Beaufort County breaks ground on Agnes Major Community Center with ARPA funds

Beaufort County officials and community members gathered for a groundbreaking ceremony to begin construction of the Agnes Major Community Center, a new local hub officials said will host programs for children, seniors and families.

County Administrator Michael Moore said the project is "a 3,000 square foot facility" and part of "a $3,000,000 investment" across two community-center projects funded with American Rescue Plan Act funds, adding that the ARPA funding means "it's not a direct cost to the taxpayers." The ceremony included remarks from Councilmember Dawson, a local resident historian and county capital-projects staff, and a ceremonial shovel turn.

The county's interim capital projects director, Robert Getzey, outlined the design and permitting process and introduced the project team from Carolina Engineering, Coast Architects and Mitchell Construction. Getzey said the county and contractor are working to a 9–10 month construction schedule; "we hope to have this completed sometime in September, October, and a possible move in date right around there," he said.

Mitchell Construction's project manager, Clayton Sauter, described the paired projects as "twin community center[s]" and said the buildings are about "3,200 square feet with 700 square feet and change of porches" and include a warming kitchen and a health suite that occupies roughly "15 to 20%" of the footprint. The contractor reiterated that schedule and cautioned completion timing may depend on weather.

Deputy Director of Parks and Recreation Shane Steger said staff met with residents during planning and expects programming to include senior programs, afterschool and tutorial offerings, and family-focused recreation. "We're talking about senior programs, aftercare programs, tutorial programs," Steger said, noting the facility is intended to serve all ages.

Speakers also recounted the center's roots: Councilmember Dawson and Karen Ulmer, daughter of Freda Mitchell, described the original Agnes Major facility's role as a neighborhood gathering and early-education site; officials said the older building had been demolished after mold damage and the new center will restore local programming space.

Officials said the two-center package — the Agnes Major Center and a companion center at Wesley Felix — represents a combined $3 million investment; county officials told BCTV the Agnes Major project itself is in the "million-and-a-half dollar category." Construction is expected to begin immediately after groundbreaking, with a targeted completion window in fall and programming to follow once the county and contractor complete the work.

The county invited residents to watch construction progress and to contact parks staff with program ideas. The ceremony concluded with a photo opportunity and a community-focused interview on BCTV.