State-funded strategic plan highlights riverfront redevelopment, workforce housing and industrial targets for Conway

Consultants working with the South Carolina Department of Commerce presented a 160-page strategic plan to Conway City Council on June 16 that sets priorities for downtown and riverfront redevelopment, workforce housing, infrastructure, and economic diversification.

The presentation recommended continuing efforts to pursue a Tax Increment Financing (TIF) district for the riverfront and downtown as a way to drive private investment and support public projects. Consultants said downtown parking, traffic and grocery access emerged repeatedly from stakeholder interviews; the plan includes a grocery-feasibility packet for a site west of downtown that staff may use in developer outreach.

Consultants also highlighted demographic challenges. They reported Conway’s economic dependency ratio (EDR) at about 154, compared with a U.S. average around 101; the consultants said roughly 45% of those classified as dependents are working-age adults. The presentation recommended coordinated workforce-development programs with regional partners, targeted housing programs for households at 80%–120% of area median income (AMI) to retain teachers, firefighters and other middle-income workers, and creation of a local housing trust fund to catalyze middle‑income units.

On industry, the plan identified opportunities to attract aviation-maintenance and light advanced-manufacturing firms to annexable properties northeast of U.S. 501, pairing sites with workforce development and utility service strategies. The consultants stressed that growing higher-wage employment in the city would stabilize tax revenue and support long-term community goals.

Consultant remarks emphasized the city’s strengths—walkable downtown, civic events and engaged staff—and urged the council to use the plan both as a strategic map and as a practical implementation guide. The consulting team said it would deliver a final document to city staff and that staff would receive an appendix of action items and developer-facing materials for market outreach. Council members asked about the EDR and the role of retirees; consultants said about 45% of dependents are working-age adults and recommended programs to move a subset back into the labor force.

The presentation did not require council action; staff and consultants said the plan would be used to guide near-term project priorities and to pursue state funding.