The Spartanburg Regional Foundation awarded 32 grants totaling $594,000 during their annual grant awards ceremony held June 13th.

Spartanburg Regional Foundation awards annual grants 

 From feeding homebound individuals to helping people get healthcare in their native language, the Spartanburg Regional Foundation works continuously to improve the health of our community through annual grants.

 This year, the Spartanburg Regional Foundation awarded 32 grants totaling $594,000 during their annual grant awards ceremony held June 13 at the Piedmont Club in Spartanburg.

 “We are proud to support nonprofits and healthcare system programs that make Spartanburg healthier,” said Kristy Caradori, executive director of the Spartanburg Regional Foundation. “We are grateful to our community for the opportunity to give back to improve health and wellness.”

 2018 Spartanburg Regional Foundation grant recipients include:

 * AccessHealth Spartanburg - $20,496: This grant provides funding for expanded services in Cherokee County.

 * Charles Lea Center Foundation - $12,700: This grant provides funding to purchase a programmable mannequin to train nursing and direct care staff.

 * Cherokee County Meals on Wheels - $5,000: This grant provides funding assistance to deliver nutritious meals to seniors in Cherokee county.

 * Children’s Cancer Partners of the Carolinas - $5,000: This grant provides support to families with children diagnosed with cancer from Spartanburg, Cherokee and Union counties.

 * Divinity Care - $5,000: This grant provides funding for homeless adult men who need behavioral health counseling, basic life-sustaining medications and dental care.

 * EMERGE Family Therapy - $5,000: This grant will provide behavioral and mental health counseling to underserved populations.

 * FAVOR Spartanburg - $2,800: This grant provides assistance to expand services in Spartanburg for recovery support.

 * Healthy Smiles of Spartanburg, Inc. - $10,000: This grant provides funds to portable pediatric dental equipment and supplies.

 * Hope Remains Youth Ranch - $3,000: This grant will provide specialized therapy for children, families and adults facing trauma-related issues.

 * Middle Tyger Community Center - $4,800: This grant will support behavioral and mental health counseling for underserved populations.

 * Mobile Meal Service of Spartanburg County, Inc. - $1,705: This grant will fund equipment to support nutritious meals for seniors in Spartanburg county.

 * Project HOPE Foundation - $10,000: This grant will fund playground equipment for children with autism.

 * St. Luke's Free Medical Clinic - $14,295: This grant provides funds to assist with basic, life-sustaining medications for patients.

 * SC School for the Deaf and the Blind Foundation  - $12,500: This grant will fund sanitizing equipment for classrooms and vehicles.

 * Spartanburg EMS - $15,800: This grant funds equipment supporting patient needs at Spartanburg EMS.

 * Spartanburg Lions Club - $5,000: This grant provides funds to help with the cost of glasses for approved patients.

 * Spartanburg Medical Center Administration - $150,000: This grant provides funding for a new outdoor multipurpose space for patients and associates at Spartanburg Medical Center.

 * Spartanburg Medical Center Emergency Center -  $54,906: This grant provides funding for the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners forensic nurse team.

 * Spartanburg Medical Center Language Services  - $12,500: This grant funds equipment to support the Interpreter on Wheels program.

 * Spartanburg Medical Center Medical Education - $10,800: This grant will provide materials for residents and chaplains to complete specialized training in child protection.

 * Spartanburg Medical Center NICU - $17,592: This grant provides funding for a telehealth system in the NICU to support infant care.

 * Spartanburg Medical Center Project SEARCH -  $6,000: This grant provides funds for equipment for Project SEARCH participants.

 * Spartanburg Medical Center Rehabilitation Services - $3,706: This grant provides funding for bariatric training equipment for staff.

 * Spartanburg Medical Center Safe Kids - $20,000: This grant provides funds for a new Pediatric Therapeutic Recreation Room at Spartanburg Medical Center.

 * Spartanburg Regional Healthcare Services Administration - $40,000: This grant provides funds to expand the senior services program in Spartanburg county.

 * Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System Center for Family Medicine - $58,800: This grant provides funds for equipment and training for the Family Medicine Residency Program.

 * Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System Security - $12,500: This grant will provide funds to upgrade the specialized security training lab.

 * Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System Speech Language Pathology - $42,100: This grant provides funds for a portable swallow study system for patients.

 * The Family Effect - $4,000: This grant provides funding assistance for transportation for clients from Spartanburg, Cherokee and Union county.

 * TOTAL Ministries - $3,000: This grant provides funds to assist with basic, life-sustaining medications for patients.

 * Union County Detention Center - $15,000: This grant provides funding assistance for the construction of a medical facility.

 * Union Medical Center Patient Access - $10,000: This grant provides funds for upgrading patient and family waiting areas at Union Medical Center. 

Santee Cooper helps economic development at Laurens County industrial parks 

MONCKS CORNER – Santee Cooper recently approved a $3.25 million loan for an industrial building at the Hunter Industrial Park and a $385,000 grant to help provide critical infrastructure at the Clinton 26 Commerce Park. Both industrial parks are located in Laurens County.

The Laurens County Development Corp., in partnership with Laurens Commission of Public Works (LCPW), has been awarded a $3.25 million loan from the Santee Cooper Revolving Loan Program.

The state-owned utility’s loan will assist in the construction of a 75,000 square-foot industrial building at the Hunter Industrial Park, located at the intersection of Interstate 385 and U.S. Highway 221 in Laurens. The park is owned by LCPW, a municipally owned utility that provides the park power, natural gas and water service. A primary source of LCPW’s electricity is the Piedmont Municipal Power Agency, which receives a portion of its power needs from Santee Cooper.

“Promoting economic development is an integral part of Santee Cooper’s mission,” said Pamela Williams, Santee Cooper senior vice president of corporate services. “Our economic development programs have helped South Carolina attract major manufacturers to the state, growing the job market for our residents and boosting the economy. We believe we can help Laurens County continue to build on that record.”

LCPW has previously invested $2.5 million into this park through land purchase, construction of roadways, and water and wastewater improvements.

Santee Cooper also awarded the City of Clinton a $385,500 Municipal Site Readiness Grant, which will go toward road improvements at the Clinton 26 Commerce Park. The grant represents 50 percent of the project’s cost, with matching funds coming from the Clinton Development Corp. and the Laurens County Development Corp.

The grant will allow the park’s roadway to be extended 975 feet, which will open up an additional 90 acres of property for industrial development.

Santee Cooper is South Carolina's largest power provider, the largest Green Power generator and the ultimate source of electricity for 2 million people across the state. Through its low-cost, reliable and environmentally responsible electricity and water services, and through innovative partnerships and initiatives that attract and retain industry and jobs, Santee Cooper powers South Carolina. To learn more, visit www.santeecooper.com 

John Harris Body Shops to move into former Office Depot location in Greer

Greer – John Harris Body Shops, headquartered in Columbia, has chosen the former Office Depot building in Greer for their first Upstate location. The former Office Depot was closed over three years ago. It will undergo extensive renovations with anticipated opening in late 2018. “We are excited to serve the community of Greer very soon,” says Zachary Taylor, CEO of John Harris Body Shops. The team of John Parker and Ryan Koop of Broadstreet Partners is assisting John Harris Body Shops on site selection throughout the Upstate. According to Parker, “Re-adapting the 21,000 square foot building is a win-win for Greer and John Harris Body Shops. Any time you can bring an abandoned building back to life it dramatically helps the community.” John Harris Body Shops will have over 20 full time employees in this location. According to Koop, “These are higher wage jobs that will be sourced locally.”