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 Robert Mills House and Gardens in Columbia, SC 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 Columbia, 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.
“Started in home care services with ABC for my mother recently. Kayla helped make the”
“Great service and communication. Caring staff. Kayla is wonderful. Highly recommend.”
“Got services started with Kayla in the Always Best Care Grandstrand office in SC about”
“Excellent services!! Kayla is great.”
“Always providing exceptional care and compassion to all of our surrounding areas.”
“Lisa helped my family understand the best options for my parents and the resources available.”
“Always Best Care has been a lifesaver for our family. We have worked with them”
“Thank you for the care you gave to my dad. He did not have any”
“Always Best Care provided excellent care when I was discharged from Atrium after surgery- the”
“Lisa and her team at Always Best Care have been a great partner and resource”
“Amazing staff and services. Much appreciated.”
“I will have to say having worked in healthcare myself, Darrell with Always Best Care”
“I am a past client of this provider Always Best Care was just absolutely wonderful. I”
“I love working for this company.”
“I used this nursing service for my cousin Pat who had cancer. I can not”
“I love being able to work with this company, the owners are great people and”
“Services were geared according to need. We were looking at rehab and they were willing”
“I am a past client of this provider Services were geared according to need. We were”
“Nate is an exceptional mentor - he is extremely knowledgeable about senior care and gracious”
“Nate and his staff are wonderful people. It's great to know that when you need”
“I am a past client of this provider I used this nursing service for my cousin”
“Chuck and his personnel are truly the best. They helped us with mom and always”
“Started in home care services with ABC for my mother recently. Kayla helped make the process smooth and eliminated a lot of stress. Caregivers have been excellent and very helpful in day to day care.”
“Great service and communication. Caring staff. Kayla is wonderful. Highly recommend.”
“Got services started with Kayla in the Always Best Care Grandstrand office in SC about getting some assistance for my father. She was very knowledgeable and helped me get everything set up, and took a huge weight off my shoulders and was a consistent supporter throughout the entire process!”
“Excellent services!! Kayla is great.”
“Always providing exceptional care and compassion to all of our surrounding areas.”
“Lisa helped my family understand the best options for my parents and the resources available. She has great contacts and helped guide us thru the process. We received wonderful service. Thanks!”
“Always Best Care has been a lifesaver for our family. We have worked with them twice, both in emergency situations and they have treated us as if we were their only clients. Within an hour of our first call, we had paperwork completed and a caregiver on the way – and that was a holiday weekend. When the second emergency occurred, we knew exactly who to contact. We truly appreciate everything that Lisa, Melissa and the entire team have done for our family.”
“Thank you for the care you gave to my dad. He did not have any family living close to him. My sister and I were relived to know he was well taken care of. The caregivers truly care about your loved ones.”
“Always Best Care provided excellent care when I was discharged from Atrium after surgery- the office staff and caregivers were professional and caring- would definitely recommend if you need care at home-”
“Lisa and her team at Always Best Care have been a great partner and resource in providing services to our patients!”
“Amazing staff and services. Much appreciated.”
“I will have to say having worked in healthcare myself, Darrell with Always Best Care is the best! He truly cares about his clients! He takes personal interest in the client. Darrell works with you until your needs are addressed allowing your loved one to remain as independent as possible in their own home. Thank you Darrell Always Best Care! You have truly made a diffence!”
“I am a past client of this provider Always Best Care was just absolutely wonderful. I needed to qualify people who could deal with my sister with brain cancer. My sister would throw people in and out of her house; it was crazy. She died on December 5th. Always Best Care sent incredible people. I don't know where they came from, but they had one girl who was the only person my sister never attempted to throw out of the house. I'd never hear one bad word about this woman who was actually pulling double shifts at the end because my sister liked her so much. For some reason, this woman understood my sister and brain cancer. Brain cancer is hard to deal with because people could be pretty mean and abusive and they don't know what they're doing really. My sister was also going blind at the same time. It was not easy. I just wanted to say what wonderful care we received from Always Best Care. It was amazing. They were just coming and being there. My sister was crazy, and she didn't want anybody overnight, until she finally let me have someone come in overnight. On that night, she died. She got to die in her home, which is what I'm trying to do because that too was the most important thing of all. Always Best Care was able to staff at short notice and send really good people. I was impressed, and I would highly recommend them. They would help my sister get to the bathroom. She weighed 70 pounds when she died, but she was still able to walk. She had cancers on both her femurs, and her blood pressure was 80/47. They just helped with everything, like fixing her small meals, fixing coffee, and talking to her if she wanted to talk or not talking to her if she didn't want to talk. They were just very great with their help. My sister had brain cancer and she was belligerent. Always Best Care would find people within their staff. Also, it didn't take them long, I didn't have to wait. We had letters from others saying they don't have staff right now. With Always Best Care, I did it over the phone with a woman who was a Godsend. I think the caregiver was sent almost the first day and was there every day except on the weekend when they sent someone else. That person seemed to work out OK, too, which amazed me. For some reason, these people knew how to appease someone who is really crazy. It was the cancer; it was in my sister's head. You have to be tough-skinned and just realize that this is the disease talking to you and not a person. They were able to do that, and I feel very blessed.”
