Newberry County touts $3M Department of Commerce grant and pursues $1M power‑team support for Commerce Park

County staff told the council they secured a $3,000,000 site enhancement grant from the South Carolina Department of Commerce for Phase 3B of the Mid Carolina Commerce Park and outlined follow‑up funding steps to complete a 300,000‑square‑foot engineered building pad.

Luckettone said the enhancement grant covers substantial costs for road construction and the engineered pad and that the county is also pursuing a $1,000,000 grant from the South Carolina Power Team and utility tax credits from Newberry Electric Cooperative to fill the remaining gap. “If we were successful in the 3 securing the $3,000,000 enhancement grant, the million dollar power team, and if we could get the Newberry Electric Cooperative, it's realistic to think that we could get the road extension 3 B at no cost to Newberry County,” Luckettone said.

Staff also reviewed other capital projects: a previously secured $2,000,000 grant for Mawson’s Way extension is under way and the county is coordinating CDBG and Newberry CTC matching funds to build sidewalks and streetscape improvements in Whitmire; some Whitmire work remains under South Carolina Department of Transportation review.

Luckettone emphasized the staff recommendation to adopt a conservative CPST revenue and expenditure estimate now and adjust next year after actual project progress is known. He added that several CPST 2022 projects — including courthouse IT, museum roof and HVAC, and the public safety complex — are at various stages of construction and bidding.