Greenwood’s City Center Team Effort Rewarded

September 20, 2006

Greenwood, SC – Teamwork.  Webster Dictionary defines teamwork as a "joint action by a group of people, in which each person subordinates his individual interests and opinions to the unity and efficiency of group." 

Greenwood's committment to teamwork was again rewarded.  This time, the reward came in the form of a "big check" for $934,763.

It was given by the state Department of Commerce on Wednesday, from the Rural Infrastructure Fund Opportunity Grant Program, for improvements to Maxwell Avenue and the Emerald Triangle.  Maceo Nance, director of Community and Rural Development for Commerce, made the presentation.

“We cannot thank the Department of Commerce and the Coordinating Council enough for their commitment to Greenwood,” said Mayor Floyd Nicholson.  “We believe that this public investment combined with the private investments already made in the Emerald Triangle District will have a major impact on the overall economy of Greenwood,” continued Nicholson.

Created in 2004 by the Department of Commerce’s Coordinating Council for Economic Development, Opportunity Grants are designed to aid in the redevelopment of downtown areas in eligible communities. The Opportunity Grant is a competitive application process whereby applicant communities must have a developed downtown master plan. 

One scoring criteria for the opportunity application is the leveraging and collaboration of public and private partners.

The City of Greenwood’s application included funding support from 30 different public and private partners including the Greenwood Commissioners of Public Works, Greenwood Metropolitan District, Uptown Greenwood Development Corporation, the Greenwood Chamber of Commerce, and 25 Uptown property owners.

Funding will be utilized to replace and upgrade existing water, sewer, and electrical infrastructure along Maxwell.  The project also proposes to add streetscape improvements to encourage pedestrian traffic along Maxwell Avenue. 

The largest portion of the grant award will be used to make improvements to the façades of 26 buildings along Maxwell Avenue. 

At it’s August 7, 2006 meeting, Greenwood City Council selected a design team for the project to include Davis and Floyd Engineers, Robertson Landesign, and Furman Architects.   Planning for the implementation of the Maxwell Avenue project has already begun. It is anticipated that construction will be completed by early 2008.   

In 2004, the Partnership for a Greater Greenwood County and Economic Alliance spearheaded the development of the Greenwood City Center Master Plan.  The plan recognizes that “Maxwell Avenue is an important part of the Emerald Triangle in that it provides an area suitable for new and enhanced retail development, but also because it is the link between the Emerald Triangle, the Uptown Square, and the governmental and offices existing in Uptown.” 

For additional information on the Greenwood City Center Master Plan, visit Uptown Greenwood or call (864) 942-8411.

Front Row (L to R)

Jon Baggett, SC Department of Commerce Community Development Manager
Ida Mae Smith, Uptown Property Owner
Floyd Nicholson, Mayor Floyd Nicholson City of Greenwood
Shelby Mason, Uptown Property Owner
Maceo Nance, SC Department of Commerce Director of Community and Rural Development
Jon Holloway, Uptown Property Owner

Back Row (L to R)

Debra Case, Uptown Property Owner
Angie Jones, Manager Uptown Greenwood Development Corporation
Janice McCord, 3rd US Congressional District Congressman Gresham Barrett representative
Henry Watts, Greenwood CPW and GMD Commissioner
Alvin Rankin, Uptown Property Owner
Gene Hancock, Greenwood CPW and GMD Commissioner
E. S. Moon, Uptown Property Owner