“I love working for this company.”
“I used this nursing service for my cousin Pat who had cancer. I can not express the level of care and compassion that was shown for her. The nurses felt like family! Especially Alicia. You treated my cousin as if she was your family and I can't thank you enough for that. You not only took care of her but us also. I would recommend this service 100%! We only used them for 1 month as my cousin passed quickly. I d not have a single negative remark. Thank you Chuck! Your nurses are amazing.”
“I love being able to work with this company, the owners are great people and support me daily! We have many calls to work on performance and continue to grow and learn!”
“Services were geared according to need. We were looking at rehab and they were willing to see what was needed. Very flexible and focused needs of patient All caregivers were on time We had a great experience”
“I am a past client of this provider Services were geared according to need. We were looking at rehab and they were willing to see what was needed. Very flexible and focused needs of patient All caregivers were on time We had a great experience”
“Nate is an exceptional mentor - he is extremely knowledgeable about senior care and gracious in his willingness to help others succeed.”
“Nate and his staff are wonderful people. It's great to know that when you need someone they will be there for your loved ones and care about their well-being.”
“I am a past client of this provider I used this nursing service for my cousin Pat who had cancer. I can not express the level of care and compassion that was shown for her. The nurses felt like family! Especially Alicia. You treated my cousin as if she was your family and I can't thank you enough for that. You not only took care of her but us also. I would recommend this service 100%! We only used them for 1 month as my cousin passed quickly. I d not have a single negative remark. Thank you Chuck! Your nurses are amazing. Donna O.”
“Chuck and his personnel are truly the best. They helped us with mom and always focused on the care and not a much of processes and forms. I would highly recommend them to all.”
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 Columbia Canal and Riverfront Park in Columbia, SC 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 Ruth's Chris Steak House or visit Historic Columbia, 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 Columbia, 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 Columbia, 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 Columbia, 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.
It gained 100 jobs in July 2026. Those figures come from the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ state and local employment report, which tracks monthly job changes. Job numbers can swing month to month as local economies expand or contract, but over the past five years the Columbia, SC Metro Area has averaged about 648 new jobs per month. These figures are often revised in later months as more complete data rolls in.+100month to month change in number of jobs (July 2026)Source: Bureau of Labor StatisticsThe Columbi...
It gained 100 jobs in July 2026. Those figures come from the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ state and local employment report, which tracks monthly job changes. Job numbers can swing month to month as local economies expand or contract, but over the past five years the Columbia, SC Metro Area has averaged about 648 new jobs per month. These figures are often revised in later months as more complete data rolls in.
+100
month to month change in number of jobs (July 2026)
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
The Columbia, SC area job growth of 100 in July 2026 was larger than the 100 jobs gained in June 2026.
During the latest five-year period (August 2021 to July 2026), the Columbia, SC area gained jobs in 45 out of 60 months. July 2026 had the 15th-lowest job growth during this period. The highest gains during this period occurred in October 2021 (+5,000) while job growth was weakest in January 2025 (-1,700).
Monthly change in nonfarm employment in the Columbia, SC area
In 2025, the Columbia, SC area has gained an average of 125 jobs every month. That's lower than the 2024 average monthly increase of 792. The 2025 average ranks as 14th-highest in job growth since 2007.
When excluding the two pandemic-affected years of 2020 and 2021, job growth ranged from a loss of 1,400 every month in 2009 to a gain of 1,000 every month in 2015.
