A Permanent, Statewide Funding Source for Conservation

A proposed amendment to I-95 Economic and Education Stimulus Act establishes a new, dedicated conservation funding stream by allocating 35% of privilege tax revenue from South Carolina’s first casino and resort to land conservation.

• No new taxes on South Carolinians
• Stable, predictable funding year after year
• Dedicated support for working farmland and critical landscapes

Independent analyses project approximately $100 million annually in gaming-related tax revenue, translating to $35 million per year for conservation, with at least half directed to the Working Farmland Protection Fund.

This would represent the largest sustained conservation investment in South Carolina history.

Statewide Impact

Over the first decade alone, this approach could deliver:

• $350 million invested in conservation statewide
• 200,000 acres protected through voluntary conservation easements
• Expanded leverage of federal matching funds and private capital
• Protection across every region—Lowcountry, Midlands, Pee Dee, and Upstate

This is how South Carolina moves from reacting to growth to planning for it.

Supporting Farmers and Landowners

At the heart of this model is a landowner-led approach that respects private property and keeps land working.

Through conservation easements:

• Farmers and foresters receive immediate financial compensation
• Land remains privately owned and productive
  Families preserve land for future generations
• Development pressure is relieved—without selling to developers
  

In many cases, landowners can recover 65–80% of development value through a combination of Conservation Bank funding, federal tax deductions, and state tax credits, while continuing to farm, forest, and steward their land.

This is not ideological conservation. It is practical, proven, and farmer-driven.

Economic Growth and Conservation

The counties eligible for this project along the I-95 corridor are among the most economically distressed in South Carolina. The proposed resort serves as an economic catalyst—creating jobs, tourism, and private investment where it is needed most.

At the same time, conservation funding protects farms, forests, wetlands, and waterways across the entire state.

Economic growth in one region helps preserve quality of life everywhere.

What Makes This Possible

• Hundreds of family farms preserved
• Forests, wetlands, and waterways protected
• Stronger flood resilience and water quality
• A conservation legacy that endures for generations
  

These outcomes are not abstract. They are achievable, measurable, and within reach if South Carolina chooses to act boldly.

Get Involved

Conservation leaders, landowners, outdoor advocates, and citizens across South Carolina are coming together to support a smarter approach to growth, one that strengthens our economy while protecting the landscapes we love.