The Commission’s Research and Planning Division exists to provide critical data and information for decision-making purposes. The Research Division seeks to assist the general public, public officials, the private sector, non-profit, and faith-based organizations with critical statistical data and analysis.
The goal of the Research Division is to both create and maintain a comprehensive research program and statistics concerning the cause and effect of economic deprivation in under-resourced and rural communities across the state of South Carolina. The division’s research is expansive, covering a variety of topics related to economic deprivation across a range of geographical scales, from simple data visualizations to complex multivariate analyses.
The research conducted by the Commission's staff will provide ongoing statistical data, public policy analysis, and survey-based research. The research and related findings involve the following:
- To provide the State with a single point of contact for statistical and technical assistance in the areas of research and planning for a greater economic future;
- To study the causes and effects of economic deprivation in rural or under-resourced communities;
- To provide statistical data and policy recommendations to state agencies and public officials to implement initiatives to alleviate such deprivation;
- To establish and maintain a database of statistical information for distribution to members of the General Assembly and other entities capable of effecting change;
- To serve as the State’s clearinghouse for statistical information and to publish a Statewide statistical abstract on under-resourced community affairs;
- To provide communities with a single point of contact to obtain raw data and information necessary for local research and planning;
- To develop and make available on an as-needed basis specialized statistical publications, raw data, analysis, and findings in cooperation with state agencies, public officials, and the general public
Quarterly Research Reports
The Quarterly Research Report provides the latest analysis of topics that are of interest to policymakers, practitioners, researchers, government agencies, colleges/universities and the general public. If you have any questions concerning the research methodology, contact Dr. Robert Fenton, Director of Research, at rfenton@advance.sc.gov.
2026 Quarterly Research Report
June 2026 - Defining the Boundaries of Community: A Geographic Framework for Designating Low Income Communities of South Carolina
The South Carolina Commission for Community Advancement and Engagement (Advance SC) serves as a state agency dedicated to strengthening rural and under-resourced communities. In May 2025, its statutory mandates were amended such that it now delivers research, partnerships, and targeted strategies aimed at addressing the needs of these communities.
A central challenge in fulfilling this mandate lies in defining what constitutes a “community”. The term is widely used across policy, research, and public discourse, yet lacks definitional certainty. Depending on the context in which it is used, it may refer to counties, municipalities, neighborhoods, or socially defined populations. This ambiguity complicates consistent measurement and weakens policy targeting. At broader geographic scales, particularly at the county level, substantial variation within communities is obscured, masking pockets of concentrated poverty, underinvestment, and limited opportunity.
In this report, Statistician Max Petushko addresses that constraint directly. It establishes a clear and operational definition of community based on census tracts and applies federally aligned criteria to identify Low-Income Communities (LICs).The report also introduces a functional distinction between rural and non-rural environments, incorporating not only formal urban boundaries but also the spatial realities of economic integration. (DOWNLOAD PDF)
January 2026 - Of Fields and Families: Understanding South Carolina's Agricultural Community Through Data and Farmers' Voices
Farming has long been more than an industry in South Carolina; it is woven into the state’s history, culture, and identity. Agriculture remains central to the state’s economy and communities, shaping not only livelihoods but also South Carolina’s broader social and cultural fabric.
In our latest report, Statistical and Research Analyst Jyothsna Atla provides an overview of South Carolina agriculture, describing the structure, trends, and economic significance of farming in the state. The report also highlights the experiences of farmers from under-resourced communities, whose realities are often missing from statewide narratives and data summaries. By connecting these perspectives, the report links the broader agricultural landscape with the lived experiences of those working within it.
