SC@Work: Rural Connections events are a continuation of our SC@Work: Road Trips last year. The road trips were small job fairs and community events in the most rural pockets of our great state. Those job fairs took place in 2023 at 24 different locations across 17 counties, with over 700 jobseekers in attendance and 600 follow-up interviews. Now it's time for phase two of our rural initiative: Rural Connections! These job fairs aim to be more frequent, bigger, and better!

SC@Work: Rural Connections events are targeting jobseekers with barriers to employment, such as transportation, which prevent them from accessing regional workforce development services. These events can include festivals and community events. For instance, a jobseeker can attend this event and network directly with employers, submit applications and work on their resume in DEW’s Career Coach, talk to community providers, and more. Instead of people in rural communities having to commute for 40 minutes to a job fair, we are bringing the job fairs right to their backdoor!

The state-of-the-art Career Coach mobile unit will be present at certain events, which is a traveling SC Works center that is wheelchair accessible, has 10 workstations for job-seeking activities, provides wi-fi and printer capabilities, and has staff available to assist users. It is an extension of the services provided through SC Works Centers across the state. SC@Work: Rural Connections is part of an ongoing rural initiative to make DEW and SC Works services accessible to jobseekers in rural and underserved areas.

Attend upcoming Rural Connections events in your area!

Date	Time	Event	Place	Address
Wednesday, May 30, 2025	10AM - 12PM	Community Event	McCormick County Library	201 Railroad Ave., McCormick, SC 29835
Saturday, May 31, 2025	11AM - 2PM	Ribs and Rods Festival	Clio City Clerk's Office	114 S Main St., Clio, SC 29525
Tuesday, June 3, 2025	10 AM 1 PM	Career and Resource Fair	Holly Hill Apartments	166 Cribb Street, Holly Hill, South Carolina 29059
Tuesday, June 3, 2025	2PM - 4PM	Pageland Library Literacy Carnival	Pageland Library	109 W. Blakeney St., Pageland, SC 29728
Wednesday, June 4, 2025	12PM	Hampton County School District Wide End-of-Year Celebration	Hampton County High School	115 Airport Rd., Varnville, SC 29924
Wednesday, June 4, 2025	2PM - 4PM	Jefferson Library Summer Reading Literacy Carnival	Jefferson Library	500 N. Main St., Jefferson, SC 29718
Thursday, June 5, 2025	2PM - 4PM	Matheson Library Summer Reading Literacy Carnival	Matheson Library	227 Huger St., Cheraw, SC 29520
Friday, June 6, 2025	1PM - 3PM	Federal Bonding Workshop	Palmetto Goodwill	903 S 4th St, Hartsville, SC 29550
Friday, June 6, 2025	10AM - 7PM	Festival of Flowers	Greenwood County Community Foundation	110 Phoenix St., Greenwood, SC 29646
Friday, June 6, 2025	12PM - 5PM	Tractor and Engine Show	Broad River Antique Power Association	320 Green Acres Rd., Gaffney, SC 29341
Saturday, June 7, 2025	8AM - 12PM	Agriculture & Wellness Fair	Union County Farmers Market	511 E Main St., Union SC, 29379
Saturday, June 7, 2025	11AM - 5PM	2025 Gifford June Festival	Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church	743 Sumpter St., Gifford, SC 29923
Monday, June 9, 2025	10AM - 12PM	Financial Management Workshop	Abbeville County Chamber of Commerce	107 Court Square, Abbeville, SC 29620
Tuesday, June 10, 2025	9:30AM - 3PM	Health Careers Workshop	Lowcountry Area Health Education Center	87 Academy Rd., Walterboro, SC 29488
Tuesday, June 10, 2025	11:30AM - 1:30PM	Women at Work Celebration	Laurens County Chamber of Commerce	291 Professional Park Rd., Laurens, SC 29325
Thursday, June 12, 2025	10 AM - 1PM	Sumter Health Fair	Sandhills Medical	30 Cuttino Rd., Sumter, SC 29150
Friday, June 13, 2025	10AM - 2PM	Health Careers Carnival	Lowcountry AHEC	87 Academy Rd., Walterboro, SC 29488
Saturday, June 14, 2025	9 AM - 1 PM	AG + ART Tour	Barnwell Farmer's Market	9987 Dunbarton Boulevard, Barnwell, SC 29812
Saturday, June 14, 2025	5PM - 8PM	Annual Bluegrass & BBQ Festival	The Lumberyard, LLC	115 Gary St., Clinton, SC 29325
Monday, June 16, 2025	10AM - 1PM	Lee County Community Event	Mt. Calvary Baptist Church	714 Camden Hwy., Bishopville, SC 29010
Tuesday, June 17, 2025	10AM - 12PM	Children's Day in the Park	Lake Warren	1079 Lake Warren Rd., Hampton, SC 29924
Tuesday, June 17, 2025	5PM - 7PM	Kindergarten Readiness Luau	The Bull Durham Center	372 N Martin Luther King Jr. Hwy., Estill, SC 29918
Wednesday, June 18, 2025	1PM - 2PM	Expungement Info Session	Abbeville County Library	1407 N Main St., Abbeville, SC 29620
Wednesday, June 18, 2025	1PM - 2PM	Expungement Clinic	Abbeville County Library	1407 N Main St., Abbeville, SC 29620
Sat - Sun, June 20-21, 2025	9AM - 3PM	83rd Annual Watermelon Festival	Hampton County Clerk of Court	1 Elm St. W, Hampton, SC 29924
Saturday, June 21, 2025	9AM - 1PM	Community Resource Awareness Jamboree	Colleton Museum & Farmer’s Market	506 Washington St., Walterboro, SC 29488
Monday, June 23, 2025	10AM - 1PM	Lee County Community Event	Mt. Calvary Baptist Church	714 Camden Hwy., Bishopville, SC 29010
Tuesday, June 24, 2025	1PM - 4PM	Hiring and Resource Event	The Woodruff Leisure Center	550 Cavins Rd., Woodruff, SC 29388
Wednesday, June 25, 2025	10AM - 12PM	Become CPR Certified	Paul Dennis Community Center	123 N Main St., McCormick, SC 29835
Thursday, June 26, 2025	9AM - 1PM	Hiring Event and Community Resources	Walterboro Career Opportunity Center	1112 Robertson Blvd., Walterboro, SC 29488
Friday, June 27, 2025	5:30PM	Ribbon Cutting Ceremony	Palmetto Innovation and Technology Center	4 Carver St. Extension, Due West, SC 29639
Saturday, June 28, 2025	9AM - 12PM	Community Health Fair	Lovely Hill Baptist Convention Center	5905 West Jim Bilton Blvd., St. George, SC 29427
Saturday, June 28, 2025	9 AM - 1 PM	AG + ART Tour	Allendale Farmer's Market	5789 Allendale-Fairfax Hwy, Allendale, SC 29810
Monday, June 30, 2025	1PM - 4PM	Community Event	McCormick County Library	201 Railroad Ave., McCormick, SC 29835
Friday, July 11, 2025	10AM - 1PM	South Carolina Peach Festival	Cherokee County Administration Building	110 Railroad Ave., Gaffney, SC 29340
Saturday, July 26, 2025	8AM - 12PM	Agriculture and Wellness Fair	Union County Farmers Market	511 E Main St., Union, SC 29379
Thursday, July 31, 2025	10AM - 12:30PM	Job and Resource Fair	Abbeville County Library	1407 N Main St., Abbeville, SC 29620
Tuesday, August 5, 2025	5:30	National Night Out Celebration and Back-to-School Bash	Lake Warren	1079 Lake Warren Rd., Hampton, SC 29924
Friday, August 8, 2025	11AM - 2PM	Darlington Job Fair	Pine Recreation Center	310 Jessamine St., Darlington, SC 29532
January - August (See flyer for dates)	10AM - 1PM	Federal Bonding Workshop	Palmetto Goodwill	2754 Agnes Lane, Myrtle Beach, SC 29588
Every First Monday (11/24 - 12/25)	10 AM - 1 PM	Mullins Public Library	Resume Workshop	210 N. Main St., Mullins, SC 29574
Every Third Wednesday	9 AM - 12 PM	Community and Homeless Resource Hub	Darlington Motel	600 Pearl St., Darlington, SC 29532
Every Third Friday	11AM - 2PM	Lending a Hand Information Sessions	Helping Hand of Myrtle Beach	1411 MR Joe White Ave., Myrtle Beach, SC 29577

