Mayor’s Minute: Not a circus. 🤹

Hey, everyone. It seems there’s been a bit of confusion revolving The State’s Front Porch plan. I’d like to clear that up so we’re all on the same page. 👂

South Carolina is a welcoming state, well-known for its Southern hospitality. The State’s Front Porch will demonstrate this hospitality at its finest and provide an opportunity to showcase the best our state’s regions have to offer. 🌴

A front porch is not a circus nor a beach or playground – nor are there any plans to create them at our State House. A front porch is a physical space that is both personal to its residents and hospitable to guests + strangers. It fosters a sense of community and neighborliness. It is a place where new connections are built and old connections are strengthened. A front porch is visible to those who pass by, fostering interactions that are spontaneous — not planned — and allowing a community to come together in a beautiful and inviting space. 🤝 Thanks for clarifying, Mayor B.

💸 Funding for The State’s Front Porch will be provided by The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation (whose namesakes owned The State in Cola + The Sun News in Myrtle Beach), which has invested well over $15 million in education, disaster relief, community needs, journalism + the arts in these regions.

S.C. will be the first state in the nation to provide a front porch concept for its residents and visitors. 🆒 The City of Columbia leadership and staff are committed to working with our Governor, his staff and our elected state officials to showcase our hospitality and enhance the reputation of our State.

Godspeed,

–Mayor Steve Benjamin

Tell ‘em, Steve.

–Chloe