Hartsville accepts $1.5 million loan from Byerly Foundation
By Samantha Lyles, Staff Writer, slyles@newsandpress.net
At their March 13 meeting, Hartsville City Council approved final reading of an ordinance related to its “Canalside Project,” which could yield over $10 million in downtown capital investments.
Council unanimously approved Ordinance 4325, which accepts a $1.5 million loan from The Byerly Foundation to allow the non-profit Hartsville Public Development Corporation to pursue development in the South Fourth Street area. The City of Hartsville will also receive a $500,000 grant from The Byerly Foundation to reimburse the city for related properties it has already acquired for its Canalside plans.
The ordinance lists over 30 involved properties, and at least 23 of these have been purchased by the City of Hartsville.
At Council’s February meeting, city attorney Lawrence Flynn said this five-year loan is interest-only, and carries a provision that would allow Byerly to forgive $500,000 of the principal after five years, provided there is no default.
The ordinance extract states that the City of Hartsville expects the Canalside Project to yield perhaps $10 million in capital investments over the long term, including commercial and residential developments. The project could also bring three new jobs to the city.
Council also passed final reading of Ordinance 4324, amending several city codes to create a master ordinance related to delinquent and dilapidated properties. Flynn explained that these changes make it clear that the City of Hartsville’s enforcement of International Property Maintenance codes will be “a separate and independent right of action from the state law codified unfit dwellings act provision” to allow for prosecutions, fines, and other actions to abate nuisance properties and protect public health.
Also at this meeting, Darlington County Economic Development Partnership director Frank Willis spoke about business development in Hartsville and the county. He noted that there are only two real ways that municipalities and counties can fund their operations: by raising taxes, or by bringing in new business.
Willis noted that when he took his job five years ago, there were no certified industrial parks in Darlington County. Now the county has two certified industrial parks, and a third in the City of Hartsville is in the ‘due diligence’ phase of becoming certified. Through the Partnership’s private business arm, Darlington County Progress, his office is now spending about $30,000 a year to market these parks to industry – an effort that may soon yield fruit.
He explained that an unnamed manufacturing company is considering locating in one of these industrial parks, and this venture – if successful – could bring 600 new jobs to the county.
“And 600 new jobs in Darlington County is a big deal,” said Willis.
He also praised Hartsville for its continuing investment in developing the downtown area and making the city an attractive prospect for people and businesses considering a move to this area.
