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 Fort Mill Downtown Historic District 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 Fort Mill, 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.
“I am a current client of this provider The caregiver is a great communicator with us.”
“I am a current client of this provider I like that come in and do what”
“I am a current client of this provider The first person was kind of young, so”
“I am a current client of this provider The caregiver as a person and who she”
“Phil Davidson and his staff provides the best service around in the York County area...Very”
“Looking for a loving and caring place for a parent, grandparent or any loved one?”
“I am a current client of this provider I have enjoyed working with Always Best. They”
“Always willing to help”
“I have worked for many agencies as a CNA. Always Best Care of Rock Hill,”
“They gave my mother the most wonderful, loving care. They were very accommodating when we”
“New Employee & I’m loving it already”
“I am a current client of this provider I could probably say that I was a”
“Needed care for my mother with dementia, and father with medical issues. The team at”
“Always willing to help”
“I am a current client of this provider We're using Always Best Care for my parents.”
“Excellent care was given to my mother. Thank you for being there when we needed”
“I have had the best support from a caring and supporting staff over the past”
“I am a current client of this provider Always Best Care has been providing care givers”
“I am a past client of this provider Always Best Care service was very helpful in”
“I can honestly say that Always Best Care in Rock Hill did a very good”
“Phil, We so love Sara and are very appreciative for the way you run your”
“Dear Phil, "We would like to thank you and your staff for providing such wonderful”
“Phil, We so love Sara and are very appreciative for the way you run your”
“Dear Phil, Thank you and your team for providing the great help and assistance during”
“I am a current client of this provider The caregiver is a great communicator with us. I live out of state and I have a brother who lives near the client, but he has a full-time job. It really takes a village to take care of the clietn now. I just feel like this agency is part of that village. They really have his best interest at heart. They give great care, but they're also super easy to work with and you feel important with them. I have recommended the agency to many people. I like the owner, Phil. He is just a really stand-up guy. He is very knowledgeable and he is very empathetic. You don't get the feeling that he is in the business to make money and provide livelihood. He really cares about people and really wants the clients taken care of well. I think he has a lot of expertise and compassion. Everyone that we have dealt with there has been great. I also like the caregiver that we've had, Fawn. She has been with the client for over 15 months. She is just really great with the client. He is in assisted living now but we choose to have her go in still for more companion care for the client. She is just a really sweet person and helps us with keeping up to date with what the client needs. He just loves having her around.”
“I am a current client of this provider I like that come in and do what they got to do. I like that they are really friendly and nice. They do not talk to him in a sharp way, they are really good with him.”
“I am a current client of this provider The first person was kind of young, so I asked them for someone a bit older, and they did that. I would recommend them because they are prompt, and they have good people.”
“I am a current client of this provider The caregiver as a person and who she is has made this so positive. I like the assistant that they have sent to help my brother.”
“Phil Davidson and his staff provides the best service around in the York County area...Very professional and they truly care about their clients...I highly recommend Always Best Care of Rock Hill”
“Looking for a loving and caring place for a parent, grandparent or any loved one? Look no further than Phil and his team at Always Best Care of Rock Hill!”
“I am a current client of this provider I have enjoyed working with Always Best. They are informative and helpful. When I need to schedule care, they are very responsive. Definitely a good choice in companion care.”
“Always willing to help”
“I have worked for many agencies as a CNA. Always Best Care of Rock Hill, SC is by far the best! They treat their clients and caregivers with generosity and compassion. They go "above and beyond" in every area. You can't go wrong with them.”
“They gave my mother the most wonderful, loving care. They were very accommodating when we needed to make changes in the schedule. After dealing with two other agencies I wish I had gone with them from the start. They deserve a 10!”
“New Employee & I’m loving it already”
“I am a current client of this provider I could probably say that I was a past client of this provider, but because I continue to receive words of encouragement and advise from them, I still claim the current client status. Their help with my mother that was provided while she was at home was fantastic. They also have helped guide us through hospital and rehab stays. I would have to give them a 5 star rating and honestly can not think of one thing that went wrong on their part while we used their care The Caregiver was excellent. I wholeheartedly would recommend Always Best Care to anyone that finds themselves needing a caregiver to come along beside them.”
