· The Catawba Regional Council of Governments based in Rock Hill, South Carolina, has recently been recognized with 2026 Aliceann Wohlbruck Impact Awards from the National Association of Development Organizations (NADO) for the Union-Jonesville Regional Wastewater Project and the City of York Water and Sewer Improvements Project.
Union-Jonesville Regional Wastewater Project involved multiple project partners: South Carolina Rural Infrastructure Authority; Town of Jonesville; City of Union; Union County; South Carolina Power Team; Catawba Regional Council of Governments; KCI Technologies, Inc.; Tri County Utilities construction company; and SM Grading and Excavating, LLC. The project was a collaborative effort to regionalize wastewater services and address capacity limitations that were restricting economic growth in Union County, SC. The project replaced the Town of Jonesville’s outdated lagoon treatment system by extending service from the City of Union, installing 44,500 linear feet of sewer lines, constructing and upgrading pump stations, and demolishing the existing plant. The Catawba Regional Council of Governments (CRCOG) played a central role by facilitating partner coordination, developing and administering grant funding, ensuring regulatory compliance, and managing financial processes. Anticipated to be completed in August 2026, the project restores system capacity, supports 36 local businesses and 287 residences, and opens the northern corridor for development, enabling major private investment and the creation of 760 new jobs while improving long-term community sustainability.
City of York Water and Sewer Improvements Project involved multiple project partners: South Carolina Rural Infrastructure Authority; South Carolina Department of Environmental Services; City of York; Keck and Wood, Inc.; Dellinger, Inc.; Davis & Floyd, Inc.; North American Construction Company; Walker Electric Company, Inc.; and Wayne Brothers Companies. The City of York, South Carolina, Water and Wastewater Improvements Project is a comprehensive infrastructure initiative addressing critical capacity, reliability, and safety needs to support the city’s continued growth. Developed and administered by CRCOG, the project involved securing and managing multi-source funding, coordinating engineering and construction efforts, and ensuring regulatory compliance. The project upgraded the Fishing Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant by restoring it to its full 4.0 MGD capacity through major equipment modernization and added redundancy, while replacing an aging 80-year-old waterline along Liberty Street with higher-capacity mains and improved fire protection. The impact is substantial, including enhanced system resilience, reduced risk of service disruptions, improved environmental compliance, and expanded opportunities for economic development, particularly in York’s downtown and industrial areas.
Presented annually, the NADO Impact Awards honor regional development organizations and their partners for strengthening communities, building regional resilience, and enhancing local economies through creative approaches to economic and community development. NADO is a Washington, DC-based membership association of regional development organizations that promotes programs and policies that strengthen local governments, communities, and economies.
This year’s cohort included 94 impactful projects led by 58 organizations across 20 states. These award-winning efforts will be recognized during NADO’s 2026 Annual Training Conference, to be held this coming October in Reno, Nevada. All selected projects are featured in an interactive StoryMap that showcases summaries, images, and key partners. The map is available at https://www.nado.org/2026-impact-award-recipients/.
“Each year, the Impact Awards celebrate the remarkable work being done by regional development organizations to strengthen communities and improve quality of life,” said 2025-2026 NADO President Matthew Dolge, Executive Director of the Piedmont Triad Regional Council in North Carolina. “This year’s honorees demonstrate how strategic leadership, strong partnerships, and a shared commitment to progress can create meaningful and lasting benefits across the country.”
The Impact Awards are presented in memory of Aliceann Wohlbruck, NADO’s first executive director, who was a lifelong advocate for regional solutions and rural economic development.
About NADO
The National Association of Development Organizations (NADO) promotes public policies that strengthen local governments, communities, and economies through the regional strategies, coordination efforts, and program expertise of the nation’s regional development organizations. Learn more about NADO at www.nado.org.