Average monthly change in the number of jobs in the Columbia, SC area, seasonally adjusted
USAFacts standardizes data, in areas such as time and demographics, to make it easier to understand and compare.
USAFacts endeavors to share the most up-to-date information available. We sourced the data on this page directly from government agencies; however, the intervals at which agencies publish updated data vary.
COLUMBIA — Officials are revealing initial plans to rework a downtown park to help alleviate flooding. Neighbors are skeptical.Officials from the city of Columbia and engineering firm ESP Associates presented conceptual plans to overhaul Maxcy Gregg Park along Blossom Street to about 30 neighbors at an Oct. 1 meeting.What’s in the plans?The plans call for re-landscaping the park and lowering it along the banks of Rocky Branch Creek to give the stream a more natural, serpentine flow through the park and allo...
COLUMBIA — Officials are revealing initial plans to rework a downtown park to help alleviate flooding. Neighbors are skeptical.
Officials from the city of Columbia and engineering firm ESP Associates presented conceptual plans to overhaul Maxcy Gregg Park along Blossom Street to about 30 neighbors at an Oct. 1 meeting.
The plans call for re-landscaping the park and lowering it along the banks of Rocky Branch Creek to give the stream a more natural, serpentine flow through the park and allow floodwater to temporarily collect there during flood events instead of upstream in Five Points.
“We have some severe stormwater issues that we've been working through for years and years and years, way back when I was in Dreher High School,” City Councilmember Will Brennan said. “So we're getting there, and my only ask of everybody is (to) hear the projects out.”
The revitalized park would also provide the public more access to the creek, which currently runs through a deep, overgrown ditch in the middle of the park. Bridges at the current street level would overlook the creek and new waterfalls, while landscaping would slope toward the water’s edge.
The current proposal is still several years away from being finalized and executed. Officials said at the Oct. 1 meeting that construction could begin in 2028 and end in 2030. The project would cost between $7 million and $8 million and be funded through grants from the federal government and South Carolina Emergency Management Division.
Engineers have calculated the Maxcy plans — coupled with drainage improvements in Five Points itself — would reduce flooding in Five Points during a 10-year flood event by around 90 percent. Floodwaters that would reach four feet deep at the Walgreens on Blossom Street today would be reduced to one-and-a-half feet. Some flood-prone spots would be almost completely dry.
Previous versions of the plan called for a large pond to be built in the park to hold floodwaters, but those were revised to allow water to flow more freely, ESP engineer Allison Wilson said.
Around 30 residents from neighborhoods surrounding the park milled around easels and tables displaying renderings of the plans at the Oct. 1 meeting, many expressing their displeasure with what they saw to representatives from the city and ESG.
“The neighborhoods do not want this,” Wales Garden resident Paula Gordon said.
A common concern from those at the meeting was the displacement of the park’s old-growth trees.
“We want to keep the trees, and they're not keeping all the trees,” Gordon said.
Officials said large trees that will be preserved have been flagged with green ribbon. Three of those trees that will have to be removed have been marked in yellow. Nine trees, both within the construction area and otherwise, are diseased and will also have to be removed.
The design has been reworked to better incorporate and preserve existing trees, officials said.
Several residents said they felt the project would sacrifice the current condition of the park but not do enough to address broader flooding concerns in the area.
“It's not addressing the real flooding problem,” Gordon said. “What it's doing is it's fixing this, but downstream needs to be addressed, and it's not something that will … stay fixable in 15, 20 years.”
ESP is working on a separate drainage project to address flooding at the intersection of Main and Whaley streets, downstream from Maxcy Gregg. That work is currently estimated to cost up to $13 million and would also be completed between 2028 and 2030.
The Maxcy Gregg solution is mostly intended to alleviate Five Points’ ongoing flooding issues, officials said.
“We’re not necessarily looking at the Maxcy Park area,” Wilson said. “Maxcy Park is for storing things and our general purpose and intention was to make sure we didn’t make existing conditions worse.”
Some attendees at the meeting were more receptive to the idea.
“I was worried about it,” resident Claudia Kitchen said. “I was down there yesterday walking, which I love to walk through that park, and I love the old Grand Trees, but I love the idea of bringing the creek (to be) more accessible, and I love the idea that they're going to make it all part of water management, which is badly needed in this area.”
