Business View Civil & Municipal - May 2023

83 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 4, ISSUE 5 CLEMSON, SC Commercial and business support is always available Despite its small size, Clemson has awarded more than 950 business licenses within its borders, and Halfacre said more than 2,600 local businesses conduct business within the city, regardless of their mailing address. While Clemson city officials do not directly review in-depth marketing strategies with entrepreneurs, they provide data points and information like demographics and location studies for support. Downtown offers restaurants and bars of all tastes from upscale to college dive. According to Halfacre, “We try to be intentional in our efforts to drive business throughout the City of Clemson.” That includes regular summer plans to include live performances on the street, and closing down those streets to support outdoor dining. Halfacre says the city could always use more locally owned businesses to provide additional variety and uniqueness for residents and guests. The City is strategic in how they drive business, not only downtown, but throughout the entire City. Have you ridden CAT? Clemson Area Transit is a-fare-free bus system known locally as CAT or “CATBus”, is one of the most frequently used transit systems in South Carolina and according to Halfacre is one of the largest fare-free transportation systems in the U.S. City leadership has used grants to support a shift toward electric business, furthering the city’s sterling reputation in sustainability. More than