County officials formally accepted a grant last week that could stem the tide of shrinking volunteer firefighter numbers in Lancaster County.
On Aug. 24, Lancaster County Council unanimously accepted a $1 million-plus federal grant to help recruit and retain local volunteer firefighters.
The grant acceptance comes about a month after members of Lancaster County Fire Rescue learned […]

The name ‘Sunfiber’ may not be familiar to everyone, but around Chester County, it’s another word for “success.” The plant located outside of Richburg continues to expand their building spaces and continues to expand their number of employees.
Sun Fiber produces PET (a plastic material in the polyester family) stable fiber. The fiber is used in […]

The South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) is providing public notification of projects identified for the 2016 Federal Aid Pavement Improvement Program prior to inclusion in the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP).

The projects listed in the program have been allotted $190,104,000.00 and will include the reconstruction and rehabilitation of a total of 489.72 miles of […]

The Main Street Junction/Junction Park project involving the renovation of the old Super 10 building and the construction of new facility on the old Teritex site could cost the City of Union just under $1.2 million.

Union City Council voted 4-2 Tuesday with councilmen Ricky Harris and Yates Giles opposed to authorize Mayor Harold Thompson to […]

Local residents, public officials and service agencies will all have the chance to weigh in on local housing needs at an upcoming public forum about a federal housing grant program.

Representatives from the Lancaster County HOME Consortium will hold several public meetings across a four-county area, including one at 2 p.m. Aug. 18 in Lancaster City […]

Grading on schedule. An air quality and construction permit on the verge of being approved. An announcement of an earlier start to production than was anticipated. A subcontractor outreach event. All the elements of a continued successful project seem to be coming together for the Richburg Giti Tire plant facility, Chester County Economic Development Director […]

The 2015 South Carolina Historic Preservation Awards were presented by Lt. Governor Henry McMaster on June 5 at the State House.  Among this year’s honorees were: Dr. J. Edward Lee, mayor of York, who received the Elected Official Award.

Born in Chester, Lee is the author or co-author of 15 books, including the award-winning “Yorkville to […]

The Department of Commerce, Grants Division, and its partner agencies are in the process of preparing the State Consolidated Plan for Housing and Community Development for the upcoming 5 years, 2016-2020. The US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requires this Plan in order for the State to receive funding for the State Community […]

A year ago this week, South Carolina celebrated one of its biggest economic paydays: $800 million in investments and an all-time, one-day record of 7,000 new jobs.

All are slated for Chester and York counties.

On the morning of June 16, Giti Tire announced it would manufacture tires in Chester County, hopefully by 2017. The Asian company […]

NIP-8 Debarrment Certification Form

NIP-9 Conflict of Interest Certification

RFQ – Demolition Contractors

Richburg Town Council is considering entering into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Catawba Regional Council of Governments aimed at removing some blighted residential properties in the town.
At their June meeting, council heard a presentation by Cole McKinney with the Catawba Regional Council of Governments (COG). McKinney told council earlier this year the Catawba […]

More than a dozen homes in a historic Fort Mill neighborhood will be refurbished through a public/private partnership.

Habitat for Humanity of York County recently received $70,000 from Lowe’s, a home improvement chain with stores in Fort Mill and Indian Land, to help improve the exterior of 18 homes in the Paradise neighborhood. The historically African-American […]

Chester County Economic Development Director Karlisa Parker was awarded the 2015 Local Developer Award by the South Carolina Economic Developers’ Association.
The award was presented to Parker on May 7 at the SCEDA annual meeting in Myrtle Beach,
The award recognizes the hard work and dedication of local developers in South Carolina who have made a significant […]

Amanda Craig, 26, has been job hunting for a year without a lot of luck.

On Thursday, she was able to get face to face with dozens of employers looking to hire.

“I’m looking for any job,” said Craig, who lives in Smyrna and has worked in home health care, as a waitress and in a fabrication […]

NOTICE OF FIFTEEN DAY (15) PUBLIC REVIEW AND INTENT TO SUBMIT TO SCDOT FOR THE CATAWBA REGION. THE CATAWBA REGION INCLUDES CHESTER, LANCASTER, UNION, AND YORK COUNTIES IN SOUTH CAROLINA.

Rural Planning Work Program (RPWP) – This document outlines the Catawba Regional Council of Governments’ proposed annual work program as well as priority work tasks and […]

Romarco Minerals Inc., parent company of Haile Gold Mine, has secured $200 million in financing to break ground on construction projects at the site as early as next month, company officials said.

