It's no secret, most of us would like to stay in our own home as we age. Yet, sometimes our loved ones just need a little extra help to remain comfortable at home. That's where Always Best Care can help....we are dedicated to exceeding expectations....always.
They say that your golden years are the best years of your life. For most older Americans, that's how it should be - a time to relax, reflect, and live life in a familiar place. After all, senior citizens in the U.S. have worked tirelessly to build a better economy, serve their communities, and raise families.
However, as seniors grow older, completing daily tasks like showering and enjoying activities such as visiting the historic Cayce Historical Museum gets harder without someone by their side. Unfortunately, many older Americans aren't able to rely on their adult children for help. The reality in today's world is that family members do not have the skills or time to dedicate to caring for their parents. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.
Our in-home care services are for people who prefer to stay at home as they grow older but need ongoing care that family or friends cannot provide. More and more older adults prefer to live far away from long-term, institutionalized facilities and closer to the place where they feel most comfortable - their home. Home care in Cayce, SC is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.
Home Care Services
Service AreasSince 1996, Always Best Care has provided non-medical in-home care for seniors to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle as they get older. We are proud to have helped more than 25,000 seniors maintain higher levels of dignity and respect. We focus on providing seniors with the highest level of in-home care available so that they may live happily and independently.
Unlike some senior care companies, we genuinely want to be included in our clients' lives. We believe that personalized care is always the better option over a "one size fits all" approach. To make sure our senior clients receive the best care possible, we pair them with compassionate caregivers who understand their unique needs. That way, they may provide care accordingly without compromising their wellbeing.
The Always Best Care difference lies in life's little moments - where compassionate care and trustworthy experience come together to help seniors live a fruitful, healthy life. Whether you are an aging adult that can't quite keep up with life's daily tasks or the child of a senior who needs regular in-home services, Always Best Care is here to help.
“Nate and his team have helped multiple family members and the service and support was”
“I engaged Nate as a consultant to search for the right Assisted Living Facility for”
“Very professional and friendly office staff. They are also easy to communicate with. I recommend”
“I am truly grateful for the opportunity to work here at Always Best Care over”
“This is a great company and I would recommended to everyone. I have been with”
“I am a friend or relative of a current/past resident Always Best Care of the Midlands”
“This is a company that truly cares about its employees and the seniors they care”
“Nice people to work with”
“Gina Berry takes time explaining why home care and Always Best Care is the best”
“I am a current client of this provider From a caretakers/daughters point of view: This service”
“Always Best Care is a great company to work for and if you are looking”
“The Staff, the care teams and the owners are one of a kind! They take”
“Nate took the time to meet with me and my family and help make sense”
“Hello to all of my Always Best Care friends, I'd like to wish you and your”
“I am a current client of this provider It is essential to us, he really needs”
“This is one of the best companies I’ve worked for in a long time. The”
“I am a current client of this provider It depends on who they hire for the”
“I am a current client of this provider I would have had to quit my job”
“I am a current client of this provider They have made it positive by being friendly”
“I am a current client of this provider The agency would have to make it a”
“Nate and his team have helped multiple family members and the service and support was a great peace of mind. Care of those in need can be a heavy load on the family, and Always Best Care made everything run better in the household. Their care extended past those in need and helped the other family members provide better care. The experience was a breath of fresh air.”
“I engaged Nate as a consultant to search for the right Assisted Living Facility for my mom. This service is no cost to the family. He spent quite some time getting my mom's preferences clarified and then searching for matching AL facilities. All of this was done in less than two days. He and I talked through the options and I relayed the two I felt were best to mom. Nate personally picked mom up from rehab and took her on those tours, which was a godsend because I live in another state. During both tours, he texted me "play by plays" as to how it was going. He helped me and mom choose the right place for her budget and needs - and was very patient with us as my mom took longer than expected to make the final decision. She was talking about needing a new TV and Nate provided her/us with a link to some that were on sale that met her needs. Once the decision was made, Nate accompanied the AL staff member to mom's rehab and sat through the entire long paperwork process to ensure mom understood what she was signing. Again, he kept me in the loop by texting me regularly about how things were going during the meeting. He checked in a couple of times after that and prior to mom's move asking how our prep was going and if we needed anything. On one call, I did ask for a referral to a specific service we needed. He didn't have an established one, so he researched it and got one for me promptly. During and shortly after moving day, Nate checked in again to see how mom was settling in. I've been amazed at the personalized engagement that we received from Nate. Anytime he said he would do something, he did it and he did it promptly. If anything was delayed, he updated me immediately. This is in stark contrast to Tara at Senior Care Authority that provides this service as well. She promised me things during our initial call and didn't follow through on most of them. During our text exchanges, she never answered my specific question - always danced around it. Within a handful of days, I said "nope!", researched more, and came across Nate and this service. Ahhhh, what a breath of fresh air to receive what you asked for. I have no doubt it saved me countless hours glued to my computer, trying to compare facilities. I highly recommend Nate and his consulting service - it was an excellent experience and he was a lifesaver!”
