Milestones

Southern Growth Policies Board created via the Southern Growth Policies Board Agreement, a multi-state compact. Duke University served as initial fiscal agent.

Governor Jimmy Carter (GA) formed the first Commission on the Future of the South to meet the Agreement’s requirement that the Board “prepare and keep current a Statement of Regional Objectives, including recommended approaches to regional problems.”

Served as initial fiscal agent and Secretariat for the Southern Federation of State Arts Agencies (now the Southern Arts Federation).

Maintained a second office in Washington, D.C. that was charged with identifying and monitoring federal opportunities for Southern states.

Launched the Southern Common Market Program to promote interstate banking (Board recommended that states enact reciprocal agreements on a regional basis. Organized a regional conference on the issue in 1983. Georgia became the first state to enact regional bill in 1984.)

Created the Southern Technology Council (STC). Arose out of a 1984 meeting in Austin, TX of a group of leaders in science and technology policy field who wanted a way of boosting Southern states’ capacities in science and technology.

Created the Southern International Trade Council. Name later changed to the Global Strategies Council  (GSC)

Became Secretariat for the Southern Consortium of University Public Service Organizations (SCUPSO)

Created the Council for a New Economy Workforce (CNEW)

Created the Council on the Southern Community (CSC)

Became Secretariat for the Southeast Agriculture & Forestry Energy Resources Alliance (SAFER)