Congaree Riverkeeper Bill Stangler said the project would be a small piece of broader work to restore Rocky Branch and its surrounding watershed.
“Any effort to improve conditions on the Rocky Branch, I think, is a good idea,” he said. “They have to work with the community to make sure it makes sense. But we know that flooding is a problem along Rocky Branch. We know that this is not a healthy stream, and restoration efforts should be part of the solution.”
Residents were invited to submit feedback online or on written cards before a design is finalized.
“We're not saying this is the end-all, be-all,” Wilson said. “We want to hear what people have to say. We want to hear how we can incorporate that and what they want out of the space.”
Current plans call for markers from the Cancer Survivor’s Garden located in the park to be dispersed throughout the reworked park, Columbia Water Director Clint Shealy said.
It’s Monday, and that’s when we like to take a look at current business issues that are trending across our state and discuss them with one of our fellow news media friends. This week, Mike Switzer interviews Jessica Holdman, a reporter with the in Columbia, SC. Jessica tells us about a $260 million, 217 jobs announcement for a woodmilling company going into an old textile plant in the Upstate and a $400 million, 100+ jobs deal for an electric cable manufacturer coming to Orangeburg. She also shares information about Duke Energy...
It’s Monday, and that’s when we like to take a look at current business issues that are trending across our state and discuss them with one of our fellow news media friends. This week, Mike Switzer interviews Jessica Holdman, a reporter with the in Columbia, SC. Jessica tells us about a $260 million, 217 jobs announcement for a woodmilling company going into an old textile plant in the Upstate and a $400 million, 100+ jobs deal for an electric cable manufacturer coming to Orangeburg. She also shares information about Duke Energy receiving some federal grant money for power grid upgrades.
TRANSCRIPT:
Switzer: Hello and welcome to the South Carolina Business Review. This, is Mike Switzer. It's Monday and that's when we like to take a look at current business issues that are trending across our state and discuss them with one of our fellow news media friends. This week we have Jessica Holdman, a reporter with the South Carolina Daily Gazette, a non profit news agency. And she joins us by phone now from her office in Columbia. Jessica, welcome back to the program.
Holdman: Thanks, Mike.
Switzer: So tell us what's showing up on your radar this week.
Holdman: Well, we've got a couple pretty large economic development deals that are coming to maybe some more rural parts of the state. So some, some wins for some of our smaller towns. The most recent being a $260 million investment by a company that makes wood paneling, crown molding, shiplap, other kind of home construction materials. They are coming to the area between Belton and Honea Path. They're going to bring 217 jobs and they're moving into a shuttered textile manufacturing plant. Now we're going to see this new company, Adeptus, coming in. They're paying good wages and Anderson county really sees it as a win.
Switzer: And I'm just going to assume they're probably getting a tax credit for taking over an old textile mill.
Holdman: They sure are. It's not necessarily a textile mill, so it doesn't necessarily fall into that level of the state tax credits, but they are getting some financial aid from the state, first being a $850,000 grant to help cover the cost of renovating the building. There's also credits associated with the jobs they're creating. And Anderson county is offering them reduced taxes over 40 years, taking them down to that 4% rate that's traditionally reserved for homeowners in the state.
Switzer: All right, now you mentioned two deals. What's the next one?
Holdman: Yeah, so the other company we're seeing is coming into the Orangeburg area. Okonite Company announced that they're going to be investing 400 million in a new manufacturing plant there. That company makes high voltage electrical cable, largely for utilities, solar, rail. They are planning to hire more than 100 people. As we've seen electrical companies needing to upgrade, their grids to keep up with higher power demand. Data centers being part of that. The demand for these materials has gone up. Average wages are going to be $33 per hour above the state average. So good, news for Orangeburg county as well.
Switzer: Yeah, absolutely. We, we always love to hear about these kinds of deals, especially with good wages involved. So what else do you see.
Holdman: Well, Mike, since we were talking about power lines and the need by utilities to upgrade the grid, we also saw announcements from the US Department of Energy. Nationally. They are getting ready to pump $2 billion into electric grid improvements across 26 states. And that includes right here in South Carolina. Duke Energy is set to get a share of these grants. They are going to be getting $50 million, matching that with 151 million of their own investment to upgrade the grid around the Greenville Spartanburg area as well as across the border in North Carolina. Duke has said the funding will kind of offset a portion of the costs, reducing the amount that they would otherwise have to charge to customers on their monthly bills. While that won't necessarily translate to lower power bills, Duke says they are going to be able to make these investments maybe sooner than they had expected.