“Very professional and friendly office staff. They are also easy to communicate with. I recommend Always Best Care Senior Services for any senior in need. Also, if you ever need a job, please go and apply. They are always hiring weekly and offer competitive rates.”
“I am truly grateful for the opportunity to work here at Always Best Care over the past six months. Melisa and Nate have been wonderful and thanks for molding me into becoming a great leader. Professionalism is the key to success ????✨⭐️ I am looking forward to many years to come.”
“This is a great company and I would recommended to everyone. I have been with them for 3years Their caregivers are insightful and have so much compassion especially Mariah and Sabrina they are some of there champs they both have great personality and are very Professional. The owners are great and they run a great company.thank you for all that you guys do ????”
“I am a friend or relative of a current/past resident Always Best Care of the Midlands Team ensured that I was well informed, and my loved one received the best care possible. The compassionate care was delivered not only by the care professionals, but by the support team. The owners even checked in with us to offer support and guidance. They exceeded our expectations!”
“This is a company that truly cares about its employees and the seniors they care for! Nate and Melisa offer regular training for caregivers so they they can provide the best care possible!”
“Nice people to work with”
“Gina Berry takes time explaining why home care and Always Best Care is the best choice for your family’s needs. The Team at Always Best is thoughtful and supportive they go out of their way to make you feel heard and understood. They customize the care plan, care team and schedule. I recommend them to anyone considering aging in place.”
“I am a current client of this provider From a caretakers/daughters point of view: This service is a savior for me personally. It relieves me from having to miss a lot of work time to travel to my mothers appt, now I can meet her at the appt. and save this time. The care and service she is getting is TOP NOTCH! From how easy it is for my mother to schedule and the follow through is right on the money. From a person getting the services: Melissa is the best, she calls me weekly to remind me of my appointments coming up. I am very pleased with the services and absolutely pleased with the services provided. I know that this alone helps ease the mind of my daughter. Thank you to the team at Always Best Care!”
“Always Best Care is a great company to work for and if you are looking for care for a loved one, I highly recommend them. The staff is friendly, knowledgeable and supportive. I work in the senior industry and recommend Always Best Care to my clients that need extra support in their home or while family is away. Always Best Care will respond immediately and truly show compassion to others.”
“The Staff, the care teams and the owners are one of a kind! They take the time to ensure your care needs are met. Highly recommend giving them a call if you have senior care or senior living questions or concerns.”
“Nate took the time to meet with me and my family and help make sense of the questions we had when it came to the short and long term care of our loved one. When you have an elderly parent or a loved one with disabilities there are so many questions and so many emotions. It can be so confusing and it was hard for us to find one person or one company that has the knowledge and grasp of this industry that Nate has. We cannot thank him enough for guiding us through this process and his amazing bedside manner!”
“Hello to all of my Always Best Care friends, I'd like to wish you and your families a Merry, Blessed Christmas and a Happy, Prosperous New Year! My brother, my dad, and I really appreciate everything you did for us this year. You're amazing! All the best for the Christmas season and 2023,”
“I am a current client of this provider It is essential to us, he really needs assistance daily, and I work full time. I like their team approach.”
“This is one of the best companies I’ve worked for in a long time. The owners, Nate and Melisa, genuinely care about clients AND staff. They go above and beyond to support, encourage, and help everyone they work with. Their doors are always open, they’re generous with their time, and they truly want their staff to succeed. Donna in the billing department is fabulous, always available to answer questions or help in any way; Katrina in scheduling puts in so much time and effort to accommodate everyone’s needs and it’s amazing how well she handles everything; Angel works diligently on recruiting and training, making sure there’s plenty of staff to provide quality care; and Jackie is an incredible CHAMP, making sure clients are properly reassessed and care givers have the right tools and knowledge to do their job. ABC is a fantastic, compassionate, caring team I’m proud to be a part of, and I’m proud to serve our clients, too.”
