CHESTER, S.C. — Nestled in the northern region of South Carolina is Chester, a small rural city with a population of just over 5,000 people. That’s only about 1,500 more people than the largest CMS high school, but the city is growing and residents are proud of it.
That growth is the reason the South Carolina Department of Commerce is recognizing Chester with a $250,000 grant.
“I get to see this, I grew up here,” Chester Mayor Carlos Williams said. “I walked the streets of Chester. And to see the city grow in such a short time in a positive way that makes me feel good.”
It is home to Williams, who said the city is growing while keeping its charm.
“We have a lot of people moving from up North, from down South," Williams said. “They love the small-town feel.”
This city with a small-town feel is getting some upgrades thanks to the grant, which is aimed at growing rural communities.
“We don’t have many gathering places here in Chester in the city or in the county of Chester,” Williams said. “The upgrades this grant is going to be able to provide for the pavilion and the Agribusiness Center it is going to open doors to more and more growth in Chester.”
The outdoor Farmers Market Pavilion and the Agribusiness Center are centrally located downtown. In the Agribusiness Center, the floors will be completely replaced, insulation will be added to the ceiling and the HVAC and Duct system will be upgraded.
When it comes to improvements in the pavilion, Williams said they plan to add a guardrail, some ceiling fans, and some decorative finishes to the columns.
Dawana Hinton, who has lived in the area for nearly 30 years, said these are welcome changes.
“It gives people within the community a place they can host events such as weddings, baby showers, bridal showers, and conferences,” Hinton said. “It gives us a meeting space where we don’t have to go out of town.”
The city of Chester also committed $53,000 COVID money to the project. Williams said these are spaces that will help build community and strengthen the local economy.
“If they can live, eat and play in their community then our dollars stay here at home,” Williams said.
Contact Jesse Pierre at jpierrepet@wcnc.com or follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.