Switzer: And so what are we talking about when we're saying upgrading the power grid?
Holdman: Sure. So it's really a way to boost the amount of power that can travel through the power lines. That includes upgrades to transformers, that includes upgrades to the wires themselves. Just being able to handle more electricity as demand grows. So really getting a little more bang for their buck on infrastructure that's already out there.
Switzer: Well, Jessica, as always, thank you so much for spending time with us today.
Holdman: Thanks, Mike.
Switzer: Jessica Holdman is a reporter with the South Carolina Daily Gazette, a nonprofit news source here in our state. And we will have a link to that source posted at our webpage so you can learn more SouthCarolinaPublicradio.org where you can hear this show again. You can hear us again wherever you find podcasts with the South Carolina Business Review. This is Mike Switzer.
The views expressed on the South Carolina Business Review do not necessarily reflect those of South Carolina Public Radio.
South Carolina Business Review transcripts are intended to accurately represent the original audio version of the program; however, some discrepancies or inaccuracies may exist. The audio format serves as the official record of South Carolina Business Review’s programming.
BLYTHEWOOD — Scout Motors is pointing the finger at its subcontractors for alleged damages to the home of a local elderly couple.William Shives, 92, and Barbara Shives, 84, filed suit against Richland County and the carmaker in August, alleging that construction work at the 1,100-acre Scout Motors plant forced them to move from their home and 24-acre property directly adjacent to the site.What did Scout say?Scout filed a response on Oct. 2, claiming that responsibility for any damages falls to the manufacturer&rs...
BLYTHEWOOD — Scout Motors is pointing the finger at its subcontractors for alleged damages to the home of a local elderly couple.
William Shives, 92, and Barbara Shives, 84, filed suit against Richland County and the carmaker in August, alleging that construction work at the 1,100-acre Scout Motors plant forced them to move from their home and 24-acre property directly adjacent to the site.
Scout filed a response on Oct. 2, claiming that responsibility for any damages falls to the manufacturer’s subcontractors working on the site, rather than the Volkswagen-backed car maker.
Scout named three contractors it said worked on the site as third-party defendants in the case — Evans General Contractors, LLC, Elevate Drilling & Blasting, LLC and Strack.
Scout claims Evans was charged with organizing and overseeing “certain activities” on the construction site, while Elevate and Strack were involved in blasting operations.
The subcontractors “owed a duty” to Scout “that all work performed by them would be performed in a careful, diligent, and workmanlike manner and that any materials and/or services designed, supplied, or sold by them for use on the project would comply with instructions, building code, and/or plans,“ the carmaker’s lawyers wrote in the Oct. 2 filing.
“The damages alleged by Plaintiffs, if any, were due solely to the actions of the Third-Party Defendants and were not caused by any act or omission on the part of Defendant,” the filing reads.
Scout is asking the Richland County Court to dismiss the claims against the company and hold the subcontractors liable for any damages awarded to the Shives, as well as Scout’s “cost of investigating and defending this claim,” according to the filing.
"Evans General Contractors is aware of the filing,” Evans spokesperson Lauren Rigau said in an Oct. 7 statement. “As a matter of policy, we do not comment on pending litigation. Evans takes seriously its responsibilities to the communities where we work."
The Post and Courier Columbia was unable to immediately reach representatives for the remaining two subcontractors on Oct. 6.
Citing the pending litigation, a Scout spokesperson declined to confirm whether the three contractors are still employed by the company at the construction site, when they last were or if the work they were charged with is still ongoing.
The couple claimed in their lawsuit that during the construction of the Scout plant:
The Shiveses made Scout Motors aware of the issues on the property, they allege. A contractor from the plant site delivered a load of gravel after the driveway was washed away, but the condition was not remedied, the couple said in the lawsuit.
They have since moved out of their home, according to court filings.
“They have been driven out of the home they expected to live in for the rest of their lives, and now they have been forced to purchase a smaller house away from the place and the people they have known,” the Shives’ lawyer wrote in court filings.
William and Barbara Shives are seeking compensation for the physical damage to their property, as well as to cover the reduction of the property’s value and their enjoyment of the property, plus pre-judgment interest and attorney’s fees, according to court filings.
