCS funding programs available to enhance their land, methods to increase profitability, how to start an agricultural business, Agri-heritage tourism, conservation planning, and the EQIP/CSP application process and implementation. Each county’s workshop will feature USDA District Conservationists for their area. “Black farmers and landowners do not historically participate in these programs because of trust issues with the government,” said SCACED’s Rural Prosperity Coordinator Ken Harvin. “However, South Carolina has made significant effort to increasing funding opportunities to underserved populations.” Owning land in one of the counties included in the workshop series is not required to attend. All landowners in South Carolina are encouraged to register and attend. SCACED will connect you with the USDA District Conservationist for your area if you own land outside of the workshop’s counties. The South Carolina Association for Community Economic Development (SCACED) is a coalition of over 150 individuals and organizations who support the development of healthy and economically sustainable communities throughout South Carolina. For over 25 years, SCACED and its members have worked collaboratively to build wealth and create economic opportunity for all SC residents including a focus on minority communities and other groups who have been left out of the economic mainstream.