The South Carolina Department of Commerce holds an annual rural summit to provide community leaders, economic developers, and state officials an opportunity to come together and learn about creative ways to improve rural communities, which are rich with history and have their own unique character. Recognizing that these types of communities also face challenges that they strive together to overcome, the Department of Commerce offered recently for the first time as a part of the summit a chance for them to compete for grant money they could then use to continue momentum made in efforts to better the quality of life enjoyed by their residents. And a very small town in South Carolina that you’ve probably never heard of won the inaugural competition held for the 2023 summit.

Lane is a tiny town with a population of just 478 in 2021. Located in Williamsburg County, it's part of the Pee Dee region (northeastern area) of South Carolina.

Turo-Turo is one of the few restaurants in Lane, a Filipino eatery with high Google ratings from customers. Most popular are its chicken wings and Lumpia, which are various types of spring rolls made of thin paper-like or crepe-like pastry skin called "lumpia wrapper" enveloping savory or sweet fillings, commonly found in Indonesia and the Philippines.

Also in Lane, you'll find Worth Family Acres, a family-owned farm that provides mobile petting zoo services for your event or party. Pony rides and bounce houses may also be available. See the Worth Family Acres website for additional details.

Even with its small size, it's a tight-knit community with regular events such as bingo, celebrations on special occasions such as Valentine's Day – this photo is from the Mother/Son & Father/Daughter Dance – and more!

One of the biggest celebrations, though, happened on Tuesday, March 7, 2023, following Mayor Charlie Fulton's presentation for the Great Communities Competition at the South Carolina Department of Commerce's Rural Summit. Lane had been chosen as one of three finalists, each of which had submitted case studies about a

successfully completed community or economic development

project.

Applicants for the competition had to be Tier III or Tier IV county government and a municipality with a population of 7,000 residents or fewer, per the 2020 census. Following the presentations by the three finalists, summit attendees voted. And the little town of Lane won!

The top prize was $100,000 that can be used by Lane for its next community project. Major Fulton said he was nervous, excited, and confident all at the same time. What a day for him to receive recognition and such a nice award after working so diligently for the citizens of Lane.

Early in 2019 at the turn of the new year, Mayor Fulton had shared his vision for Lane, which he has since been busy working through.

And Mayor Fulton says they are just getting started in Lane, having recently signed an MOU with Shandoka Motorcycles to become the first tenant in the Digital Lane Business Accelerator. This is great progress as a new industry has not come to Lane since the 1960s. There are also talks with state agencies and local farmers to create an agritourism project that aligns well with Shandoka’s goal of bringing major biking events to the community. Mayor Fulton said, "The ideas are limitless, and so is our potential.”

Thank you, Mayor Fulton, for your dedication to this charming little community of Lane, for your vision, and tireless efforts to implement those dreams and goals! Our small towns are just as deserving as our larger cities of the love and devotion you've shown.

Abbeville, a small, historic town in South Carolina, was one of the other three finalists for the Great Communities competition, winning up to $50,000 in grant money.

And Barnwell was the third finalist, also winning up to $50,000 in grant money.

Barnwell's video presentation for the competition is quite impressive. This was certainly no easy competition between the three finalists!

Have you ever been to Lane? Had you ever heard of it? How about Abbeville or Barnwell? What’s your favorite small town in South Carolina and what do you like most about it?