BIRMINGHAM, AL (October 21, 2025) – SouthernCarolina Alliance (SCA) has secured USDA grant funding for the third consecutive year to support downtown revitalization efforts in two more of its communities, Fairfax and Port Royal.
Building on past partnerships with Allendale, Bamberg, Barnwell, and Hampton County communities, the grant will fund SCA’s partnership with Downtown Strategies, a division of Retail Strategies, to develop an immediate, five-year vision for the downtown districts in Allendale and Beaufort Counties.
This initiative will result in the creation of two custom strategic action plans that focus on practical, project-based recommendations, leading to quick wins and real results, while setting both communities up for long-term success. The process will include on-site Strategic Visioning Workshops with each community, which will take place in early 2026.
“SouthernCarolina Alliance is pleased to lead this effort on behalf of our communities to strengthen downtown development, which is a key marketing tool in building true economic development and attracting industrial projects to our region,” said Kathy Rhoad, SCA’s Director of Strategic Initiatives. “We appreciate the work that Downtown Strategies has done in partnership with SCA over the last 3 years, and we are grateful to USDA for funding these critical programs.”
Additionally, small business owners in both communities will receive specialized, on-demand training to strengthen their operations. This online training will focus on Business Modernization and is part of Retail Strategies’ Small Business Support platform. The grant enables each community to benefit from this comprehensive approach to downtown revitalization, furthering SouthernCarolina Alliance’s mission of fostering economic development in the region.
About SouthernCarolina Alliance
The SouthernCarolina Alliance is the regional economic development alliance in South Carolina, representing Allendale, Beaufort, Bamberg, Barnwell, Colleton, Hampton, and Jasper Counties. The organization assists existing industries with expansion and new industries with start-ups, serving as a liaison to local, state, and federal governments and allies. SCA’s mission is to sustain and create jobs that will improve the quality of life in the seven counties in its region through the ideals of cooperation and regionalism.
For more information, visit https://southerncarolina.org/
About Downtown Strategies
Downtown Strategies, a division of Retail Strategies, exists to provide realistic and implementable strategies to communities for revitalizing their downtown areas. Led by a team of former downtown revitalization practitioners and real estate experts, our combination of real-world experience and expertise in real estate and retail uniquely qualifies us to assist communities in backfilling vacancies, increasing tourism, and enhancing the sense of place in their downtowns. Serving rural communities in 27 states, Downtown Strategies is the leading national firm for downtown revitalization planning, with a focus on real estate and retail.
About Retail Strategies
Retail Strategies is the national expert in community development and retail economic development. Our mission is to provide real estate expertise, tools, and human effort that position deserving towns as alluring locations for national businesses and destinations for tourism, as well as quality-of-life amenities. We confidently pursue this mission by delivering unparalleled customer service as a unified team with unmatched expertise in real estate and community development. Our activities generate a return in the form of sales taxes, new jobs, and businesses that enhance and add to the unique qualities of your community.
CONTACT: Drew Franklin, Director of Marketing – Retail Strategies dfranklin@retailstrategies.com
