Hartsville manager details pipeline of infrastructure and downtown grants

At the Sept. 3 Hartsville work session, the city manager provided a summary of active grant efforts and capital projects, telling the council the city is pursuing several state and federal funding sources for infrastructure, downtown improvements and environmental assessments.

Staff said the South Carolina infrastructure improvement application under consideration totals about $10 million and includes projects such as a lift station; staff is also pursuing property for a water‑tower site and continuing work on the wastewater treatment plant with a target of completing projects by 2026 where possible. The manager said the city is contacting grantors about extensions when required.

The city is the sole applicant for a proposed $500,000 brownfields assessment to identify and evaluate potentially contaminated sites within Hartsville, staff said, and plans to begin on‑the‑ground work quickly if awarded. Staff also noted a downtown treescape study approved by the South Carolina forester commission and said the study’s price is about $105,000 with a city match of roughly $20,000 (staff time or funds) and an estimated $85,000 study cost.

Other items on the grants list included a FEMA generator for City Hall that is finally scheduled for installation, runway work, and a state funding package for a walking trail, resurfacing of a running track and tennis courts (staff said they will coordinate with Senator Malloy’s office regarding presentations tied to that funding). The manager told the council these projects represent a mix of near‑term and multi‑year efforts and that staff will bring specific award and contract recommendations to future meetings.

No formal votes took place in the work session; staff said individual grant applications and contract awards will return to council for approval.