says Jason Taylor, who became city manager eight months ago after 25 years in municipal management. “We still have a beautiful old downtown and thriving businesses, beautiful old houses.Those have always been a drawing card for us.” The timing of Taylor’s arrival coincides with a pivotal moment for Newberry. Samsung’s massive manufacturing facility, which opened in 2017, has pumped nearly $500 million into the local economy and created over 1,500 jobs. The ripple effects are visible everywhere. New hotels rise alongside restaurants. Housing developments spread across former farmland.The county that remained stagnant for two decades suddenly finds itself at the center of South Carolina’s inland growth surge, part of a statewide boom that attracted $8.19 billion in industrial investment in 2024 alone. $9 MILLION IN PARKS, ARTS, AND COMMUNITY Newberry’s progressive city council has launched an ambitious $9 million investment program that spans recreation, arts, and cultural facilities. The scale of spending reflects a fundamental belief that municipal investment attracts private capital. “If you’re not going to invest in yourself, you really can’t expect to attract outside investment,” Taylor explains. “One of the things that attracted me to wanting to work here is we have a progressive city council that is actively investing in itself.” The centerpiece project transforms 140 acres into a comprehensive recreation complex featuring splash pads, skate parks, and lakes. Beyond recreation, the city has injected another $3 million into its 1881 Opera House, a jewel that seats 450 people.Adjacent to this historic venue, crews are constructing an outdoor amphitheater.“We’re doing a complementary outdoor amphitheater right next door, which can seat over 2,000. That opens us up for a whole new type of acts that can come here.” The investment strategy encompasses a $2.5 million pottery arts center, reinforcing Newberry’s cultural niche. Small cities across South Carolina are discovering that arts-focused development drives economic revitalization. Successful examples like Greer demonstrate how cultural amenities transform downtowns from purely vehicular corridors into walkable destinations. “We’ve tried to find a niche for ourselves in the arts,” Taylor notes. “We have a beautiful Opera House here, which has been restored. It’s a huge drawing card for us as a beautiful structure, but also we host shows there which bring people in.” DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AND MIXEDUSE VISION Downtown Newberry faces a familiar small-city Photo of Newberry’s City Hall 3 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 07 NEWBERRY, SC
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