Areas of Progress – August 7

Areas of Progress is a weekly roundup of measurable areas of improvement and progress from around the state, especially in the areas of education, entrepreneurship, the arts, the environment, energy, agriculture, and philanthropy.

 

Town of Surfside Beach – only city in SC designated as an “autism friendly tourist destination”

The Town of Surfside Beach is an autism-friendly tourism destination, thanks to one resident’s initiative, the Champion Autism Network. Families can produce the CAN card at establishments, which participating businesses and other establishments will recognize, alerting employees to the presence of a family with a member who has autism. CAN provides training on autism-friendly operations to employees of participating organizations and businesses.

Establishments that recognize the card sometimes offer a discount or special care, such as allowing a family with a child who has autism to move to the front of the line if there is a significant wait. The organization also trains churches and businesses on operational considerations, puts out public service announcements and holds sensory-friendly events, such as movies.

 

Research leads to potential treatment for rare disease

Research from University of South Carolina School of Medicine investigators Mitzi Nagarkatti and Prakash Nagarkatti has led to Food and Drug Administration approval of cannabidiol (CBD), a nonpsychotropic compound found in cannabis, for orphan drug designation as a treatment for autoimmune hepatitis. In late June, CBD received the special designation for the treatment of the rare disease, which can cause liver fibrosis or cirrhosis, and even liver failure.

Revive Therapeutics Ltd. licensed the Nagarkattis’ patented research to develop a novel cannabinoid-based therapy.

The Nagarkattis are world leaders in cannabinoid research, and one of only a few labs in the nation licensed to work with cannabinoid compounds.

 

Upstate Forever permanently protects 488 more acres

Upstate Forever now protects nearly 500 acres on two tracts in Pickens and Cherokee Counties through wetland and stream mitigation partnerships. Working closely with the SC Department of Transportation, Upstate Forever identified strategic projects that would satisfy the mitigation requirements for the impacts to waterways by local highway improvements, helping keep the much-needed infrastructure projects on-time and on-budget while protecting local headwater streams and critical habitat areas.

The 353-acre Grassy Knob tract in Pickens County helps protect the Oolenoy River, one of the main headwaters of the Saluda River, and supports valuable habitat near Table Rock State Park, Caesars Head State Park, numerous Heritage Preserves, and many other conservation easements along the Cherokee Foothills Scenic Highway.

The 135-acre Gilkey Creek tract in Cherokee County is part of the larger historic Faulkner Farm, which includes Martin’s Branch Creek, additional headwater streams, and several acres of temporary or seasonally flooded forested wetlands in the Thicketty Creek subwatershed. Protection of this property will offset impacts to streams and wetlands from the widening of I-85 in the Broad River Basin.

 

 

As the International African American Museum’s Founders Fund approaches the finish line, it has received a $500,000 pledge from the Fluor Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the Fluor Corporation.

The Founders Fund totals $75 million: $25 million from the State of SC, $25 million from the City and County of Charleston, and $25 million in private philanthropy.

IAAM now has less than $1 million left to raise of the private philanthropy bucket.

 

Joseph P. Riley, Jr., IAAM Board Member; Torrence Robinson, Fluor’s Senior Director of Global Community Affairs; Michael Boulware Moore, IAAM President and CEO; and Brenda Tindal, IAAM Director of Education and Engagement.

 

 

Ridership on the Charleston Area Regional Transportation Authority‘s Hospitality on Peninsula (HOP) Shuttle surpassed 10,000 in July, the third-straight record-setting month for the pilot park-and-ride program.

The park-and-ride program is the first of its kind on the peninsula and was brought to fruition via a collaborative partnership between the City of Charleston, Charleston County, the Charleston Area Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Berkeley-Charleston-Dorchester Council of Governments.

Service is currently scheduled for about every 15 minutes between 6 a.m. and 3 a.m., seven days per week. Visitors to downtown Charleston and all commuters are encouraged to park all day for just $5 and ride the HOP shuttle for free.

Another cool part of HOP. Riders can track buses in real-time on the Transit app available on iPhone and Android.