The next 40 years will see a 14-county region of the Carolinas experience enormous growth in population and jobs and Union County is positioned to benefit from that growth.
A group of approximately 30 Union County officeholders, development officials, business people, and members of the general public took part in Tuesday’s CONNECT Our Future community growth […]
3D Systems plans to expand its Rock Hill facilities, investing $10.9 million and creating 133 jobs, according to a request filed with York County.
Avi Reichental, 3D Systems’ president and CEO, recently said the company’s headquarters, research and production facilities at the Waterford Business Park in Rock Hill were at capacity and an expansion was needed.
According […]
In addition to providing medical and related services the health sector generates more than $60 million in economic activity in Union County, with most of it generated by the Union Hospital District.
A study conducted by the South Carolina Office of Rural Health of the health sector’s impact on Union County’s economy in 2012 found that […]
The long-awaited industrial project in Chester County doesn’t have to go by the name “Project 1233” anymore.
JN Fibers Inc., a manufacturer of recycled polyester staple fiber products, is establishing a new manufacturing facility here in Chester County. The $45 million investment is expected to generate 318 new jobs.
“We are pleased by the opportunity to establish […]
The York County Council on Tuesday voted to allow York County Access, a low-cost transportation program, to replace its aging fleet of buses using a combination of state money and separate funding.
York County Access, which is run by the York County Council on Aging, provides discounted rides for residents within county limits to workplaces, doctors […]
Local funds will be used to cover part of the cost of some preliminary work on the Ottaray Village Renaissance Project.
In a report to the Union County Council’s Committee on Administration and Finance, Supervisor Tommy Sinclair said that $25,000 in C-Funds had been allocated to cover some of the preliminary engineering but the actual cost […]
A surplus of cash from the Hwy. 21 bridge project from I-77 to Sutton Road is headed to Tega Cay, where it’ll cover a much more expensive Tega Cay/Gold Hill Connector than initially planned.
Last week, York County Council rerouted $4 million in surplus funds from the bridge project to the connector. Council also committed more […]
By general consent, the open house at The Gateway Conference Center and Olde English Visitors Center was more than anyone – directors and the public – could ever have imagined.
Visitors at the open house on Tuesday hailed from both Carolinas, from the tri-county region to Monroe, N.C. Chester County Economic Director Karlisa Parker said the […]
Silcotech North America Inc., a manufacturer of silicone components, is coming to the East York Industrial Park.
The company will invest $3.5 million in an injection molding plant that will employ as many as 50 people in three to five years.
“We are excited about locating our new facility in York County,” said Michael Maloney, president of […]
Online access to all of its property tax data could help make the county more attractive to business and industry according to Union County Assessor Susan Hanvey.
In a report to Union County Council earlier this week, Hanvey announced that, as of Tuesday, all the county’s property tax data in now accessible online through the Union […]
Main Street is buzzing with creativity and officials say it’s good for business.
When Olive’s Mud Puddle opens next month, it will be the fourth arts-oriented business doing businesses on Main Street, where just about every storefront will be filled. The opening dovetails with a reset Art On Main Festival that will be held Saturday, Oct. […]
The Chester Housing Authority is the beneficiary of a big grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
On Thursday, HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan awarded public housing authorities in South Carolina $19,177,868 that will be used to make major large-scale improvements to their public housing units.
The grants are provided through HUD’s Capital Fund Program, […]
The latest phase in the Town of Lockhart’s ongoing effort to upgrade its infrastructure had its formal conclusion Wednesday afternoon and the town is already looking at securing funding for the next phase.
The town held a public hearing Wednesday afternoon at the Lockhart Town Hall to review Lockhart’s most recent infrastructure improvement project. Since 2002, […]
Transformative and transformational — they’re the buzz words of choice these days for those who want to move and shake York County.
IRock, the Rock Hill school district’s digital learning initiative, is transformative. It will change how Rock Hill students learn, school officials say, giving them skills that will help them to compete for the rest […]
During Tuesday’s meeting of the Union County Council, members voted unanimously to pass an inducement resolution to recruit an investment in the county by a company identified to the county as “Project Modern.”
The resolution states it is anticipated that the project will represent an investment of approximately $25 million in new, taxable investment and the […]
Ann Taylor was recently recognized for her many years of service to Heath Springs.
Taylor, who’s been mayor of the county’s smallest municipality since 1990, received the Hettie Ricket Leadership Award last month in North Myrtle Beach.
The S.C. Community Development Association presented the award, which honors those who are community-development leaders. The group is affiliated with […]
“Years ago, the Brooklyn Avenue-area was a place full of families and children. In recent years it’s changed, and hopefully this park will help to reverse that and give the kids here something to do,” said County Adminstrator Steve Willis at the dedication of Stafford Belk Park on Friday, June 21, in the historic Brooklyn […]
Fancy Pokket Corp. of Canada plans to build the largest gluten-free bakery in North America at Lancaster County’s new Air-Rail Business Park.
