The Southeastern Economic Development Commission held its 56th Annual Meeting on Tuesday, May 14, at the Cape Fear Vineyard and Winery in Elizabethtown. The Commission’s membership is comprised of Bladen, Brunswick, Columbus, Cumberland, Harnett, Hoke, Pender, New Hanover, Richmond, Robeson, Sampson and Scotland Counties. SEDC is the designated Economic Development District (EDD) and Local Development District (LDD) for southeastern North Carolina. The SEDC assists its member counties and other eligible applicants in applying for federal grant investments that help generate jobs, protect existing jobs and stimulate economic growth. 

Pamela Bostic, Executive Director of SEDC, welcomed board members and guests who included the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) N.C. Economic Development Representative (NC EDR) Hillary Sherman; Southeast Crescent Regional Commission (SCRC) State Director Olivia Collier; representatives from the offices of Senator Ted Budd, Senator Thom Tillis, and Congressman David Rouzer; elected and local government officials from the twelve-member counties and economic development allies from the region. 

The event featured an engaging panel discussion. The panelists included Hillary Sherman, NC EDR, EDA; Olivia Collier, State Director, SCRC and the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC); Chuck Heustess, Executive Director, Bladen County Economic Development Commission, and President, Bladen’s Bloomin’ Agri-Industrial; and Al Leonard, Tabor City Capital Projects Director, and Fair Bluff Chamber of Commerce Redevelopment Director. 

Each panelist provided an overview of their respective funding program, expertise and experience with the EDA and SCRC funding programs, or helpful grant writing tips. 

After the panel discussion, Mark Ward, SEDC Chairman, gave the board of directors report. Ward reported that the SEDC member counties, cities and other eligible applicants have received investments totaling more than $125.6 million involving 187 projects from the EDA made possible by the regional planning efforts led by SEDC. This fiscal year, $690,604 in EDA grant funding was awarded to the Town of Elizabethtown for critical infrastructure improvements needed to support business and job growth in the region. The investment will be matched with $364,896 in local funds and is initially expected to create 50 jobs and generate $2.3 million in private investment.

Chairman Ward reported that in June 2023 SEDC was invited to participate in the inaugural Local Development District (LDD) program for the Southeast Crescent Regional Commission (SCRC) as allowed in the general provisions authorized by the U.S. Congress in the 2008 Farm Bill. After 56 years of service as a U.S. EDA Economic Development District, SEDC will also serve as a LDD for the SCRC and operate as a lead organization serving its twelve-county region at the local level.

In addition to the regional planning efforts and services provided as an EDA Economic Development District, SEDC will assist in identifying, assessing and facilitating projects and programs to promote the economic development of the SCRC region and provide technical assistance, application support and review and other services for entities positioning to apply for SCRC funding in the SEDC region. 

The SEDC Full Board elected the following officers for a one-year term for 2024 - 2025: Gary Lanier from Columbus County as Chairman; Chuck Heustess from Bladen County as Vice Chairman; and Mark Ward from Scotland County as Secretary-Treasurer.

The SEDC Office is in Elizabethtown. For more information about SEDC, visit www.sedcnc.org.