Business View Magazine | March 2019

175 knew that it also had a downtown-adjacent is- sue impacting resident lives and livelihoods — just as the downtown storefronts had declined, so too had the surrounding neighborhoods. Private developers did not see these areas as a good investment, but the city believed it could spark a new development pattern. The City created the Florence Neighborhood Revitalization Plan, which brought together lo- cal, state and federal money to rebuild streets, demolish or renovate abandoned houses, and build valuable new homes designed with sen- sitivity to their surrounding historic architec- ture. The program also provides down payment assistance for prospective homebuyers. The financial commitment was significant — $3 million for construction and incentives and another $6 million for infrastructure — funds that would not have been infused into the area by any other entity. The first houses are already built, and the city is aiming for dozens more in the coming years. BRINGING EVERYTHING TOGETHER All of the examples here only scratch the surface of what is possible in cities and towns across South Carolina, since they don’t touch on areas like police and fire services, or even support for local arts and culture program- ming. Many times, city government is where leadership, partnership-building, resources, and the passion to improve a local community can all come together, and this combination can achieve powerful results. Greenville Saturday Market Credit – City of Greenville The City of Greenville’s TD Saturday Market accepts vendors who meet specific standards in location and uniqueness. Photo: City of Greenville.