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Mayor Marlowe says ‘state of our city is strong’ as Newberry highlights business growth, storm response and community initiatives
Summary
Mayor Jordan Marlowe and city commissioners used the State of the City address to highlight business recruitment, emergency response achievements, community projects and the upcoming AgTech park, and to honor longtime city clerk Judy Rice.
Mayor Jordan Marlowe delivered the City of Newberry’s annual State of the City address, saying “The state of our city is strong, and its future is ours to make.” The event combined an overview of economic growth, emergency-response awards, community projects and personnel recognition.
The address emphasized local business growth as a key indicator of economic health. Commissioner Tony Maison cited building and business-permitting figures, saying, “In the last 6 years, Newberry has permitted 8 17 new residential homes. That's it. 817 in 6 years. But in that same 6 years, we welcomed 163 new businesses.” The mayor and commissioners credited the new and expanding businesses with creating jobs and stabilizing city finances.
City leaders also highlighted the city’s emergency-response work after two recent hurricanes. Commissioner Monty Farnsworth said staff were “on high alert, either preparing for, responding to, or cleaning up for about 4 straight weeks,” and described recovery metrics including restoring power quickly for Newberry Electric customers and hauling “over 700 tons of debris.” Farnsworth noted the city received multiple recognitions, including a Mutual Aid Commendation and a safety award.
The address included several community achievements: the relocation of the Perkins home into Dudley Farm State Park as part of a truth-and-reconciliation effort, continued investment in youth programs and volunteer-led events, and the city’s recent honors from the Newberry Area Chamber of Commerce.
Mayor Marlowe and commissioners also recognized long-serving city clerk Judy Rice, who is retiring after decades of service. The mayor presented Rice with a ceremonial key to the city and paid tribute to her as “a pillar of this community.”
The address closed with the mayor and commissioners pointing to ongoing priorities—affordable housing, maintaining Newberry’s small-town identity amid growth, and the city’s signature economic development effort, the F300 Agricultural and Food Technology Innovation Park—topics that city staff said would receive separate updates later in the program.
