COLUMBIA, S.C. – The Southeast Crescent Regional Commission (SCRC) has extended the State Economic and Infrastructure Development (SEID) grant program application deadline from Friday, January 11, 2024, to Friday, February 2, 2024.

The Southeast Crescent Regional Commission (SCRC) welcomes Christopher H. McKinney, Sr., as its new Executive Director. With a distinguished career spanning 36 years, McKinney brings a wealth of experience from military service, civilian leadership roles, and entrepreneurial ventures. “SCRC is honored to welcome someone with demonstrated leadership and distinguished character as Executive Director,” said Dr. Jennifer Clyburn Reed, Federal Co-Chair of SCRC. “Mr. McKinney brings tangible experience from local and national communities that will prove beneficial to every aspect of our programs and throughout the expansive terrain of our seven-state region. Governor Henry McMaster, SCRC State Co-chair, said, “We are delighted to welcome Christopher McKinney as the new Executive Director of the Southeast Crescent Regional Commission,” said Governor Henry McMaster, State Co-Chair of SCRC. “His commitment to collaboration and leadership experiences makes him a valuable asset in our ongoing efforts to enhance the economic prosperity and quality of life in the Southeast Crescent region.” Mr. McKinney will manage SCRC’s day-to-day operations, execute the five-year strategic plan, and implement the Commission’s grants and programs. He will also build relationships with key stakeholders across the region to ensure that SCRC programs align with local communities’ needs. He began his tenure as Executive Director on January 3, 2024, and will work out of the Commission office in Columbia, S.C. “I am honored to serve as the steward of the Office of the Executive Director at the SCRC,” said Executive Director Christopher McKinney. “Collaborating with the Federal Co-Chair and seven governors of the SCRC region is a privilege and a serious responsibility as the organization seeks to collectively elevate communities with long-standing economic challenges, a task that deeply resonates with me and aligns with my purpose.” Before joining SCRC, McKinney led 10X Leadership Consulting and served as the Executive Director of the Santee-Lynches Regional Council of Governments, where he demonstrated exemplary leadership and strategic vision. His extensive military background includes 30 years of dedicated service in the United States Air Force, contributing to his well-rounded and dynamic skill set.

States of the Southeast Crescent Regional Commission (SCRC) Eligible for New Funding to Expand Broadband Access. (Columbia, SC) – The Biden-Harris Administration announced a new investment of $42.5 billion for the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) Program . The program allocates funds to each state to deliver tangible broadband benefits to historically underserved communities. States in the footprint of the Southeast Crescent Regional Commission stand to receive over $8.6 billion in funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which was distributed proportionally according to need: Alabama – $1.4B Georgia – $1.31B Florida – $1.17B Mississippi – $1.2B North Carolina – $1.53B South Carolina – $551.54M Virginia – $1.48B Program managers assigned to each state will work to ensure that the communities with the greatest need of the program receive services. Increasing access to high-speed internet lowers barriers to social and economic support, especially for isolated communities which need access to telehealth, virtual learning, e-commerce, high-paying jobs and more. “High-speed internet is critical in today’s world. This historic investment marks a turning point for all residents with the SCRC footprint, particularly those in underserved communities. With this investment, each state is empowered to build out the needed infrastructure to address existing gaps in coverage,” said Dr. Jennifer Clyburn Reed, Federal Co-Chair of SCRC. This investment is part of the Biden-Harris administration’s goal to connect all Americans to high-speed internet by 2030. Ultimately, the administration is poised to invest more than $90 billion to expand equitable and affordable internet access. For more information on the program, visit InternetForAll.Gov.