“I am a current client of this provider It depends on who they hire for the job. The people they hire can improve.”
“I am a current client of this provider I would have had to quit my job if it wasn't for them and they go grocery shopping. They can have more guidance for the client and what to do for the client.”
“I am a current client of this provider They have made it positive by being friendly and courteous. I like that I do not have to worry about them; they are honest.”
“I am a current client of this provider The agency would have to make it a lot easier for me to find out about the caregiver coming out and having someone on backup. The agency could provide better scheduling and the caregivers would not come in on time.”
Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it is especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age.
When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.
The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.
At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one gets older, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.
To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:
If your senior loved one has specific care needs, our personal care services are a great choice to consider. Personal care includes the standard caregiving duties associated with companion care and includes help with tasks such as dressing and grooming. Personal care can also help individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes.
Common personal care services include assistance with:
Sometimes, seniors need helpful reminders to maintain a high quality of life at home. If you or your senior has trouble with everyday tasks like cooking, our home helper services will be very beneficial.
Common home helper care services include assistance with:
Using this kind of care is a fantastic way to make life easier for you or your senior loved one. At Always Best Care, our talented caregivers often fill the role of a companion for seniors. That way, older adults can enjoy their favorite local activities, such as visiting WmJ Cayce Memorial Park with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.
Common companionship services include:
According to AARP, more than 53 million adults living in the U.S. provide care to someone over 50 years old. Unfortunately, these caregivers experience stress, exhaustion, and even depression. Our respite care services help family caregivers address urgent obligations, spend time with their children, and enjoy nearby activities. Perhaps more importantly, respite care gives family members time to recharge and regroup. Taking personal time to de-stress reduces the risk of caregiver burnout. So, if you've always wanted to eat at the local Kingsman Restaurant or visit Guignard Brick Works, don't feel bad. Doing so is great for both you and your loved one.
At the end of the day, our goal is to become a valuable part of your senior's daily routine. That way, we may help give them the highest quality of life possible. We know that staying at home is important for your loved one, and we are here to help make sure that is possible.
If you have been on the fence about non-medical home care, there has never been a better time than now to give your senior the care, assistance, and companionship they deserve.
Always Best Care in-home services are for older adults who prefer to stay at home but need ongoing care that friends and family cannot provide. In-home care is a safe, effective way for seniors to age gracefully in a familiar place and live independent, non-institutionalized lives. The benefits of non-medical home care are numerous. Here are just a few reasons to consider senior care services from Always Best Care:
According to AARP, 9 out of 10 seniors prefer to age in place within the comfort of their own home. With in-home care, seniors have a way to stay at home, receive the care they need, and maintain a sense of independence, improving overall wellness.
If you or a member of your family have assumed the role of caregiver for your senior loved one, you know how stressful the job can be. Between caregiver burnout and constant worry, being a family caregiver is hard. In-home care relieves your burden and gives you peace of mind knowing that your older family member is in expert hands.
Unlike nursing homes, where the staff and residents rotate frequently, seniors can foster new friendships and build bonds with their caregiver. Seniors who socialize on a regular basis are often happier, which fosters positivity and leads to increased wellbeing.
No two seniors need the same kind of in-home care assistance. That is why each of our Care Plans is tailored to meet our client's individual needs. We offer plans that cover everything from light housekeeping to more involved duties like transportation to doctor's appointments. Our Care Coordinators will work closely with you to develop a personalized plan to ensure your senior's needs are exceeded.
Always Best Care offers a full array of care options for patients at all levels of health. With our trusted elderly care services, your loved one will receive the level of care necessary for them to enjoy the highest possible quality of life.
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While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit - something that is unavailable to many older people today.
In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a strange nursing home, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.
How much does a senior's home truly mean to them?
A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, then, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old.
With the help of elderly care in Cayce, SC, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.
Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors.
Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.
For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like a nursing home. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.
More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier and more affordable to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, seniors who age in the comfort of their homes can save thousands of dollars per month.
