Dennis Corporation was one of eleven sponsors of the Sumter–Columbia Empowerment Zone Appreciation and Awards Dinner titled “Commemorating Success Through 10 Years of Service” held on Thursday, December 10th at Seawells Banquet and Reception Center in Columbia, SC.
The Empowerment Zone and Enterprise Community Initiative was started under the Clinton administration, in 1999, as a way to focus on the formation of self sustaining, long-term advancement in distressed urban and rural areas throughout the nation. In South Carolina, the cities of Sumter and Columbia collaborated to create the Sumter-Columbia Empowerment Zone (SCEZ). This 10 year initiative, ending in December 2009, joined a diverse group of city officials, citizens and community groups of the Cities of Sumter and Columbia together towards progressing economic development within their communities by focusing on the concerns of their regions.
Through many public forums and with the input of over 600 people of various backgrounds, The SCEZ created a strategic plan called “Facing the Future: Together,” a vision for success used to empower citizens by providing the information, skills, and resources needed to make the neighborhoods they live and work in better places. 10 years and approximately 26 million dollars later, the SCEZ has been able to impact thousands of people through job creation and retention, job training, loan programs and 38 community specific initiatives and programs.
Dennis Corporation was proud to also serve as a recognized partner of the SCEZ during its tenure, utilizing its programs as a small business and also exercising our own services to help grow the economic development in the City of Columbia.
Dennis Corporation is a South Carolina licensed civil engineering, surveying and construction management firm. Dennis Corporation’s specific fields of expertise include aviation engineering, civil infrastructure, construction management, construction services, environmental services, expert witness, intelligent transportation systems, program management, special projects, surveying, traffic engineering, transportation engineering and water resources.