Community Mitigation Plan

OUR PLAN

What is the Community Mitigation Plan?

As a result of the expansion of the port on the former Naval Complex in North Charleston, the South Carolina State Ports Authority (SCSPA) along with the City of North Charleston and the Lowcountry Alliance for Model Communities (LAMC), developed the Community Mitigation Plan (CMP) in an effort to minimize any negative impacts and maximize the benefits of the expansion. This Mitigation Plan is the first of its kind in the nation to focus on community efforts as part of the formal Plan. The united effort behind bringing the CMP to full fruition is the Working Group comprised of LAMC members, a City Project Manager and a Mitigation Oversight Committee with representatives from local and state government, business and industry and other regional stakeholders. Together, this team is dedicated to bringing forth a world of change.

Lowcountry Alliance for Model Communities

A group of seven neighborhoods (Accabee, Chicora/Cherokee, Union Heights, Howard Heights, Windsor Place, Five Mile, and Liberty Hill) near the terminal site have come together to form the LAMC. Naturally some people in our communities were skeptical of the Port and its development. What many people do not realize are the historical advantages the Port brings to our economy and quality of life. LAMC, the City of North Charleston and the SCSPA are spearheading this tremendous effort and opportunity.

MITIGATION PLAN VISION

Provide environmental security to LAMC residents and meet social, residential, educational and economic needs for generations to come. Residents are actively engaged in the redevelopment and revitalization of their neighborhoods; benefit from newly created for-profit opportunities; and celebrate their rich community and cultural heritage.

BENEFITING OUR COMMUNITY

A Major Focus

Over several months, the City of North Charleston and LAMC worked with the SCSPA to create some very positive benefits. The resulting agreement calls for the SCSPA to fund $4.08 million in community, neighborhood and economic development projects. Specific community priorities that will be funded through this effort include:

• The establishment of a housing trust for the creation of affordable housing. • Contract for the placement of environmental receptors in the community to monitor possible construction impacts of the proposed project.
• Support educational attainment by offering assistance, such as childhood education vouchers, enhanced after-school programs, tuition assistance, GED classes and college scholarships.
• Establish a Maritime Training Institute (Career Center) to provide assistance, such as entrepreneurial training/opportunities, vanpools, etc.
• Establish or support programs that assist qualified local vendors in securing new business, such as bid package assistance programs, fund for contractor/subcontractor bonding, vendor assistance, insurance and workmen’s compensation assistance, loan servicing fees assistance, revolving loan fund, etc.
• Expand health care and provide fitness amenities in a community center or a local health care facility.
• Improve existing community center(s).
• Develop a master plan/community vision for the surrounding community to identify specific needs, to include landscaping, beautification and enhancement of interfaces between the proposed project and the community.