In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, are often less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.
With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.
In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.
Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.
At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.
In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:
When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.
Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.
At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in Cayce, SC understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.
Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.
Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.
While it's true that many seniors prefer to age at home, sometimes in-home care isn't the best fit. For those seniors and their families, choosing an assisted living facility makes more sense. Unfortunately, finding the optimal care facility is easier said than done in today's day and age. That's when Always Best Care's assisted living referral services begin to make a lot of sense.
Assisted living is a form of housing intended for seniors who require varying degrees of medical and personal attention. Accommodations may include single rooms, apartments, or shared living arrangements. Assisted living communities are typically designed to resemble a home-like environment and are physically constructed to encourage the independence of residents.
At assisted living communities, seniors receive help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating. They may also benefit from coordination of services with outside healthcare providers, and monitoring of resident activities to ensure their health, safety, and well-being. Caregivers who work at assisted living communities can also provide medication administration and personal care services for older adults.
Other services offered within assisted living communities can include some or all of the following:
At Always Best Care, our representatives can match your senior's emotional, physical, and financial needs with viable assisted living communities nearby. Results are based on comparative data, so you can select the best choice for you or your loved one.
Always Best Care works closely with local senior living communities to gain valuable knowledge that we then use to help seniors and their loved ones make informed decisions. This information can include basic care and rent, resident availability, and services provided. Because Always Best Care is compensated by these communities, we provide senior living referral services at no extra cost to you.
Some of the most popular assisted living communities to consider in our area include the following:
For many seniors, moving into a senior living community revolves around how and when they want to make a transition to more involved care. Some seniors are more proactive about transitioning to independent living. Others choose to remain home until their care needs or other requirements are satisfied. Remember - our staff is here to help. Contact our office today to learn more about assisted living communities and how we can find a facility that exceeds your expectations.
The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Always Best Care Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:
A discussion of your needs and how our trained caregivers can offer assistance in the most effective way
A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive
Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider
Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.
If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.
At the end of the day, we only hire the best of the best at Always Best Care. Whether you need home care in Cayce, SC 24-hours a day or only need a respite for a couple of hours, we are here to serve you.
When you're ready, we encourage you to contact your local Always Best Care representative to set up a Care Consultation. Our Care Coordinators would be happy to meet with you in person to get to know you better, discuss your needs, and help put together a personalized Care Plan specific to your needs.
CAYCE, S.C. (WIS) - For years, residents in the City of Cayce have had to deal with flooding and storm drainage issues. Now officials say they’re one step closer to fixing the problem.The second phase of “The Cayce Avenues Drainage Improvement Project” has started and will include 6-foot-in-diameter pipes placed underground, pushing water to the Congaree River.Officials say the new pipes will replace existing storm drainage and alleviate standing water and flooding in some of the cities busiest roads such as K...
CAYCE, S.C. (WIS) - For years, residents in the City of Cayce have had to deal with flooding and storm drainage issues. Now officials say they’re one step closer to fixing the problem.
The second phase of “The Cayce Avenues Drainage Improvement Project” has started and will include 6-foot-in-diameter pipes placed underground, pushing water to the Congaree River.
Officials say the new pipes will replace existing storm drainage and alleviate standing water and flooding in some of the cities busiest roads such as Knox Abbott Drive, Indigo Avenue and Honeysuckle Street.
Lynn Summer, a lifelong Cayce resident, lives on one of the streets experiencing repair. She said she’s seen flooding in her front yard and on the roads for years, saying Cayce has always had flooding issues in certain areas.
“I don’t see anybody having a problem with what is being done because to me it’s a positive turn to take care of things people have been complaining about,” said Summer.
Officials said a 2015 drainage study showed the city needed a major upgrade to its storm water drains. That study was the kickstart to a decade-long initiative to change the current conditions in the City of Cayce.
The need was amplified that same year after the thousand-year flood swept through South Carolina, leaving many parts of the Midlands submerged under multiple feet of water.
“It is a problem, and with it standing and staying for so long because it doesn’t have anywhere to go is the issue. The thing is that even if it could go, the supply wasn’t there to get it where it needed to go. These bigger drain pipes that are coming in are definitely going to make a huge impact on that and hopefully we won’t have flooding issues anymore,” said Summer.
A few years later, in 2023, crews built a retaining wall on Axtell Road to help with water flow, which was the first phase of the project.
