MANNING mdash; While most people dream of owning their first home, Manning native Jeffery Black dreams of owning whole blocks.
That rsquo;s one of the reasons Black was honored this year with the South Carolina Rural Summit Entrepreneur of the Year Award.
ldquo;I was speechless, rdquo; he said.

ldquo;Which is very unusual, but I was very honored. I love rural South Carolina and my hometown. rdquo;
The Rural Entrepreneur Award recognizes an individual or company with 25 or more employees that has had a significant impact on a rural area rsquo;s economy or community.

The one-time television anchor and weatherman owns half a block of buildings along South Mill Street in downtown Manning.
All the buildings were rehabilitated, but had been vacant for quite a while. The building that houses Black rsquo;s upscale clothing boutique, also known as the former People rsquo;s Bank of Manning, was in such bad condition the floor was caved in.

ldquo;It rsquo;s a enormous undertaking, rdquo; he said. ldquo;I have no handyman skills, but enjoy watching a property being transformed into something beautiful again, so I like to hire people that make the buildings pretty again. rdquo;
Black is the CEO of Black Sheep Promotions, an advertising and promotions company housed in one of his buildings that used to be a Chevrolet dealership.

The building houses his true passion, Black Sheep Reputations. It was founded in 1996 and is his second company.
Black Sheep Reputations is a communications consulting business that specializes in media training, presentation skills, teamwork, customer service and effective communication skills.

ldquo;My largest client is General Electric, and I also consult with several NASCAR drivers, rdquo; Black said. ldquo;I knew I wanted to be a trainer and consultant, but I also knew I needed to feed my family in the process of trying to make it work, and my promotions company did that. rdquo;
Black owns Black Sheep Rentals, a residential and commercial rental properties company; Studio 1916 Salon Spa, an upscale salon and spa; and Seattle rsquo;s Best Coffee Bar and Cafe, as well as a specialty gift shop.

Black said he realized he was moving at lightning speed. After discussing it with his wife, Stephanie, he decided he needed to slow down. He now leases four of his seven businesses to local entrepreneurs.

ldquo;I needed to be more of a landlord, rdquo; he said. ldquo;I travel a lot with the consultation business, but as much as I can, I try to lay my head down in Manning. rdquo;
Black is the spokesman for Clarendon Memorial Hospital and a former production assistant for the rsquo;80s prime-time television soap opera ldquo;Dynasty.

rdquo; He also draws lottery numbers on television for the South Carolina Education Lottery, and hosts the lottery television game show, ldquo;Power Deal. rdquo;
ldquo;It rsquo;s a stepping stone to my dream job, rdquo; he said. ldquo;I rsquo;m going to be the next Bob Barker or Regis Philbin.

rdquo;
Black was among South Carolina rural community leaders, economic developers, state officials and specialists from across the world who received awards for helping improve rural South Carolina. But only Black received the entrepreneur of the year award.
Black said he has been offered opportunities to work full time for companies for which he consults, but he said he can rsquo;t imagine leaving Manning.

ldquo;I was meant to stay here, rdquo; he said. ldquo;With the Internet and airplanes, I can go anywhere to get a dose of big city life. But at the end of the day, I rsquo;m glad to get on that plane and come back home to my city, family and friends.