CLARENDON COUNTY, S.C. — Clarendon County is investing more than $15 million into major infrastructure upgrades aimed at improving public services and facilities across the region and seeking additional funding to support future development.
The improvements are being funded through Installment Purchase Revenue Bonds (IPRB), totaling $15.5 million. Projects funded through the IPRB include:
Land Acquisition & Sewer Infrastructure: $700,000 (remainder funded by a State Infrastructure Investment Program grant)
E911 Emergency Operations Center: $8,000,000
Turbeville Fire Station: $1,500,000 (additional funding provided by the legislative delegation)
Public Works/Fleet Maintenance Facility: $3,500,000
Animal Control Facility Expansion: $1,800,000
Among the priorities are improving Highway 301 and expanding the county’s animal control services.
“Because of the funding that we have with IPRB Bonds to create this, we are able to expand upon those services and have multiple vehicles and different size vehicles that we can maintain through there, and with animal control, we can serve 40-80 kennels in the system, HVAC and serve bigger fleets so we’re excited about that,” said Sharmane Anderson, Interim County Administrator for Clarendon County.
Additional projects are underway thanks to other funding sources. Renovations to the Weldon Auditorium and the Clarendon County Complex Center are being funded through the hospitality tax, while a 13-mile water line expansion in Davis Station is supported by a State Infrastructure Investment Program (SCIIP) grant from the South Carolina Rural Infrastructure Authority.
“The renovations to the Weldon Auditorium, we are doing a lot of brick work, along with the HVAC unit that was a big issue, so we fixing that in Weldon. We are also doing renovations on the inside, a lot of cosmetic work, because the building is historic,” Anderson said.
Community members have shared their hopes for future projects. Buck Sprott, a frequent visitor to the Complex Center, says more outdoor amenities are needed.
“I think we would all like to see some outdoor pickleball courts at this facility or somewhere nearby, I mean, they’ve talked about it, but to my knowledge, I don’t think anything has started on that yet,” Sprott said.
In Davis Station near Highway 260, where the water expansion is expected to improve access to clean water, local resident Romey Ford said the focus should also include the area’s youth.
“Some type of park, basketball, baseball, anything for the kids because there are a lot of kids out here. Maybe a grocery store or even laundry mat,” Ford said.
While many projects are just beginning construction, county officials emphasize this is just the start of a broader long-term investment strategy.
Clarendon County launches $15.5 million infrastructure investment
