“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 […]

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 […]

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 2014-2019 Transportation  Improvement Program (TIP) – An amendment to the Program which includes the following changes / additions:

A. Union County […]

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 […]

Specifics:  Request for Proposal from qualified organizations or firms to provide operations, maintenance, and service management for demand response public transit in the Rock Hill urbanized area and non-urbanized area of York County, SC

Pre-Proposal Conf:  Mandatory 3/18/13 2:00pm

Place:  Catawba Regional Council of Governments
215 Hampton Street, Rock Hill, SC, 29731

Submit Offer By:  4/08/13 at 1:00pm

Purchasing Entity:  […]

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 […]

A decision to end some services at 17 rural employment centers across the state was abruptly reversed late Monday by a vote of the South Carolina House of Representatives.

The move to end in-person unemployment services at some locations (including Chester’s) was made on Feb. 4. Officials said then that because of continued decreases in federal […]

Specifics:  Request for Proposal from qualified organizations or firms to provide operations, maintenance, and service management for demand response public transit in the Rock Hill urbanized area and non-urbanized area of York County, SC

Pre-Proposal Conf:  Mandatory 3/18/13 2:00pm

Place:  Catawba Regional Council of Governments
215 Hampton Street, Rock Hill, SC, 29731

Submit Offer By:  4/08/13 at 1:00pm

Purchasing Entity: […]

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 […]

SCDOT is in the process of developing a Statewide Public Transportation Plan as part of the Statewide Multimodal Transportation Planning process.   In order to accomplish this, SCDOT needs your input on public transportation and other related transportation issues.

Please take a few moments to complete a short survey about public transportation in South Carolina. The deadline […]

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 […]

The South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) is announcing the
availability of information and applications for Federal Transit Administration
(FTA) financial assistance to support public and human services transportation
within the State of South Carolina.  The State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2013-2014 funding announcements, information and applications can be accessed through the SCDOT website by clicking here.

This call for […]

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 next meeting of the Catawba Regional Council of Governments will be held on Thursday, January 24, 2013 at 4:00 pm in the COG offices, Catawba Regional Center, 215 Hampton Street in Rock Hill.

To view the meeting memorandum, click here.

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 […]

 The South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) is seeking comment from the public on additional projects recommended for the Federal Aid Bridge Program. The projects include the replacement of 34 bridges located in 22 counties and the rehabilitation of 53 bridges in 27 counties. The bridges will be programmed for construction as funding becomes […]

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 […]

We are pleased to recognize Representative James M. Neal as the 2012 South Carolina Association of Regional Councils’ “Legislator of the Year.”

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 […]

In Memoriam:

Dora T. Martin-Jennings
December 2, 1933 – September 28, 2012
Catawba Regional COG Chair

The Michael A. Glenn Funeral Home

Shutterfly, the Internet photo and greeting card firm, is moving its Charlotte operations to York County – bringing more than 400 new jobs to a county where unemployment is higher than both the state and nation.

The company will move into a 303,188 square-foot warehouse facility last occupied by Trader Marc’s flea market off S.C. 160 […]

The South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) is seeking public comment on four (4) projects that have been awarded 2012 Discretionary Grant Funding from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) prior to their consideration for inclusion in the South Carolina Transportation Improvement Program (STIP).

FHWA awarded grants for the following projects:

Road S-770 Bridge Replacement over Hanging Rock […]

The construction of the new Gonvauto South Carolina steel service center is moving forward and so are the efforts of local government to accommodate that process.

Gonvauto is being built by Gonvarri Steel Services on a 24-acre site in the Bonham community next to S.C. 18. Gonvarri, which is based in Spain, is a provider of […]

There were speeches and plaques and applause Wednesday as the Richburg Volunteer Fire Department dedicated its dazzling new building.

Dozens of politicians, scores of cops and what people at events call “dignitaries” were there, along with so many firefighters.

There were little old ladies helping to serve the barbecue and the potato salad and the sweet tea.

The […]

A reputation for having cheap housing may be a mixed blessing. But Rock Hill’s ranking as one of the best small cities in the nation for affordable housing undoubtedly is a big plus for the city.

In this month’s issue, the magazine CNNMoney listed Rock Hill as 17th among the top-25 cities in the nation where […]

Continental Tire of Americas celebrated an expansion of its Corporate Headquarters in Indian Land on Friday, Aug. 24, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony that included a significant donation to Lancaster County’s fire departments.

Continental Tire announced its intentions to expand its North and South American headquarters in the MacMillan Business Park in October.

CEO Jochen Etzel said the […]