We have started a new blog series, the Staff Q&A, to help you get to know the people at SCCLF here to help you invest in community. Today, we are learning more about Brendan Buttimer, our Upstate Community Development Loan Officer.
01. Tell us what you do here at SCCLF.
I am the point of contact for SCCLF in the Upstate, Catawba, and Upper Savannah region. I cover an area from Lancaster to McCormick. I work with clients on developing their projects and getting them through the loan process, and provide support post-closing for clients as well.
02. What’s your favorite part of your job?
That changes all the time, because the job demands wearing many hats and providing a wide range of services for clients and communities. I’d have to say that in general I love going into a community and learning about new projects, watching local municipalities, non-profits, and entrepreneurs tackle local problems in new and innovative ways. I especially enjoy being able to connect those people with others across the state working on similar projects.
03. What do you like to do when you’re not at work?
My background is in local food, so I serve on a couple of food policy councils, serve on the board of a local Community Development Corporation that focuses on local food, and I have a decent size “self-defense garden” at home that helps feed my family. My wife and I take turns at home cooking, so we’re both decent cooks.
04. What is something you’re looking forward to, either personally or professionally?
I’m curious to see how the new Opportunity Zones shake out, and how we can work with them to help get some key projects funded. Personally, I am always looking forward to the next cycle of planting in the garden, but we also have all sorts of projects going on at home – hopefully we can get some much-needed renovation work done this year!
05. Is there anything you want people to know, either about you or about SCCLF?
I think the biggest thing for me is I want people to contact us about their projects and needs early in their project. The lending team does thousands of hours of technical assistance a year, but the most successful clients we have are the ones who involve us early in the process. The sooner a project is on my radar, the more I can do for them.
Brendan can be reached via email at brendan@sccommunityloanfund.org or via phone at (864) 208-7864.
