Economic & Community Development

Supporting economic and community development
Job development and job security are the desired outcomes of economic and community development programs at Clemson. 

An expanded outreach program was initiated in the late 1980s with a program named Palmetto Leadership that was funded by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. This program provides leadership training and team-building skills for civic and community leaders across the state through the Clemson Extension Service. This program also focuses on education, land-use and waste management issues in the state's communities.

The Extension Service also supports economic development by providing information to the State Department of Commerce about the resources available in each of the state's 46 counties. To do this, the Extension specialists maintain close working relationships with the Development Boards and the Chambers of Commerce in their area.

In addition, faculty members at Clemson's Strom Thurmond Institute on Government and Public Affairs bring together community leaders in problem-solving seminars to help create job-ready conditions for industry.