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Hello friend,
Welcome back to my economic opportunity newsletter!
As we usher in a new year, my team and I continue to work hard on your behalf every day. This newsletter is designed to share stories of our efforts to bring lasting change through an Opportunity Agenda that benefits our neighbors in South Carolina and across the country.
Click here to sign up for our newsletters on education, healthcare, and a variety of other issues. And please remember to follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram,
and YouTube for daily updates on how I am serving the people of South Carolina.
Virtual OZ Tour: Bringing Opportunity Coast to Coast
Last month, I announced my Virtual Opportunity Zones Tour to share success stories of businesses partnering with communities to create jobs and revitalize neighborhoods across the country. Our first stop highlighted the impact in Hampton County, South Carolina, where 1,500 new jobs will be created by 2025 thanks to Opportunity Zone partnerships. This investment breathes new life into the community and will benefit generations to come. If you missed it, check out our video here.
For our second stop on the tour we went north to Erie, Pennsylvania. Erie Downtown Development Corporation (EDDC) and its partners are investing more than $100 million and 400 new jobs in downtown Erie alone. Home to the zip code with the lowest per-capita income in the country, Erie is the perfect example of how distressed communities can be forever changed when citizens realize the full potential of Opportunity Zones. EDDC Vice President Matt Wachter summed it up perfectly: this investment is giving the city a new optimism that they didn’t have before. Click here to watch our virtual tour in Erie.
And yesterday, we headed to the west coast for our third stop in South Los Angeles. Click here to watch our video featuring the SoLa Impact Beehive. This business campus is the perfect example of community leaders harnessing the potential of Opportunity Zones. The project is expected to bring 900 jobs and attract local women- and minority-owned businesses to the neighborhood. We spotlight a local business owner who is opening a brand new brewery in this space. Projects like The Beehive will leave a lasting impact on the landscape and lives of the people in this community, and I hope to visit in person soon to see the growth firsthand.
Opportunity Zones are using the power of the private sector in all 50 states to create a lasting impact where people need it most. Stay tuned for more good news on our cross-country Virtual OZ Tour!
Delivering Pandemic Relief & Funding Our Future
As the ripple effects of the COVID-19 pandemic continue to impact our physical and economic health, I am working every day to make sure we make it through this tough time together. That’s why I was proud to secure a number of our Opportunity Agenda priorities in the recently-passed COVID relief, funding, and tax extender packages. The pandemic is taking a toll on every aspect of our lives—from health care and education opportunities, to businesses and broadband access—and I want to share with you a few of my priorities that were delivered in this latest legislation.
Health care: We secured $20 billion for new COVID vaccines and $8 billion for distribution. This will ensure every person who wants a vaccine will receive it at no charge. We also committed $4 billion to aid the fight against substance abuse, which has spiked during the pandemic.
Education: By sending $4.1 billion to the states for the Governors Emergency Relief Fund, we are ensuring schools get the aid they need to make sure they are able to continue doing the important work of educating the next generation and that children do not fall through the cracks.
Small Business: Making sure our small businesses survive the winter is one of the most important things we can do for the economy. The $325 billion in increased support for small businesses will help ensure countless jobs and businesses are saved while we continue to fight the pandemic.
Click here to read more about the provisions I championed in the latest round of COVID relief and funding bills.
I look forward to hearing from you!
Sincerely,
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