Education and professional development, both for elected officials and municipal staff, are key functions of the Municipal Association of South Carolina. The Municipal Association therefore offers numerous affiliate organizations for specific job areas to help local officials serve their cities and towns to the best of their ability.
These affiliate groups connect peers in various fields of local government to network, learn through specially-developed training and share best practices and experiences. Membership in the affiliate associations includes online listserve systems that make sharing information and best practices around the state easier and faster.
Each affiliate is led by a board of directors elected by its membership. The Municipal Association provides management support to the boards.
Find all the affiliates' membership applications for 2024 on the respective pages of the affiliates, linked below. The nominal membership costs provide each participant with discounted training registrations and access to that group’s closed listserve.
The affiliate organizations available through the Municipal Association include these:
Municipal Court Administration Association of SC
MCAA provides training for court administrators, clerks of court, municipal judges and other employees involved in court administration. The Supreme Court of South Carolina Commission on Continuing Legal Education and Specialization and the Office of Victims Services recognize these workshops for continuing education credits.
Staff contact: Sara Whitaker
Municipal Technology Association of SC
MTASC exposes members to a broad range of technology systems, platforms and solutions. It offers training for IT staff, those with GIS responsibilities and employees working in other departments but whose duties include technology services.
Staff contact: Sara Whitaker
SC Association of Municipal Power Systems
SCAMPS focuses on legislative initiatives, mutual aid and providing training for elected officials, management staff and operational personnel of the electric cities in the state. Twenty of South Carolina’s municipal electric utilities are SCAMPS members.
Staff contact: Elizabeth Copeland
SC Association of Stormwater Managers
SCASM offers quarterly training on stormwater management policies and best practices. The SC Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors recognizes the quarterly training sessions for continuing education credits.
Staff contact: Sara Whitaker
SC Business Licensing Officials Association
BLOA promotes best practices for administering the local business and professional license tax through training, networking and the Accreditation in Business Licensing and Masters in Business Licensing credentials.
Staff contact: Elizabeth Copeland
SC Community Development Association
SCCDA provides educational forums for its members to address economic and community development needs. Members come from local and state government as well as private industry, elected positions and volunteer positions.
Staff contact: Sara Whitaker
SC Municipal Attorneys Association
The SCMAA annual meeting covers issues important to municipal attorneys, whether working as municipal staff or as a municipality’s outside counsel. The Supreme Court of South Carolina Commission on CLE and Specialization approves this training session for continuing education credits.
Staff contact: Eric Shytle
SC Municipal Finance Officers, Clerks and Treasurers Association
MFOCTA training covers the diverse job responsibilities of its members. All of the training sessions qualify for a combination of continuing education credits for certified municipal clerks, certified public accountants and certified public treasurers. MFOCTA sponsors the Municipal Clerks and Treasurers Institute with the Municipal Association and the Joseph P. Riley Jr. Center for Livable Communities.
Staff contact: Elizabeth Copeland
SC Municipal Human Resources Association
MHRA promotes sound human resources administration and encourages innovative programs. The national Human Resources Certification Institute and the Society for Human Resources Management recognize this training for continuing education credits.
Staff contact: Sara Whitaker
SC Utility Billing Association
SCUBA provides training and networking opportunities for its members, including billing clerks, meter readers and department managers. SCUBA’s meetings encompass a variety of topics focused on customer service, safety in the workplace and new technologies to increase the efficiencies of utility billing and collections.
Staff contact: Ken Ivey
Current members of each affiliate association receive a renewal notice the first week of January. Learn more here.