Advisory Board

The volunteer Community Development Advisory Board was created by Ordinance in 2019. The Board makes funding recommendations to the Berkeley County Council regarding housing, economic, and community development for low and moderate-income areas, households, and individuals.

On an annual basis, it reviews and analyzes requests for federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds made available through Berkeley County for the purpose of benefitting low- and moderate-income residents. Following its review and analysis, the Advisory Board makes funding recommendations to County Council.

The Board is comprised of nine citizens of Berkeley County, representing a diversity of life experience and a range of professional expertise including but not limited to housing, human and social services, accessibility, and familiarity with issues affecting those with low- and moderate-income.

Duties

• Encourage meaningful citizen participation and input in the planning, implementation, and assessment of the County’s CDBG Program in rural and low-to-moderate income neighborhoods/areas of Berkeley County
• Identify community development needs, particularly the needs of extremely low- and low-income households
• Evaluate grant applications in relation to the Consolidated Plan goals and strategies and make funding recommendations to the Community Services Committee and County Council on an annual basis
• Monitor the goals and priorities on the Consolidated Plan and Annual Action Plan to determine if the objectives have been met

Advisory Board Members

Members represent the interest of different segments of the community, including but not limited to lower income citizens; business; legal; religious; public safety; education, and other major groups.

Councilman Dan Owens District 1 | Ms. Marika Kary
Councilman Josh Whitley District 2 | Ms. Lisa Kerns, Board Chair
Councilman Phillip Obie II District 3 | Ms. Jackie Adams
Councilman Tommy Newell District 4 | Ms. Ann Birch
Councilwoman Amy Stern District 5 | Mr. Dan Guzman
Councilman Marshall West District 6 | Mr. Richard Kizer
Councilman Caldwell Pinckney, Jr. District 7 | Rev. Jimmie Howell, Board Vice Chair
Councilman Steve Davis District 8 | Ms. Kristen Smalls
County Supervisor Johnny Cribb | Mr. Edward Beaufort-Cutner

LeChele N. Brown, Grants Specialist
Community Development Block Grant

Meeting Agenda & Minutes

Agendas are available prior to the meetings. Minutes are available following approval and acceptance.