South Carolina's NESA Region Hosts U.S.D.A. Great Regions Conference

FLORENCE, S.C., Jan. 24, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- On Friday, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (U.S.D.A.) Rural Development held a conference in Florence, S.C., following its designation of South Carolina's NESA region as one of America's "great regions." The conference brought together key local, state and federal stakeholders from the government and business communities, in a cooperative effort aimed at aiding development of the region.

NESA is the local economic development organization – the North Eastern Strategic Alliance – that encompasses nine counties in the northeast corner of the South Carolina. The conference comes on the heels of NESA having successfully secured a $50,000 U.S.D.A. Rural Business Opportunity Grant (RBOG), which will help it fund a strategic plan and feasibility study aimed at boosting agribusiness in the NESA region.

The mission of the agribusiness development initiative is to seek collaborative partnerships with public and private sector entities to bring new agribusiness opportunities to the region, resulting in job creation, capital investment, and improvement to the quality of life in the region.

"We are thrilled and take enormous pride in being named one of America's 'great regions'," said Sen. J. Yancey McGill (D-32), Chairman of NESA's executive committee. "The recognition is a strong testimonial to our core strengths: a top quality workforce, low taxes and a community that is laser-focused on bringing and retaining good companies in our region."

"The NESA Region was designated as a USDA 'Great Regions' in September 2010 for its agribusiness development. Regional collaboration is one of Secretary Vilsack's priorities and this conference will bring together federal, local and state agencies to focus on regional collaboration in rural South Carolina. We are here to discuss key issues and ideas for implementing technical assistance and providing a variety of resources to this 'Great Region'. Our objective is to enhance rural prosperity while creating thriving and viable communities throughout rural America," said Vernita F. Dore, State Director of USDA Rural Development in South Carolina.

The North Eastern Strategic Alliance (NESA) is a regional economic development organization that serves a nine-county region in the northeast corner of South Carolina. NESA's primary objective is to enhance significantly the quality of life for residents of the region by creating additional jobs and capital investment within the existing industry base as well as through recruitment of new companies and expansion of tourism related development. NESA's nine member counties are Chesterfield, Darlington, Dillon, Florence, Georgetown, Horry, Marion, Marlboro, and Williamsburg.

SOURCE North Eastern Strategic Alliance

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