Columbia, Greenville-based Junior Achievement to combine.

Junior Achievement of Greater South Carolina, based in Columbia, and Greenville-based Junior Achievement of Upstate South Carolina are consolidating on July 1.

The organizations served a combined 24,406 students last year in 41 counties, according to a news release, and aim to increase that impact with the merger.

The new organization will retain the Junior Achievement of Greater South Carolina name and have districts in the Upstate, Midlands and Lowcountry. Each district will have its own board of directors, with representatives also serving on a combined governing board.

Casey Pash, president of JA of Greater South Carolina, will serve as president and CEO of the combined organization.

"We are confident that bringing these two strong and thriving organizations together will create unprecedented opportunities to make a positive difference across the state of South Carolina in terms of providing the skills students need for their future success, offering employers a better prepared workforce, and partnering with school districts to develop supplemental educational experiences to help students be career ready," Pash said in the release.

Last December, Connie...