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See Lancaster Reports
October 2007
By Nancy B. Howell
Economic Revitalization Given Priority
Revitalization for the historic Main Street areas of Lancaster County has always been a focus of See Lancaster but the emphasis has become high priority for the staff. Recently, we invited the staff of Lancaster County Economic Development Corporation (LCEDC) to discuss the roles of each organization in serving Lancaster County and to determine how we might combine those services to improve opportunities for potential businesses and industry. Sharing information about referrals, as well as providing links to our respective websites and newsletters were immediate ways we could collaborate. These efforts will be easily observed in the near future.
During the week of October 8, representatives from the Washington based National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Main Street Center and South Carolina Main Street will be visiting Lancaster county. Normally, these Main Street Assessments are for one Main Street program, but because See Lancaster is a county wide program, the Main Streets of Kershaw and Heath Springs will be included with Lancaster in the assessment. Our staff has been working in advance of their arrival to assist the team in making the best use of their two and a half day visit. At the conclusion, the team will provide a report of their observations regarding the assets of each downtown, their problems, and opportunities while offering strategies to strengthen each community’s downtown revitalization efforts. This information will be combined with the research that will soon be undertaken for Lancaster County’s Cultural Heritage project. We hope to have the combined recommendations completed in the spring of 2008.
See Lancaster is offering a new service for property owners who wish to sale or rent retail space. A sign displayed in the window of the affected building identifies See Lancaster as the local contact for interested parties. We have information for the potential buyer or renter and can even arrange to open the building. This is especially valuable to absentee owners because it provides a convenient way to provide personal, on the spot service. In addition, we have information and brochures about the community which may be of interest to someone not from this area who is looking to open a new business on one of our Main Streets. We offer this service at no charge and we are delighted to work with owners to bring in quality businesses. This service has already proven to be successful. Final negotiations are currently underway regarding the sale of two buildings on one of the county’s Main Streets.
Websites are an on-going project for See Lancaster. We are making every effort to improve and expand available information about Lancaster County. Shoplancaster.com is due to go live November 1 for the holiday shoppers. Staff is gathering information from Lancaster county businesses that wish to be on the site. Merchants who are interested in being a part of this new website are asked to contact See Lancaster. A third website may be in the offing as we continue working with the LCEDC. Projections include a site that will present small and large commercial buildings as well as larger industrial sites routinely displayed on the LCEDC website.
Economic development and revitalization are high priorities as stated earlier. We welcome your ideas about how we might do more. Call us if you are a business that wishes to be placed on our websites, or come by our office at 201 West Gay Street, Lancaster, to visit our Tourist and Information Center. You may contact us at 803-286-1145.
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