Building upon several years of engagement and two previously funded projects, the Consortium and a team of local partners have now received nearly $375,000 to develop a commercial seafood workforce training program in McClellanville, a small fishing village in coastal South Carolina. The project will support the next generation of fishermen and aquaculturists in the Southeast by aiming to address workforce challenges that commercial seafood industries face and by providing inclusive access to training opportunities.
The funds were awarded through the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the United States Department of Agriculture Rural Business Development grant program. The project team has participation from several local partners, including Clemson University, the town of McClellanville, the McClellanville Community Foundation, and the McClellanville Watermen’s Association.
For more information, contact the project lead Matt Gorstein, assistant director for development and extension, at 843-953-2084.