“It’s a massive endeavor, it’s not just a one project fix it kind of thing,” said Ali Walker the director of business development with American Engineering Consultants, the company spearheading the project.
Walker said residents will see the work in action soon. Already there is orange paint along some roads where crews will be digging, including in the right-of-way outside Summers home.
“Digging up my yard to put bigger pipes to me that a bonus that just says that’s going to take care of things. That’s a little bit of a inconvenience but its going to be a blessing in the end,” said Summer.
According to an engineer for the project, some of the pipes will go under the roads, meaning there will be repaving initatives following completion of the installation. Pipes will be installed underneath Indigo Avenue onto Honeysuckle Street near Guinard Park in Cayce. Naples Drive will also see new changes with pipes and clearing initiatives taking place soon.
“This piece right here helps lay the groundwork for other projects that will need to be done,” said Walker.
In 2023, the city received a $10 million grant from the state to help pay for the estimated $23 million project. As for the rest of the funding, a city spokesperson said they are working with state and federal partners to pay for the remaining costs.
City officials told WIS this phase of the project will take more than a year to complete. In the meantime, some roads will need to close temporarily for crews to get the work done.
Click here for the project’s website that will be updated with the latest information on the project. The website also gives residents the ability to receive alerts for the project like road closures, changes in traffic, project completion etc. You can receive those alerts via text message or email.
If you would like to speak with someone directly about the project, the website also features an information line, you can all 1-803-939-9321 to speak with someone about the work being done.
Feel more informed, prepared, and connected with WIS. For more free content like this, subscribe to our email newsletter, and download our apps. Have feedback that can help us improve? Click here.
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CAYCE — A city councilmember who recently voted to triple accommodations tax funding for the local chamber of commerce failed to disclose that he sits on a committee set to receive that tax money.District 2 Councilmember Byron Thomas is a member of the Visitor and Tourism Committee for the Greater Cayce West Columbia Chamber of Commerce.During a ...
CAYCE — A city councilmember who recently voted to triple accommodations tax funding for the local chamber of commerce failed to disclose that he sits on a committee set to receive that tax money.
District 2 Councilmember Byron Thomas is a member of the Visitor and Tourism Committee for the Greater Cayce West Columbia Chamber of Commerce.
During a June 3 City Council meeting, District 4 Councilmember Phil Carter motioned that all of the $44,000 in accommodations tax money go to the chamber.
In previous years, the money had been split between the chamber and two other organizations: Capital City/Lake Murray Country and Experience Columbia.
The organizations said they weren't given any warning this change was coming. Miriam Atria, CEO of Capital City/Lake Murray Country, said her organization will be impacted directly by the loss of funding.
The motion was approved in a 3-1 vote. Mayor Pro Tem Tim James, who has served as president and CEO of the chamber since 2020, recused himself from the vote. Thomas did not.
In an interview on June 6, Thomas said that he consulted city attorney Will Dillard ahead of the vote, and Dillard said that he did not need to recuse himself. Dillard could not be reached for comment.
Thomas doesn't serve on the board in his official capacity as a Cayce councilmember. The chamber's website says that he is representing U.S. Congressman Joe Wilson’s office, where Thomas works as the Midlands director of outreach. He’s been a volunteer with the chamber's Visitor and Tourism Committee since 2022.
According to the chamber’s website, the committee “regularly reviews Visitor Center finances, Hospitality Tax and Accommodations Tax funding.”
When asked about the Visitor and Tourism Committee's role in deciding how the additional funding will be spent, Anna Huffman, who serves as chair, said: “At our next meeting, it’ll be like ‘Hey, we received this money from Cayce. What are we going to do with it?’”
Huffman stressed that ultimately, the chamber’s executive board decides how the money gets spent.
But Thomas said he’s just there to provide ideas and denied ever seeing anything related to finances.
“I don’t get involved in anything in regards to the finances of what the chamber receives from different cities,” Thomas said.
But according to Jay Bender, who serves as the attorney for the South Carolina Press Association, Thomas “should have recused himself from all discussion and from the vote.”
Bender pointed to the South Carolina Ethics Act, Section 8-13-700(A), which reads “A public official should recuse himself from all matters in which a business with which he is associated has an economic interest.”
