Engaged residents pack second Clinton community input session
October 14, 2026
A crowded conference room at the Bailey Municipal Center buzzed with ideas Tuesday, Oct. 13, as Clinton residents turned out for the second of two community input sessions on the city’s economic development strategic plan.
The room filled with longtime residents, newcomers, returning natives who grew up in Clinton and recently moved back home, retirees, business leaders, and Presbyterian College faculty and staff, many of whom brought years of experience in fields such as economic development, finance, marketing, hospitality and education. The conversation stayed lively for the full 90 minutes, with participants building on one another’s ideas and offering suggestions well past the scheduled end time.
The sessions are part of a planning process funded through the S.C. Department of Commerce. Mark Farris of Sustainable Consulting Solutions LLC led the discussion.
“We’re going to take what you tell us and narrow it down into concepts going forward,” Farris told the group.
Farris guided participants through a look at Clinton’s strengths, challenges, opportunities and threats. Residents spoke with pride about the city’s small-town connections, Presbyterian College, local schools, strong city services and a location in the middle of the Upstate and Midlands. They were equally candid about the work ahead, particularly vacant downtown buildings, walkability and the need for more places to shop, eat and gather.
Tourism emerged as a major theme. Several attendees said Clinton should do more to capture travelers on Interstate 26, including better signage and a visitor center closer to the interstate. The planned travel baseball complex near I-26, expected to bring play to the area by mid to late 2028, came up repeatedly as an opportunity to welcome visitors and introduce them to downtown.
When asked to describe the Clinton they hope to see in five to 10 years, residents painted a picture of a walkable downtown with filled storefronts, a plaza or gathering space where families can eat and listen to live music, safer crossings and events that draw people from across the region. Ideas included a lunchtime concert series featuring Presbyterian College musicians, a bandstand at Vance Park and a restored caboose serving as a coffee shop or visitor stop.
Attendees named Greenwood, Travelers Rest, Greer, Aiken, Brevard, North Carolina, and Winchester, Virginia, as communities worth studying.
A local steering committee with representatives from the Laurens County Chamber of Commerce, Main Street Clinton, city council and the Laurens County Development Corp. will review the input during meetings in November and December. The consultants expect to present a strategic plan to Clinton City Council in February.
If council approves the plan, the city becomes eligible for up to $250,000 to carry out a project from it.
Residents who could not attend either session can still share ideas by contacting the City of Clinton.
