By Owen Kowalewski

Boeing made a gift of $1.5 million to the University of South Carolina on Oct 20, creating the James E. and Emily E. Clyburn Endowed Chair of Public Service and Civic Engagement Fund. 

This contribution was made for the development of the new generation of civil leadership and engagement.

Clyburn, who represents the Sixth District in the United States Congress, is Majority Whip and the third-ranking Democrat in the United States House of Representatives. He was first elected to Congress in 1993.

The late Emily Clyburn was a librarian and civil rights activist. 

The Clyburn chair was given to Associate Professor Bobby Donaldson, to enable him to further the programming and development of the Center for Civil Rights History and Research.

President Michael Amiridis of the University of South Carolina, Bobby Donaldson, James Clyburn, and Boeing leaders came together to announce this gift and endowed chair.

“Through this generous gift, we are proud to join Boeing in honoring the outstanding civic contributions of Congressman Clyburn and his wife, Emily, and advancing their legacy of public service and outreach,” said Amiridis. 

“I am truly humbled by Boeing’s gift in honor of the contributions Emily and I have made to civic engagement, and I am pleased that their generosity will support the important work that Dr. Donaldson and the USC Center for Civil Rights History and Research is doing,” Clyburn said.

The Clyburns met at South Carolina State College in 1960 while participating in a civil rights demonstration. They went on to be married for 58 years until Emily’s death in 2019.

This is not the first time Boeing has contributed to the University of South Carolina.

Last year, the company donated $225,000 to the University’s Veterans Legal Clinic which helps provide low cost legal services to veterans in South Carolina, and then an additional $125,000 to the clinic in 2022.

United Bank has invested $500,000 in CommunityWorks to support the organization’s statewide small business and affordable housing lending efforts.

Additionally, United Bank has granted $50,000 to CommunityWorks for loan deployment efforts.

The investment and grant will allow CommunityWorks to continue serving South Carolina through small and micro business loans, affordable housing, and community loans. The grant funding will also allow staff to market the availability of loan funds, provide financial education and advisory services and business coaching.   

United Bank’s investment and grant speaks to their mission of providing excellence in service to customers and communities. 

Partnering with high-performing and impactful Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) like CommunityWorks is a part of United’s investment strategy and a tangible way to show that United is committed to the communities where the bank has a presence. 

As a CDFI, CommunityWorks can provide flexible financial assistance for small and micro businesses in the startup and growth phase. United’s partnership allows CommunityWorks to enhance efforts in fulfilling their mission of creating a brighter future for financially underserved people and places in South Carolina.  

“CommunityWorks is excited to partner with United Bank. We look forward to working with them and through this investment to bring capital to small businesses and affordable housing to underserved communities throughout South Carolina,” said LaTorrie Geer, CEO of CommunityWorks. 

ECI Group announced the acquisition of The Factory at Garco Park, a 271-unit, built in 2017, institutional-grade multifamily community in the Park Circle neighborhood in North Charleston, South Carolina.

The Factory at Garco Park is ECI's first investment in the Charleston metropolitan area and, with assets in Greenville and Savannah, their fourth in the Carolinas/SE Georgia region. Financing for the acquisition was provided by SouthState Bank.

“The Factory at Garco Park offers ECI an opportunity to recycle capital from our recent sale of The Columns at Vinings in Atlanta into a very high quality, exceptionally well-located asset in a top expansion market for us,” said ECI Chief Acquisitions Officer Scott Levitt.

“With our ability to self-manage and oversee additional enhancements to the balance of the unit interiors and the property's exterior and amenity package, we look forward to this property providing us with a cornerstone asset in the Charleston market.”

The 1031 Exchange involving the recently announced sale of The Columns at Vinings and the acquisition of The Factory at Garco Park is the 5th such exchange for ECI in the last 18 months.

The Factory at Garco Park, located at 4993 O'Hear Ave. in North Charleston, features upscale, spacious studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom units.

Community features include saltwater pool, outdoor pavilion, and 24-hour fitness center.

FNB Corporation (NYSE: FNB) announced that its banking subsidiary, First National Bank, has been recognized with the Top Workplaces 2022 Culture Excellence award for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Practices.

The national award celebrates organizations that are committed to creating a welcoming and inclusive place to work for all employees.

The Top Workplaces program is administered by third-party research firm Energage. With nearly 5,000 companies named Top Workplaces in the past year, FNB was one of the top 10 large companies (with more than 2,500 employees) to win the DEI Practices award based on employee feedback and a company-completed questionnaire.

Earlier this year, FNB earned additional national culture excellence recognition as a winner of the Top Workplaces for Innovation, Top Workplaces for Leadership and Top Workplaces for Work-Life Flexibility awards.

“FNB's commitment to provide a positive and inclusive culture remains a top priority for our Company,” said Vincent J. Delie, Jr., Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of FNB Corporation and First National Bank.

“The diverse range of perspectives and experiences on our team inspire engagement and innovation that result in superior service for our clients and communities and better returns for our shareholders.”

FNB Corporation, headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is a diversified financial services company operating in seven states and the District of Columbia.

FNB has total assets of nearly $43 billion and approximately 340 banking offices throughout Pennsylvania, Ohio, Maryland, West Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Washington, D.C. and Virginia.