On April 20, 2020, South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster announced the creation of accelerateSC, a coordinated economic revitalization plan involving small and large business leaders, healthcare professionals, local government officials, and education professionals.
We’re presenting it here in REVITALIZATION not because it’s a model for others to follow, but to point out a flaw in the hopes that other states won’t make a similar mistake. The critical element that’s missing is a strategy. Since the sole function of a strategy is to guide actions to success, this is no small flaw.
South Carolina is not alone in this weakness, though: while strategic thinking is the norm in military and corporate circles, it’s usually absent in community and regional revitalization and resilience initiatives.
The flaw is easily fixed, though: a complete guide to creating strategic renewal processes can be found in the recent (January 2020) book, RECONOMICS: The Path To Resilient Prosperity.
The plan consists of five components of analysis and effort: Response, Protection, Governance, Resources, and Information. James Burns, a partner at the law firm of Nelson, Mullins, Riley and Scarborough, will serve as accelerateSC’s executive director. Burns and the rest of the membership are serving in a voluntary capacity.
Governor McMaster also issued Executive Order 2020-28, which removes restrictions on public access points to the state’s beaches, public piers, docks, and wharfs, while delegating to local officials the authority to restrict access, as they see fit.
This order also re-opens retail stores that were closed pursuant to Executive Order 2020-18. The businesses to be reopened are as follows:
- Furniture and home-furnishings stores
- Clothing, shoe, and clothing-accessory stores
- Jewelry, luggage, and leather goods stores
- Department stores, with the exception of hardware and home-improvement stores
- Sporting goods stores
- Book, craft, and music stores
- Flea markets
- Florists and flower stores
- All other businesses previously closed by executive order will remain closed until further notice.
Under the order, retail stores may reopen today, Monday, April 20, at 5:00 p.m., but must adhere to strict social distancing requirements, operating at 20% occupancy or five (5) customers per 1,000 square feet, whichever is less. In addition, businesses must not knowingly allow customers to congregate within six feet of one another, excluding families, and follow relevant CDC and DHEC guidelines.
Public beach access points, piers, docks, and wharfs may reopen tomorrow, April 21, at noon. Public boat ramps and boat landings were previously reopened pursuant to Executive Order 2020-25.
All other executive orders, including the Governor’s “Home or Work” order, remain in effect. South Carolinians should maintain social distancing practices and avoid large groups of people.
Here’s a complete outline of accelerateSC (try to find a strategy):
accelerateSC serves as the coordinated COVID-19 advisory team to consider and recommend economic revitalization plans for South Carolina.
The economic revitalization plan consists of five components of analysis and effort: Response, Protection, Governance, Resources, and Information. These components will employ maximum communication, collaboration and cooperation among themselves and those assisting to effectively identify issues, solutions, and assets necessary for a phased revitalization path for South Carolina’s economy, guided by healthcare and medical data. The governor will designate a state agency to coordinate each of the revitalization components; other identified state agencies will assist. The accelerateSC participants will make immediate, intermediate and long-term recommendations to the governor for revitalizing and expanding South Carolina’s economy while protecting the health of South Carolina citizens.
RESPONSE: Identify challenges related to workforce capacity, workforce re-entry, critical industries, capital requirements, regulatory issues and supply chain/logistics.
Coordinating Agency: Department of Commerce (Commerce)
This component includes representatives from business, industry, manufacturing, agriculture, tourism, hospitality and service sectors, focusing on small, medium and large business interests. It will also include professional trade associations and medical service providers.
They will target such issues as workforce capacity, workforce re-entry, critical industries, capital requirements, regulatory issues and supply chain/logistics. They will advise the governor on immediate and future actions necessary to accelerate the state’s economy.
Assisting State Agencies: Department of Parks Recreation and Tourism, Department of Revenue, Department of Insurance, Department of Employment and Workforce, Department of Agriculture, Department of Education, Bureau of Economic Advisors, S.C. Ports Authority and Executive Budget Office.
PROTECTION: Identify protective protocols for practical implementation in workplace and public, testing and contact tracing, supply of personal protective equipment, and long-term mitigation efforts to ensure economic revitalization.
Coordinating Agency: Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC)
This component includes representatives from medical and healthcare providers, hospitals, health insurers, higher education, and professional associations.
They will identify protective strategies and protocols for practical statewide implementation to address issues associated with COVID-19 in the workplace and social settings, including appropriate supply of personal protective gear and medical equipment, surge capacity for medical treatment facilities, and steps to mitigate/avoid future outbreaks as the state accelerates economic revitalization.
These efforts should prioritize protecting the most vulnerable citizens, including senior adults, residents in rural communities, lower income communities, minority communities, persons with chronic disease and weakened immune systems. Additional efforts should include plans for statewide implementation of increased disease and immunity testing, as well as, contact tracing.
Assisting State Agencies: Department of Health and Health and Human Services, Department of Labor Licensing and Regulation, Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services, Department of Social Services, Department of Disabilities and Special Needs, Department of Mental Health, Emergency Management Division, Commission for Minority Affairs, Human Affairs Commission, Department on Aging, Medical University of South Carolina, South Carolina State University, University of South Carolina, Clemson University, and Francis Marion University.
GOVERNANCE: Identify challenges faced by state and local governments, educational institutions, emergency services and first responders to proceed with economic revitalization.
Coordinating Agency: S.C. Executive Office of the Governor
This component includes representatives from political subdivisions, education, county and city administrators, higher education, technical colleges, school board and administrators, law enforcement and first responders, and special purpose districts.
They will identify challenges to economic revitalization faced by state, county and local governments, school districts, higher education, technical colleges, court systems, first responders, emergency services personnel, and law enforcement.
Assisting State Agencies: Department of Labor Licensing and Regulation, State Law Enforcement Division, Department of Public Safety, Department of Education, Commission on Higher Education, and Technical College System.
RESOURCES: Identify process and appropriate metrics for disbursing federal funds and to ensure transparency of all disbursed funds in consultation with appropriate stakeholders.
Coordinating Agency: Department of Administration, Executive Budget Office (EBO)
This component includes representatives from business, industry, higher education and health care.
The EBO in the Department of Administration serves as the coordinating agency for federal and state COVID-19 relief appropriations and disbursements. The office is authorized to receive federal and state relief funding as directed by federal law, and to disburse funds as directed by the governor pursuant to law. The EBO shall participate with, and provide information to, the Response and Governance components for economic revitalization efforts.
They will identify strategies, opportunities and needs to be addressed most efficiently and impactfully through authorized relief funding.
Advisory Entities: Recommendation of three members of the House from the Speaker of the House and recommendation of three members of the Senate from the President of the Senate to consult with this component.
INFORMATION: Create consolidated information portal and associated dissemination methods related to citizens’ inquiries associated with COVID-19.
Coordinating Agency: Department of Administration (Administration)
The Department of Administration will create a one stop “ombudsman” style information portal for the public to utilize in obtaining information and assistance on COVID-19 related issues from state and federal agencies including the four components identified above. This will include providing resource information online and on social media platforms, as well as employing a trained, large-scale call center to provide live response to public inquiries via telephone.
Assisting State Agencies: All
STRUCTURE: accelerateSC shall be conducted and managed by James Burns, Esq. of Nelson Mullins. The governor and lieutenant governor shall participate at meetings. Formal activities are expected to continue for no longer than thirty days.
Rail bridge in Columbia, South Carolina by GeorgeB2 from Pixabay.