Areas of Progress in South Carolina – May 10
May 10, 2018
Main Street SC program in Hartsville
Hartsville has seen the number of businesses located in the city increase by more than 230 percent in the past ten years thanks to a vibrant downtown that includes new streetscaping, revitalized neighborhoods, new city parks and membership in the Main Street SC program. This year, downtown Hartsville will welcome a new children’s museum with EdVenture, Columbia’s children’s museum, opening its first satellite location. Hartsville is also home to Coker College and the Governor’s School for Science and Mathematics. Arts, education, recreation, quality of life and public safety are all part of Hartsville’s success in the tremendous growth new businesses over the past ten years.
The state’s largest solar farm
Dominion E
nergy hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the state’s largest solar farm in Ridgeland, SC. The 71.4-megawatt Solvay Solar Energy-Jasper County, S.C., solar array, and the 10-megawatt companion Ridgeland Solar location, are located in Jasper County.
Dominion Energy’s Solvay and Ridgeland facilities deployed more than 300,000 solar panels on nearly 1,000 acres of land and will produce enough energy to power 20,000 area homes.
Since 2013, Dominion has invested $3.6 billion to help bring online 1,600 megawatts of solar energy in nine states – more than 1,200 megawatts of which is company-owned. The 8.5 million solar panels produce enough power at peak solar output to serve about 400,000 homes and businesses.
YMCA of Greenville
YMCA of Greenville raised a record-breaking $1,205,982 for its annual scholarship campaign, making it the largest annual campaign total of any YMCA in the state of South Carolina. Over the past ten years, the YMCA of Greenville has raised $8,864,239 for the annual campaign, putting 100 percent of those funds back into the community through scholarships so that anyone who wants to participate in the Y’s programs or services is able to, regardless of their ability to pay.
The funds raised for the annual campaign are used in Greenville County to offer financial assistance for YMCA memberships and programs like Wellness Works – Parkinson’s, after-school care, summer day camp, swim lessons, youth sports, Blood Pressure Monitoring program, and summer overnight camp at the Y Camp Greenville.
Kudos to the 300 volunteer fundraisers on the Y’s team and especially Brian Hamby, the campaign chairman.
Getting Money Back to South Carolinians
By State Treasurer Curtis Loftis
Did you know millions of dollars go unclaimed annually? From dormant bank accounts, uncashed checks, unclaimed insurance proceeds and forgotten utility deposits, millions of dollars are returned to the State Treasurer’s Office by companies unable to locate the rightful owners.
The State Treasurer’s Office has been aggressive in locating owners and returning nearly $33 million to South Carolinians in 2017. Since 2011, they have returned more than $165 million, more than their predecessors combined. It’s easy to check for unclaimed property, and they encourage you to check frequently. Visit our website (treasurer.sc.gov) and click on Unclaimed Property to check your name, your friends and families, too.
The State Treasurer’s Office administers South Carolina’s Unclaimed Property Program. Currently there is more than $550 million available to be claimed.
