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Center for a Better South
P.O. Box 22261
Charleston, S.C. 29413

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The Center for a Better South is a non-profit, non-partisan organization under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue code. Donations are tax-deductible. Our federal ID number is: 65-1242422. Click here to see our approval of federal tax-exempt status.

AGENDA OVERVIEW
(download agenda)

NURTURING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND EDUCATION

To compete in a 21st century global economy, each Southern state must increase its high school graduation rate and have 60 percent of native Southerners and new residents with post-secondary degrees, including associates’ degrees from technical colleges, by 2020.

BOOSTING WELLNESS

Each Southern state should increase life expectancy to levels on par with Canada.

IMPROVING ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Each Southern state should develop a state energy plan that improves per capita energy efficiency by 20 percent in 2020.

REFORMING TAXES

Each Southern state should adopt or change tax structures by 2015 that expand the tax base while lowering the rate to help ensure revenue sources match or exceed the state’s growth rate in the state's overall economy.

INVESTING IN INFRASTRUCTURE

Each Southern state must invest 90 percent of its capital budget spending on priorities identified in its infrastructure capital planning process.

CULTIVATING GOVERNANCE

Each Southern state should develop and implement a benchmark citizen trust survey by 2011. By 2015, each state's levels of trust in state government should increase by 20 percent over the benchmark.

ENSURING OPPORTUNITIES

Southern states should reduce disparities in the treatment and well-being of different groups to foster a more inclusive, creative, productive and prosperous South. By 2012, each Southern state should adopt measures to drive significant reduction in identified disparities within at least five major categories.

FOSTERING SAFE COMMUNITIES

Each Southern state should reduce the rates of violent crime to below the national average by 2020.
© 2007, Center for a Better South. All rights reserved.

Center for a Better South
P.O. Box 22261
Charleston, S.C. 29413