Fancy Pokket is expected to invest $13 million in the new plant which is expected to be operating by early 2014 with about 25 workers.
South Carolina economic development officials expect Fancy Pokket to create […]
If you stumbled into the Charlotte Convention Center’s main ballroom Tuesday morning, you might well have wondered why all those grown-ups were playing with LEGO blocks and yarn.
Answer: They were deciding what Charlotte and the counties surrounding it will look like in the year 2050.
An estimated 400 people from around the 14-county region, including mayors, […]
Darlene Owens is looking for the opportunity to help people. She is also looking for a job.
Owens was one of more than 1,000 people that turned out Thursday for an SC Works job fair at the Gateway Conference Center near Richburg. Forty businesses, organizations and industries were on hand trying to fill almost available 600 […]
Ed McMahon of the Urban Land Institute has a less conflict-oriented answer to whether a big-box pharmacy should be built on the border of an influential neighborhood: Plan the growth first.
“Growth has always been something people fight about,” says McMahon, senior resident fellow at ULI Washington.
“But when you sit down with a map and talk […]
Industrial development in Union County and beyond is generating revenue that can be used by the county to prepare for future development according to Union County Development Board Executive Director Andrena Powell-Baker.
The Union County Development Board has proposed that the county make itself more attractive to industry by making $3.3 million worth of improvements to […]
A beer garden, bowling alley and backing from the state, not to mention the planned recreation field, yoga studio, cycling room, amphitheater, food court and hundreds of new employees who’ll work there.
When it’s finished a year from now, the newest Red Ventures building ought to be something to see.
“We’re trying to build a campus and […]
South Carolina’s unemployment agency is laying off 100 employees in June as part of a statewide reorganization that directs anyone seeking jobless benefits to use its upgraded online system, the agency’s interim director announced Tuesday.
John Finan said the Department of Employment and Workforce will eliminate one-on-one help with unemployment claims June 10, and the number […]
With Lancaster County’s unemployment rate at nearly 12 percent, officials say they’re doing all they can to help about 100 workers laid off recently from Titanium Solutions, a mortgage counseling firm in Indian Land.
It’s possible some of the workers may be hired by a new company moving into Titanium Solution’s former office space, said Keith […]
Chester County had its first big industrial announcement of the year on Wednesday when Outokumpu Stainless Bar, a metal fabrication company, announced that it will expand its operations in Chester County with the construction of a new plant. The $18 million investment is expected to generate 20 new jobs.
“We look forward to expanding our operations […]
The South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) is seeking comment from the public on projects recommended to receive Federal Transit Administration (FTA) funding during SFY2013-2014.
On October 16, 2012 the FTA published Moving Ahead for Progress in the Twenty-first Century (MAP-21) FFY2013 formula funding amounts and guidance via Federal Register, Vol. 77, No. 200. Available […]
The Village Renaissance Project for the Ottaray community is a step closer to reality with the submission of an application for a $500,000 Community
In a steady, county-wide recovery from the economic downturn that hit in 2008, the Fort Mill area is playing its part. Now the trick will be landing more leading roles.
Last week, York County Council chose Fort Mill-based ESP Associates from 10 bids for work evaluating potential industrial and commercial sites for future development. County and […]
A plan to raise the skills level of Union County’s workforce to meet the present and future needs of industry has been approved by the State Workforce Investment Board.
In a statement released Friday, the SWIB announced that it had approved the applications of 34 counties to be designated as a South Carolina Work Ready Communities […]
An initiative that seeks public comment on the future of a region that encompasses 14 counties in North Carolina and South Carolina moved a step forward Friday with a meeting involving several local officials.
CONNECT Our Future is an initiative that deals with the future growth of a 14-county region that includes the North Carolina counties […]
Investments totaling more than $150,000 will be used to make improvements to a county industrial site in the Jonesville area of Union County.
In a statement released Friday, Andrena Powell-Baker, executive director of the Union County Development Board, announced that the board, on behalf of Union County, received a $120,200 investment from Broad River Electric Cooperative […]
Extending Dave Lyle Boulevard east to U.S. 521 in Lancaster County has the potential to capture $23 billion in sales going to North Carolina merchants over the next 30 years, predicts a team of Winthrop University researchers.
The potential sales also would generate local sales tax – as much as $1 billion over the same time […]
No building permits were issued in Union County for commercial and industrial development in the third quarter of 2012 but permits for single family dwellings were up slightly according to a report issued by the Catawba Regional Council of Governments.