In a release issued Friday, April 10, Romarco announced a credit agreement for the loan had been signed with Caterpillar Financial Services Corp., ING […]

Construction is continuing at the Jones-Hamilton chemical plant just outside of Richburg. Plant/Site Manager Will Gist estimates the plant will be in full production in July of this year.
It was about one year ago the company was given an air quality and construction permit from S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control.
“We are on schedule. […]

Chester will receive a portion of $5.6 million earmarked for blight removal.
This week, the Catawba Regional Council of Governments (COG) announced the money had been awarded as part of the South Carolina Housing Finance and Development Authority’s “Neighborhood Initiative Program.” The money will be used to acquire, demolish and green blighted residential properties in Chester, […]

The South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) is seeking public comment on the Fiscal Year 2016 State Program. The State Program provides statewide budget information including a distribution of resources among state funded maintenance programs.

The 2016 State Plan was prepared as required by Act 114 and contains objectives and performance measures for the preservation and […]

The Katawba Valley Land Trust, located in Lancaster, received two conservation easements at the close of 2014 which protects a total of 380 acres.

A 219-acre conservation easement was donated by the Stoneboro Plantation LLC in the Stoneboro area of southern Lancaster and northern Kershaw counties.

A conservation easement is a voluntary agreement between a landowner and […]

Kara Drane, a senior planner at Catawba Regional Council of Governments (COG), shared an overview of the 10-year Comprehensive Plan for Lancaster County with the Lancaster City Council at its Tuesday, Feb. 10, meeting.

A public hearing was held by Lancaster County Council on Feb. 3 after which, that council adopted the plan and recommended a […]

A vacant industrial facility in Chester County will soon be rising from the ashes. Footprint, LLC, a company that specializes in the direct manufacturing of sustainable materials and packaging, is establishing manufacturing operations in Chester County.  Footprint went by the code name “Project: Phoenix” when being discussed by Chester County Council in recent weeks. Third […]

The South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) is seeking comment from the public on proposed revisions to the Fiscal Year 2015 Federal-Aid Funding Plan resulting from a federal penalty imposed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA).

On October 1, 2014 State Act 158, entitled Emma’s Law, went into […]

NOTICE OF FIFTEEN DAY (15) PUBLIC REVIEW AND INTENT TO AMEND THE TIP AND SUBMIT THE FOLLOWING PROJECTS TO SCDOT FOR THE CATAWBA REGION. THE CATAWBA REGION INCLUDES CHESTER, LANCASTER, UNION AND YORK COUNTIES IN SOUTH CAROLINA.

I. FY 2013-2017 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) – An amendment to the Program which includes the following changes / […]

An expanse of woods and fields along U.S. 321 and Alexander Love Highway (S.C. 5) may be the face of York’s economic future.

The Greater York Chamber of Commerce has identified about 300 acres of undeveloped property on the outskirts of the city as a prime location for a future business park and is working with […]

Apparently, “BB” stands for bigger business.
Haddon House Food Products, the largest privately-owned distributor, importer and exporter of specialty, natural, organic, ethnic and kosher foods, is expanding its Chester County operations. The company is investing $4.6 million to expand its operations in Richburg, S.C. The investment is expected to create 55 new jobs.
Founded in 1960 and […]

Member counties in a new Interstate 77 Alliance plan appear to subscribe to the old adage that a rising tide lifts all boats. Counties that once competed against each other for development prospects now are joining to take a more regional approach.

The I-77 Alliance, consisting of Chester, York, Fairfield and Richland counties, was formed last […]

The strengths, weaknesses, and potential of downtown Union were the subject of a presentation during a special meeting of Union City Council Monday morning. Robby Moody, Senior Planner for the Catawba Regional Council of Governments, presented “Downtown: The Heart of Union” which provided council with an overview of the downtown area of the city.

The presentation […]

A North Charleston-based firm will invest $1.3 million in a manufacturing facility in Union County that will eventually employ 114 people.

A statement released this morning by the SC Department of Commerce announced that “Vapor Apparel, a leader in performance apparel manufacturing and digital print-on-demand services, is opening a 30,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Union County. This […]

Lancaster County will become home to a Virginia-based mortgage company that plans to invest $22 million to build its national headquarters here, creating more than 650 new jobs, S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley’s office announced Thursday, Jan. 15.

Movement Mortgage, LLC, founded in 2008 and currently headquartered in Virginia Beach, Va., has grown tremendously in its first […]

Next spring, spinning wheels will hum again in Lancaster County, S.C.Keer, a textile company headquartered two hours southwest of Shanghai, China, is building yarn manufacturing lines in Indian Land, about 6 miles south of Ballantyne, bringing more than 500 jobs.

The Carolinas were once the epicenter of the U.S. textile industry, but since the late 1990s, […]

The Catawba Regional Elected Officials Forum was held January 8th, 2015.  To view the survey results presentation, click here.

A joint grant that would create the first cross-state connection along the Carolina Thread Trail was discussed by Lancaster County Council last month.

