1 week Ago
COLUMBIA — Richland County Council voted on Nov. 12 to dissolve its economic development office and turn it into a nonprofit organization. The plan has been discussed in the county's strategic planning and economic development committee meetings for two years.
It was brought to County Council for the first time Nov. 12 and was passed in a 7-2 vote. The new organization will be a public-private partnership funded by the county and private sector, and be governed by a board of directors.
Two County Council members will serve on the nonprofit's board and the county will appoint three other people to serve on the board. The county would also be able to vote to remove members they appointed. The city of Greenville did something similar with its economic development arm in 2023.
No budget changes are planned to come from the switch. The same budget the county uses now for economic development would continue going toward the new nonprofit, according to County Councilwoman Jesica Mackey. Councilman Jason Branham, who represents the Seven Oaks area, said he was happy with the operations of Richland County Economic Development and didn't see a good reason to change things.
"There's a lot of risk inherent in what I'm seeing in this draft and this proposal," Branham said. Councilmembers were confused on whether the vote on Nov. 12 was the first reading or if it was a one-and-done deal.
Mackey advised that the vote would be final. Lower Richland County Councilmember Chakisse Newton also voted no on the resolution. "The things that the (nonprofit) is trying to address, there are alternate solutions besides the (nonprofit) that could achieve those, and this was the only one that was considered," Newton said.
Longtime Councilman Paul Livingston said that it was clear to him and other councilmembers that the nonprofit would give the county an advantage by including folks from the private sector..