SC@Work Trip Flyers

Want to spread the word about upcoming SC@Work: Rural Connections? Click on the below options to download event flyers for upcoming trips!

May 30 - McCormick Flyer
May 31 - Marlboro Flyer
June 3 - Holly Hill Flyer
June 3 - Chesterfield Flyer
June 4 - Hampton Flyer
June 4 - Chesterfield Flyer
June 6 - Hartsville Flyer
June 6 - Greenwood Flyer
June 6 - Cherokee Flyer
June 3 - Chesterfield Flyer
June 7 - Union Flyer
June 7 - Gifford Flyer
June 9 - Abbeville Flyer
June 10 - Laurens Flyer
June 10 - Walterboro Flyer
June 12 - Sumter Flyer
June 13 - Walterboro Flyer
June 14 - Barnwell Flyer
June 14 - Abbeville Flyer
June 16 - Lee Flyer
June 17 - Hampton Flyer
June 17 Hampton Flyer
June 18 - Abbeville Flyer
June 18 - Abbeville Flyer
June 21 - Walterboro Flyer
June 23 - Bishopville Flyer
June 24 - Woodruff Flyer
June 25 - McCormick Flyer
June 28 - Allendale Flyer
June 20-21 - Hampton Flyer
June 25 - Blackville Flyer
June 26 - Walterboro Flyer
June 27 - Abbeville Flyer
June 28 - Dorchester Flyer
June 30 - McCormick Flyer
July 11 - Cherokee Flyer
July 26 - Union Flyer
July 31 - Abbeville Flyer
August 5 - Hampton Flyer
August 8 - Darlington Flyer
January - August (select dates) - Horry Flyer
Every First Monday - Mullins Flyer
Every Third Wednesday - Darlington Flyer
Every Third Friday - Myrtle Beach Flyer

List of South Carolina Rural Connections Tiers

2023		2024		2025
TIER IV	TIER III	TIER IV	TIER III	TIER IV	TIER III
Allendale	Abbeville	Abbeville	Calhoun	Abbeville	Chester
Bamberg	Chesterfield	Allendale	Chester	Allendale	Chesterfield
Barnwell	Clarendon	Bamberg	Clarendon	Bamberg	Clarendon
Cherokee	Colleton	Barnwell	Colleton	Barnwell	Colleton
Chester	Darlington	Cherokee	Darlington	Cherokee	Darlington
Dillon	Fairfield	Chesterfield	Fairfield	Dillon	Fairfield
Lee	Greenwood	Dillon	Greenwood	Lee	Greenwood
Marion	Horry	Lee	Hampton	Marion	Hampton
Marlboro	Jasper	Marion	Horry	Marlboro	Horry
Orangeburg	Laurens	Marlboro	Laurens	Orangeburg	Laurens
Union	McCormick	Orangeburg	McCormick	Union	McCormick
Williamsburg	Sumter	Union	Sumter	Williamsburg	Sumter
		Williamsburg