During its Nov. 24 meeting, council approved joining with the town of Waxhaw, N.C., to apply for a $150,000 Carolina Thread Trail construction implementation grant. The vote was 6-0, with Council chairman Larry […]

Standard Textile, a leading global provider of end-to-end solutions for the institutional textile and apparel markets, is expanding its Union County manufacturing facility. The $5 million capital investment is expected to create 35 new jobs in Union County.

Founded in 1940 and headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, Standard Textile operates 29 manufacturing and distribution facilities in 16 […]

The South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) is seeking comment from the public  for the following items:

1.       Public Comment Sought for 2015 Act 98 Non-Federal Aid Pavement Improvement Program

We are providing this information to you for public review and comment. Attached is the press release announcing that public comment is being sought for the above […]

Click here to view the Transportation Planning Update Report from the South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT).

The Lancaster County Comprehensive Plan passed second reading on November 24 and is scheduled for third reading on Monday, December 8, 2014 at 6:30pm, in the Lancaster County Administration Building located in Lancaster, SC.  Contact Robby Moody (803-327-9041) for additional information.

Click on the link below to review the document:

Final Draft – Lancaster County Comprehensive Plan

Haile Gold Mine, Inc. is investing $353 million to develop the Haile Gold Mine and anticipates creating 270 new jobs, according to a press release issued Thursday, Nov. 6 by the S.C. Department of Commerce.

“In addition to this $353 million investment to enter into the construction and development phase, Haile Gold Mine, Inc. has already […]

The Chester County Council is negotiating with two companies to expand operations in the county, a combined investment of up to $11 million spread out over several years.

The identities of the companies have not been disclosed, but County Supervisor Carlisle Roddey said this week both are local.

“That they are existing businesses, willing to invest – makes […]

Part of the process of updating the Chester County strategic plan for economic development is to get input from various sectors of the public. A recent meeting at the Gateway Conference Center with business and community leaders did just that.
Those present included representatives from the City of Chester and Towns of Great Falls and Richburg […]

Catawba Regional Council of Governments conducted an analysis of the Lancaster County’s Unified Development Ordinance during the first half of 2014.  The purpose of the project was to identify sections of the code needing improved efficiency and functionally to be most effective and to make recommendations to better implement the Comprehensive Plan.  This project included extensive […]

Beginning today, November 4, 2014, the South Carolina State Housing Finance and Development Authority (SC Housing) launches its SC Housing Homebuyer Program.

Known for 44 years as the state’s premier lender for low, fixed rate mortgage loans and generous down payment assistance, the agency has made homeownership available for thousands of South Carolinians. To date, SC […]

Funding is on the way for the Ottaray Mill Village Renaissance Project.

During last Tuesday’s Union County Council meeting, Ted Trantham, representing the Ottaray community, asked about the status of a $500,000 grant for the project.  He said people in the community are interested in cleaning it up.

“If you’re asking do we get the grant, I’m […]

The South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) is seeking public comment for the proposed scheduling of Federal-Aid Bridge projects approved by the SCDOT Commission in April 2014 pending available funding.

The projects include the replacement of 23 bridges and two culverts located in 16 counties across the state. Based on anticipated funding beginning in Federal Fiscal […]

U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Julián Castro today announced $600,000 to improve housing conditions, stimulate community development and create jobs in a Native American South Carolina community.  Provided through HUD’s Indian Community Development Block Grant (ICDBG) Program, these funds support a wide variety of community development and affordable housing activities.

“These grants will create better housing, […]

As Lancaster County continues to attract businesses, county officials are planning for the future.

Rob Moody, senior planner for the Catawba Council of Governments, updated residents on Lancaster County’s Comprehensive Action Plan at the Sept. 9 Indian Land Action Council meeting. The Indian Land Panhandle is the engine for much of the county’s growth with new […]

If you take a walk on the Catawba Indian Nation Greenway Trail, it’s a bit like walking back in time, a chance to see the woods, the river and landscape the way a Catawba might have seen them long before the first European settlers came to the area.

“You can see great vistas and views of […]

The City of Union will use a $500,000 state grant to make infrastructure and other improvements on four streets in the Union Mill Village area.

During Tuesday’s Union City Council meeting, Mayor Harold Thompson announced that he’d received the following letter from Gov. Nikki Haley:

“It is my pleasure to announce that the City of Union will […]

As Lancaster County Councilwoman Charlene McGriff walked through Lancaster’s Midway community earlier this year, she was shocked to see its condition.

Gone was the once thriving mill community and in its place were row after row of weed-covered abandoned homes and streams of broken sidewalks.

Determined to turn the area around, McGriff spent months walking from home […]

Craig Parks of the Senate Finance Staff presented the South Carolina Senate Budget Outlook to the Catawba Regional Board of Directors at their scheduled meeting on September 4th.  The Senate Budget Outlook explores the budget history of the State of South Carolina and provides insight into the challenges the state faces in funding critical needs […]