The state says that unless a public official is sitting on a board in their official capacity as council members, then the boards, nonprofits, and agencies they sit on are considered businesses with which they are associated.
The Ethics Commission declined to comment for this story.
“It’s unfortunate that the commission is passing up an opportunity to educate the public and public officer holders on the constraints imposed by the law,” Bender said.
CAYCE — A pot of money in the city's budget was supposed to be split among three organizations to promote tourism in the region.But now, after a 3-1 vote by City Council on June 3, all $44,000 of the regional tourism awards will go to one agency — the Greater Cayce-West Columbia Chamber of Commerce.Neither Mayor Elise Partin nor the other two agencies, Capital City/La...
CAYCE — A pot of money in the city's budget was supposed to be split among three organizations to promote tourism in the region.
But now, after a 3-1 vote by City Council on June 3, all $44,000 of the regional tourism awards will go to one agency — the Greater Cayce-West Columbia Chamber of Commerce.
Neither Mayor Elise Partin nor the other two agencies, Capital City/Lake Murray Country and Experience Columbia, were aware the change was coming. Both tourism organizations have had partnerships with the city for the last decade.
Capital City/Lake Murray Country President and CEO Miriam Atria said this loss of funding will directly impact her organization. Along with Experience Columbia, the two "are the leading tourism agencies in this region," she told The Post and Courier on June 4.
Partin was the only person who voted against the motion, which was proposed by District 4 Councilmember Phil Carter.
“In my heart, I just simply cannot ask these taxpayers to collect this money on our behalf and we say ‘thank you very much, but we’re going to send that money to Richland County," Carter said at the June 3 council meeting. "And we’re going to send that other part on the other side of the lake. It just does not sit well with me, and it’s wrong.”
The Accommodations Tax Committee, made up of Cayce citizens, had recommended the funds be split almost evenly between three different organizations.
In an interview with The Post and Courier, Partin called Carter's line of reasoning “nonsensical.”
“What you need are organizations that know how to send people to our city, to our small businesses, and to our hotels. That’s what accommodations tax money in, to get more people here, and that takes dedicated staff to do that,” Partin said.
She said the chamber currently doesn’t have any staff dedicated to tourism, only a volunteer committee.
The Greater Cayce West Columbia Chamber claims over 400 local businesses as members. It’s headed up by Mayor Pro Tem Tim James, who has served as president and CEO of the chamber since 2020.
James recused himself from the June 3 discussion and vote. Contacted by phone, Carter declined to comment for this story.
Capital City/Lake Murray Country promotes Cayce daily, according to Atria.
They focus on both marketing at the local and national level. Locally, they invest in billboards, radio and television spots, and maintain an extensive calendar of events on their website.
Nationally, the organization's applications for the grant show they have placed ads in magazines like USA Today and Garden and Gun, as well as on the popular music streaming platform Spotify.
Atria said this loss of funding means they’ll pull Cayce from ads they run in the state tourism guide, but that ultimately they will continue to promote the city.
“They can make a decision to fund us or not fund us. We’re still going to do our job,” Atria said.
Her organization is responsible for promoting four counties: Richland, Saluda, Newberry and Lexington, which Cayce belongs to. She said the organization acts as a de-facto field office for the South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism.
Mayor Partin said she can’t blame Capital City/Lake Murray Country for that choice, but that she’s “appalled at our council for putting us in that position.”
Bill Ellen, president of Experience Columbia, said he hadn’t been notified by the city of Cayce that they were planning on changing the grant awards. He said his organization has been receiving the awards for at least the last decade.
Ellen said the impact of Experience Columbia on tourism in places like Cayce has been “tremendous.”
“We’re able to give a much larger bang for investment buck than many sources will be able to, just because that’s what we’re totally focused on, it’s what we do every day,” Ellen said.
Experience Columbia advertises on popular travel websites like TripAdvisor and in lifestyle magazines like Southern Living and Garden and Gun.
Their application for the money clarifies that all money awarded by the city will be used specifically for City of Cayce promotions.
Partin said she supports the money going to both Experience Columbia and Capital City/Lake Murray Country because they are organizations solely dedicated to tourism, so they can stretch their money further.
“We need those dollars to bring people into the community, and I have no data that says we get that from the chamber,” Partin said. “I don’t have any of the data to say what kind of return on investment we’re getting.”
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