According to its website (catawbacog.org) the Catawba Regional Council of Governments or COG “is an association […]
Community Design Solutions (CDS) has been hired by the Town of Lockhart through a Rural Business Enterprise Grant administered by the Catawba Regional Council of Governments to conduct a planning workshop or “charrette” in the Town of Lockhart on January 29-31.
A charrette is an intensive design-oriented revitalization program open to the public. A charrette combines […]
The county’s fire service is set to receive a boost in manpower from a recently awarded federal grant that will help fund 10 paid firefighters.
Lancaster County Fire Marshal Stephen Blackwelder confirmed the grant Thursday, Dec. 27.
“The fire service just received a $1 million grant for paid firefighters during the daytime hours,” Blackwelder said.
According to the […]
The Lancaster Area Ride Service is now serving as the county’s first public transit system after recent expansion and Council on Aging Director Sally Sherrin is reporting good results. “The scope of the service is broader,” Sherrin said. She spoke during last week’s County Council meeting and told the group that trips and riders have increased […]
The South Carolina Department of Tranportation (SCDOT) is seeking comment from the public on its Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) as authorized by the most recent Federal Transportation Funding Act – the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21). The Transportation Alternatives Program redefines the former Transportation Enhancement (TE) activities and consolidates these […]
On the day it celebrated its 100th anniversary by planting 100 trees in four local communities, Lockhart Power also made a $100,000 contribution in support of the future economic development of Union County.
Representatives of Lockhart Power and its parent company, Pacolet Milliken Enterprises, gathered Thursday with county, municipal, economic development and school officials for ceremonies […]
A discussion more than 20 years ago on how best to facilitate the exploration of South Carolina’s natural beauty and its many communities led to the ongoing development of The Palmetto Trail which proponents say could benefit Union County economically.
The Palmetto Trail is described by The Palmetto Conservation Foundation website (www.palmettoconservation.org) as “the state’s largest […]
Lisa Woods had been waiting and watching intently for when widespread public transportation would become a reality in Lancaster County.
On Thursday, Nov. 29, her wishes came true as Lancaster Area Ride Service (LARS) announced a major expansion of its program, which began in 2009.
Woods, service coordinator for Lancaster Manor Apartments, said many residents there have […]
Richburg can boast what no other municipality in any county of the state can boast – solar lighting.
The solar light panels installed Nov. 12 at U.S. Interstate 77 exit 65 in Richburg, put Chester on the map as the only county in the state to use solar lighting on its roadways, officials say. Over a […]
No votes were taken at Monday’s work session but the Rock Hill City Council appeared ready to endorse a new economic development strategy designed to revitalize the Bleachery textile plan.
The strategy – to redevelop the former Rock Hill Printing & Finishing Co. into Knowledge Park – is designed to leverage technology to create jobs and […]
A Chester County industry is announcing a $3.1 million expansion that is expected to create 100 new jobs.
Haddon House Food Products Inc., an exporter, importer and distributor of food products, plans to increase its operations in the county.
“We are pleased to take the next big step for our company and move forward with plans to […]
Five years ago, a group of forward-looking individuals, businesses and community groups came together to support a vision called the Carolina Thread Trail – a planned network of trails and greenways, connecting communities and preserved green space across 15 counties. Today, in Davidson, N.C., we will commemorate the completion of the Thread Trail’s 100th mile.
It […]
The city of Lancaster is putting forth significant money to help develop a business park near Lancaster County Airport on S.C. 9.
Lancaster City Council voted 6-1 at its Tuesday, Oct. 23, meeting to allocate $900,000 to extend city water and sewer services to the Lancaster Air-Rail Industrial Park, a project that’s being jointly planned by […]
The Cato Corp. is in the final stages of buying 250 acres surrounding Knights Stadium in Fort Mill with plans to eventually build a distribution center there.
Cato would then turn over much of the remaining land at the site to a developer for a mixed-use project that would include shops, offices, commercial buildings and perhaps […]
The town of Heath Springs is preparing for the latest phase of its water line replacement efforts.
Town Council voted unanimously at its Tuesday, Oct. 16, meeting to accept the lowest bid from contractors interested in performing the work. Bids were recently submitted to the Catawba Regional Council of Governments, which awards Community Development Block Grant […]
York Technical College and a handful of other state schools have been given more than $14 million in federal money to build a system that more quickly trains workers who have lost jobs in the recession.
The project, headed by Greenville Technical College, is called ACCELERATE SC – Adult College Completion through E-Learning Resources and Academic […]
The national youth soccer tournament held at Manchester Meadows had a direct economic impact of $3.5 million, U.S. Youth Soccer and Rock Hill officials estimate.
The estimate is based on the soccer association’s experience with past tournaments, the number of hotel rooms booked for the July tournament and the number of attendees, said Mark Sexton, supervisor for […]
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