by the Shared-Use Mobility Center
About the Thriving Communities Program (TCP)
The Thriving Communities Program (TCP) funds tailored technical assistance to under-resourced and disadvantaged communities, helping them better access historic infrastructure investments and deliver transformative projects. The USDOT FY 2022 Thriving Communities Program supports 64 communities across the country with access to a team of capacity builders to develop innovative community engagement methods, identify funding opportunities, and grow long-term capacity to develop and deliver transportation projects that strengthen communities.
TCP Complete Neighborhoods Community of Practice
TCP Communities are grouped into three Communities of Practice: Main Streets, Networked Communities, and Complete Neighborhoods. The 15 communities included under the Complete Neighborhoods Community of Practice are:
- Atlantic Beach, SC
- Billings, MT
- Decatur, IL
- East Orange, NJ
- Indianapolis, IN
- Isabela, PR
- Lansing, MI
- Lima, OH
- Providence, RI
- Roanoke, VA
- Santa Cruz, CA
- St. Louis County, MO
- Suffolk, NY
- Sumter, SC
- Waukegan, IL
The US Department of Transportation (USDOT) selected a capacity building team led by RMI, including: the American Council for Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), Equitable Cities, Nelson\Nygaard, and the Shared-Use Mobility Center (SUMC), to provide technical assistance to these 15 communities.
Atlantic Beach, South Carolina
The Town of Atlantic Beach is a historical, majority Black beach community located in Horry County, South Carolina. It is the only beachfront community to remain majority black owned and led since its inception. Established in 1934 as a respite for the “colored worker” along the Grand Strand, this community stands as a powerful testament to Black culture, resilience, and self-determination in the face of Jim Crow and systemic racism. Over the decades, Atlantic Beach became a symbol of the strength of the Black community, a place where individuals came together to build not just a space for relaxation and recreation, but also a vibrant cultural and economic hub.
Atlantic Beach quickly became a popular vacation destination for Black families during a time when beaches and resorts in the region were segregated. The community blossomed into a haven where Black entertainers would stay while performing for the surrounding communities. The rich history of creativity and cultural exchange helped shape the identity of the community and cemented its significance in the broader history of Black American culture.
Despite the thriving cultural life of Atlantic Beach, the community faced significant challenges. In the 1960s and 70s, following the Civil Rights Movement and the integration of surrounding communities, Atlantic Beach experienced a marked decline in business and traffic. As integration allowed Black residents to access other beaches, the once-popular vacation destination began to see a slow erosion of visitors, residents, and businesses. Disinvestment in infrastructure and a lack of support from regional and statewide initiatives further deepened the struggles faced by this small, tight-knit community.
Today, ninety years after its founding, Atlantic Beach is recognized as a historic district, having earned approval from the South Carolina Office of Historic Preservation for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places. This designation honors the town’s rich history and enduring resilience. The year-round population hovers around 250 residents, but that number can soar to more than 10,000 during peak season. Since 2015, the town has seen a surge in residential development, and in 2024, Atlantic Beach celebrated the groundbreaking of its first new business in more than a decade, marking a new chapter in its ongoing revitalization.
Key Initiatives for Transportation
The Capacity Builder team, led by Equitable Cities, worked with the Town of Atlantic Beach to identify major goals to be advanced through Thriving Communities Program support:
Share and celebrate the town’s history
Atlantic Beach is a community that has embraced its identity, focusing on preserving its unique, significant history as a Black haven and Gullah Geechee heritage. The community identified the priority of archiving and celebrating this rich legacy as it plans for its future transportation, land use, and economic development.
The Capacity Builder team identified several key ways to provide support for this goal. These included offering technical assistance for securing grant funding dedicated to historic preservation, developing a comprehensive social media strategy, and producing multimedia content such as interviews, photos, and drone footage to authentically capture the essence of the community and its events. Additionally, they could provide funding for local community events, fostering a celebration of the town’s history and culture.
Build relationships with SCDOT and the GSATS
Historically, the Town of Atlantic Beach has struggled to build strong relationships with the Grand Strand Area Transportation Study (GSATS), which serves as the local MPO, and the South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT), which has impacted their development. Recognizing the need for improved collaboration, the town seeks to strengthen these relationships and establish meaningful partnerships with these organizations.
To support this effort, the Capacity Builder team proposed drafting correspondence and attending meetings, providing technical expertise and advocating for Atlantic Beach’s priorities. They also suggested inviting officials to participate in community engagement events to foster a productive dialogue between community members, leaders, and these agencies. Additionally, the team committed to providing Atlantic Beach with community-specific data, using GIS analysis and engagement efforts to enhance the town’s position and effectively support its goals during these discussions.
Improve active transportation access
Atlantic Beach has long been excluded from transportation planning initiatives in the region, resulting in their active transportation infrastructure falling behind. In response, the town decided to prioritize improving equity through better access to walking, cycling, and public transit.
The Capacity Builder team identified several ways to support this goal, including implementing a community walk audit and conducting a GIS analysis of local crash data to provide targeted transportation insights. Additionally, the Capacity Builder team offered technical assistance for funding applications focused on active transportation and proposed developing an Active Transportation Toolkit specifically designed to increase Atlantic Beach’s capacity for long-term project implementation.