Our annual meeting is a chance for leaders from conservation, farming, forestry, tourism, and community economic development to meet, reconnect, and discover new ways to work together. At this gathering, you’ll hear from partners about recent successes and emerging opportunities to advance our vision of rural prosperity.

With emphasis on spurring wealth creation from within rural communities, the RRC works to create a stronger South Carolina rural economy through: local food markets, working farm and forest conservation, affordable housing, renewable energy, place-based tourism, and more.

What's on Rural Kitchen Table: Food, Housing & Energy

AGENDA AT A GLANCE

9:00-10:00 AM Networking Breakfast with Exhibitors

10:00-10:10 AM Welcoming Remarks

10:10 - 10:20 AM Performing Arts

10:20 - 10:30 AM Local Food System Network Subcommittee Video Presentation

Matt Kneece, South Carolina Policy Coordinator Carolina Farm Stewardship Association

10:30 -11:20 AM Food Access and Insecurity Panel Discussion with Q&A

11:20 - 11:30 AM Heritage Place Based Tourism Subcommittee Video Presentation

Peach Morrison, Executive Director SC Lowcountry & Resort Island Tourism Commission, SCATR

11:30 AM - 12:20 PM Rural Housing Panel Discussion with Q&A

12:20 - 1:30 PM Networking Lunch

1:30 - 1:40 PM Access to Broadband Subcommittee Video Presentation

Jim Stritzinger, Director South Carolina Office of Regulatory Staff - Broadband Division

1:40 - 2:30 PM Energy Justice Panel Discussion with Q&A

2:30 PM Award Presentation & Closing Remarks

"Power of Rural Award" - from SC Office of Rural Health

Theme: What's on Rural Kitchen Table: Food, Housing & Energy

Food insecurity and access in rural communities is real for many families living in food deserts. This session will discuss with local producers, state agency, food banks, and community-based leaders on the region food challenges exacerbated by COVID-19 and it impact. Participants will learn emerging models’ and strategies communities are using to fight hunger. Attendees will also understand the different grant opportunities available to help families, socially disadvantaged farmers, churches, and community based nonprofit organizations.

Rural Affordable Housing conversation focuses on the need of families to secure decent housing and their fight to preserve the existing aging housing stock in underserved markets with leading housing experts, residential developers, and public policy advocates. The panel will speak about the present state of affordable housing in South Carolina, what’s working in rural communities, its challenges, the tools practitioners are using to advance affordable housing, winning strategies, and funding opportunities to end homelessness.

Energy Justice talk will explore the many factors that affect the amount of energy a household use. This session will discover how homeowners, activists and policy makers are addressing the rising energy cost for South Carolinians. Presenters will highlight current public service commission utility proposals and reveal the latest results from South Carolina energy survey and its implications. By the end of the session attendees will have new energy tools to reduce energy consumption.