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  Edgefield County Alliance meeting covers Census and a varity of other topics web posted October 6, 2009 EDGEFIELD – The Edgefield County Alliance held their monthly meeting Monday, October 5, 2009. Ron Creswell introduced the first speaker Angela Pride, Partnership Specialist with the US Census Bureau for the Census 2010.Ms. Pride explained that the census will define who we are as a nation. The census is required by the constitution and is taken every 10 years. The last census was taken in 2000. The census is important for several reasons; data is utilized to determine how many seats each state will have in the US House of Representatives, as well as the allocation of federal funds for community services. Every year more than $400 billion federal dollars are distributed to states and communities across the country for job training, schools, roads, hospitals, senior services and many other programs. The data gathered during the census will determine how those funds will be distributed. Everyone should be counted, citizen and non-citizen, documented and undocumented. All of these living in the US are using services so there is a great need to count each person receiving these services so that our community receives its fair share of the federal funds distributed every year. All will be counted including those housed in prisons, living in college dormitories, military barracks, nursing homes and shelters. Census forms will be sent out around March 15, 2010. Citizens will have 2 weeks to return the completed forms. Those failing to return the forms at that time will be contacted again. The form is the shortest since the process began in 1790. Ms. Pride stressed the importance of informing everyone that the personal information collected on the 2010 Census questionnaire is safe, is not shared with anyone and remains confidential for 72 years. Every Census employee takes an oath to protect confidential information under the penalty of $250,000 and 5 years imprisonment for violations. In 2000 South Carolina ranked #49 out of the 50 states in the US for mailing back the responses. Ms. Pride is visiting groups like the Alliance as well as schools, government agencies etc. requesting help in establishing partnerships to form Complete Count Committees. The group of volunteers will be trained to help insure that everyone is counted. She stated we can help by utilizing websites, newsletters, e-mail lists, anything available to us in spreading the word that everyone should be counted. The census process will also have a positive economic impact on the local area. The census bureau is looking to hire local workers. There will be 10,000 part-time jobs generated in South Carolina to assist in this census. Ms. Pride requests anyone interested to contact the census website or call 1-866-861-2010. She provided brochures with census information. According to the brochure, information regarding the census can be found at: 2010census.gov and jobs information can be found at: 2010censusjobs.gov. Ron introduced our next speaker Reg Williams. Mr. Williams along with his brother Tim and sister Martha operate Log Creek Timber company. Forestry is a big business in both South Carolina and Edgefield County. Based on 2007 data, the economic impact of forestry in the state is $17.45 billion per year with multipliers. When agriculture is included this supercedes the tourism industry. Forestry is the leading manufacturing industry in employment and labor income when logging is included. Mill dollars back to Edgefield County in 2007 were $22,555,908. This industry makes Edgefield County 10th in generating the most revenue in the state. Forest products mills within a 100 mile radius of Edgefield use thousands of tons of wood fiber a week. Forest products category include pulpwood, saw timber, poles, and post to name a few. The pulpwood category is used to make paper, OSB, and, in McCormick, is used to make 2 X 4 lumber. Forest products are procured in several ways; through private landowners, industry (those companies that invest in timber), and government such as the national forests. Private landowners may get an estimate of standing timber and be paid per the estimate, They can also be paid by the actual number of tons taken from the forest. People can also hire a management consultant to manage the land and handle the marketing of the timber. An aging workforce and equipment which is more technically advanced requiring more skilled labor are among the factors which are having an impact on the forest industry. When asked what positions are available in the forestry industry, Mr. Williams indicated a need for truck drivers, machine operators and some chainsaw operators. The work consists of a long day but the compensation is good. An audience member asked how the prices have been affected by the economy? Mr. Williams stated that saw timber had been about the same and that pulpwood had stayed the same or increased a little. Part of the reason was because the paper industry had taken advantage of a subsidy given to them for burning black liquor, a paper-making by-product. This by-product burns much the same as oil. Donna Livingston reminded everyone about the Freshwater Coast Discovery Center “Heritage Harvest” event on Tuesday, October 13 from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. The event will showcase the heritage of the area and celebrate the five year anniversary of the Discovery Center. State Senator Shane Massey will speak on the development of heritage tourism in the area, the achievements of the past five years and the challenges for the future. Shealy’s barbeque will be served, along with music entertainment from Flatland Express. A silent auction will feature unique arts, house wares, gifts, discounts and other items from Abbeville, Edgefield, Greenwood, McCormick and Saluda counties. The museum will be open for tours and will offer a 20% discount at the gift shop, which is full of one-of-a-kind gifts. Tickets are $20 per person and can be purchased by calling (803) 637-1237 or (864) 953-2465. Linda Anderson invited everyone to bring the children and grandchildren to the Edgefield County Airport for the Trenton Flyers annual “Candy Drop”. The event has grown over the years to well above 100 in attendance. This will take place at 12:00 noon in Trenton. It also offers the opportunity to experience aviation. Just as many other industries are facing an aging workforce, aviation is facing the need for commercial pilots, mechanics and other positions. © Copyright 2009
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