Naomi Reed, Field Service Manager with the Municipal Association of SC, presented the Town of West Pelzer with the MASC Strong Cities Award of Excellence for towns with population under 1000. Pictured (l-r) are: Councilman Jeff Lee, MASC Field Manager Naomi Reed, West Pelzer Mayor Blake Sanders, Councilman Tom Scarfo, Councilman Jim Riddle, West Pelzer Town Clerk Paula Payton.
West Pelzer presented with MASC Award of Excellence
Naomi Reed, Field Service Manager with the Municipal Association of SC, presented the Town of West Pelzer with the MASC Strong Cities Award of Excellence for towns with population under 1000.
The award recognizes community development projects which have significantly improved the community and served as catalysts for further improvements to the area’s quality of life.
Started in 1987, the program provides local government officials and employees the opportunity to receive deserved recognition for superior and innovative efforts in local government. The program also provides a forum for sharing the best public service ideas in South Carolina.
Reed said the Town of West Pelzer aimed to reverse the decline of its downtown Frankville Business District and transform it into a vibrant commercial space that could serve its growing population. Through an intensive research and development process, it created a new Rural Renewal Master Plan that seeks to reinvigorate commerce, reinvent existing spaces and encourage intentional growth.
Using consultants, the town embarked on a wide-ranging, inclusive project to draft the plan. More than 30% of the town’s residents gave their input, explaining their desire to embrace the rural character of their community and its history while still creating vibrant places for people to gather and do business, and to promote safety, walkability and connectivity. The town conducted virtual steering committee meetings and workshops to allow the widest possible participation among residents and business owners.
Staff from the town and collaborating staff from Anderson County collectively spent 250 hours developing the plan. West Pelzer funded the project by using American Rescue Plan Act funds.
As the town implements the plan’s recommendations, it has obtained more than $75,000 in grant funds for action items like the expansion of Chapman Park and the creation of a free coworking space for residents. The plan will guide the town’s use of its allocated American Rescue Plan funds, including such projects as passive parks, new downtown public spaces, landscaping and on-street parking. Already, a downtown that was once completely empty of active businesses has achieved a 95% business occupancy rate.