Scout expects to employ 5,000 people and produce 200,000 vehicles a year at the Blythewood plant once the facility is completed in 2028. The state Legislature passed a record $1.3 billion incentives package to bring the plant to South Carolina in 2023.
The state Legislature is allowing the state Department of Transportation and Department of Natural Resources to pull from leftover state funds originally intended to pay off debts in order to cover $150 million in cost overruns at the Scout site.
Gov. Henry McMaster, a longtime proponent of the Scout project, vetoed a provision that would have held that money until the state can wrap up an investigation into the overruns in December.
State regulators also fined Richland County $3 million for allegedly allowing sediment and other pollutants to escape from the construction site into nearby waterways in May 2025.
The county and its contractors have jurisdiction over the site clearing for the factory as part of the incentives deal created to draw in the car manufacturer.
Richland County “has fully satisfied the payment schedule established by the Department of Environmental Services consent order,” a county spokesperson said on Oct. 6.
Half of the fines paid by the county will be reimbursed by the state, while the remainder will be footed by “various third parties,” county spokesperson Keywa Henderson said in a statement.
No county taxpayer funds will be spent on the fines, Henderson said. The statement did not identify the “various third parties” mentioned.
“Richland County is proud of the collaborative work undertaken with the State, with Scout Motors, and with our independent third-party engineering firm to bring this matter to a successful conclusion,” Henderson said. “We remain committed to supporting Scout Motors, the largest economic development investment in our County’s history, and to upholding the highest standards of environmental compliance as the project moves forward.”
COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) - South Carolina continues to lead the nation in foreclosure activity, according to new data from ATTOM Data Solutions.The report found the state recorded 1,579 foreclosure filings in August, or about one filing for every 1,547 housing units, giving South Carolina the highest foreclosure rate in the country. The figure represents a 41% increase from the same month a year ago.The report also identified Dorchester County, Kershaw County, Chester County and Florence County as among the state’s foreclosur...
COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) - South Carolina continues to lead the nation in foreclosure activity, according to new data from ATTOM Data Solutions.
The report found the state recorded 1,579 foreclosure filings in August, or about one filing for every 1,547 housing units, giving South Carolina the highest foreclosure rate in the country. The figure represents a 41% increase from the same month a year ago.
The report also identified Dorchester County, Kershaw County, Chester County and Florence County as among the state’s foreclosure hotspots.
Despite the increase in filings, officials with the South Carolina Housing Finance and Development Authority say housing affordability remains one of the biggest challenges facing prospective homebuyers.
The agency says it has seen increased demand for programs that offer lower interest rates and forgivable down payment assistance as South Carolinians continue to navigate higher home prices and mortgage rates.
“It shows that the demand is coming at a time when home prices and mortgage rates continue to create significant barriers for many prospective buyers, so these things are very much in demand and very much helpful for homebuyers that need that sort of assistance,” said Matt McColl, marketing and public information director for SC Housing.
SC Housing officials say the agency has also set records in recent years for homebuyer assistance and loan volume.
“The mortgages themselves, the amount of assistance we provided, that accounted for $703 million in loan volume, which was also a large increase, 51% from the previous fiscal year,” McColl said.
However, the state’s foreclosure ranking is being interpreted differently by some housing experts.
According to the South Carolina Realtors association, the rise in foreclosure filings does not necessarily signal a repeat of the housing crisis that fueled the Great Recession. The group argues foreclosure activity was artificially suppressed during the pandemic because of federal and state foreclosure moratoriums and other homeowner protections.
The association says today’s housing market is fundamentally different from the conditions that led to the 2008 housing crash, pointing to stricter lending standards, a higher share of fixed-rate mortgages and stronger homeowner equity positions. Realtors argue current foreclosure activity is closer to a return to pre-pandemic levels than evidence of a systemic housing market problem.
“People naturally hear ‘foreclosures’ and have flashbacks to the Great Recession in 2008, but the current landscape is completely different. In 2008, we had a systemic crisis driven by subprime lending, and homeowners were drastically underwater. Today, lending standards are incredibly strict. We are nowhere near the 2008 numbers, and we don’t have the fundamental flaws in the market that caused them,” said Nick Kremydas, the CEO of SC Relators.
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