“Needed care for my mother with dementia, and father with medical issues. The team at Always Best Care were very responsive to our needs for 24/7 care for about 8 weeks. They try hard to have the same caregivers come to the house for continuity of care. The family really appreciated Phil's assistance with placing my parents in Assisted Living. His knowledge of the local York County homes was invaluable to placing my parents in a welcoming environment. I would highly recommend Always Best Care to help with senior care!”
“Always willing to help”
“I am a current client of this provider We're using Always Best Care for my parents. They're fantastic. The caregivers are professional, courteous, entertaining, and accommodating. They mainly provide medication management and companionship. I feel like they give personal touches, and there's a certain professionalism to them that other agencies I contacted didn't have.”
“Excellent care was given to my mother. Thank you for being there when we needed you.”
“I have had the best support from a caring and supporting staff over the past year. The AMAZING part is that I live in CA and they're providing these services in Rock Hill. When I have any questions they are quick to get my answer back in a timely manner.”
“I am a current client of this provider Always Best Care has been providing care givers for my 91 year old father for more than 2 years now. I have been happy with their staff. My father is cared for with love and dignity and with their help I've been able to keep him in my home.”
“I am a past client of this provider Always Best Care service was very helpful in locating an assisted living facility for my Mother. Very professional and I would use them again.”
“I can honestly say that Always Best Care in Rock Hill did a very good job with providing home assistance with my mother and I am happy to recommend their services to others. The home care assistantswere friendly, patient, and respectful. Above all, I was extremely pleased with the active role the president, Phil Davidson, took in my mother’s care. He was exceptional at balancing professionalism and personal concern as he took a genuine interest in my mother’s well-being, he checked in periodically to see how the home care was going, and he diligently communicated with both family and staff. Phil’s efforts and those of the ABC staff are very much appreciated.”
“Phil, We so love Sara and are very appreciative for the way you run your business. You really stand out in an industry and a time when people just go through the motions. You are a very special man and I pray that you will be very successful in your business.”
“Dear Phil, "We would like to thank you and your staff for providing such wonderful live-in care for our Grandfather from June through October 2013. Our family found ourselves in the most unimaginable situation when our Grandmother was unexpectedly hospitalized in late May and ultimately passed away in June. As you know, she was the sole caregiver for our Grandfather who has severe Alzheimer's disease. We are so very fortunate that we discovered your agency! You were able to promptly place qualified caregivers in his home and this gave our family immediate peace of mind. The level of care and compassion that you and your caregivers demonstrated toward our Grandfather is more than we ever anticipated and we will be forever grateful. You all walked with him through the terrible tragedy of losing his wife of 67 years. You and your staff provided extraordinary physical and emotional care for him through his grief and made getting him back to a "normal" life your top priority upon her death. In addition to the care you all provided my Grandfather, you were so kind to help educate us on the progression of Alzheimer's. You were a wonderful resource to us on what to expect in the next phases of this disease and help us plan for long-term care for him. While we are very sad to have to place him in a memory care-assisted living facility, we made the decision knowing that this will be the best place for him as he ages and his disease worsens. Your guidance and expertise in helping us choose the right facility for him helped make this daunting task bearable. Thank you again for all that you have done for our grandfather and for our family! We will be forever grateful!”
“Phil, We so love Sara and are very appreciative for the way you run your business. You really stand out in an industry and a time when people just go through the motions. You are a very special man and I pray that you will be very successful in your business.”
“Dear Phil, Thank you and your team for providing the great help and assistance during this summer. The care givers that we had were excellent and very professional. Thanks for being so flexible with the scheduling.”
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 Harris Street 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 Epic Chophouse at Kingsley or visit Fort Mill Fort Marker, 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 Fort Mill, 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 Fort Mill, 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 Fort Mill, 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.
A new solar cell manufacturing facility opened in South Carolina this year with no fuss and much fanfare.That company is not Silfab Solar, the beleaguered Canadian manufacturer that’s fought opposition left and right as it prepares to open a Fort Mill plant.Locals in Fort Mill staged protests. They inspired ...
A new solar cell manufacturing facility opened in South Carolina this year with no fuss and much fanfare.
That company is not Silfab Solar, the beleaguered Canadian manufacturer that’s fought opposition left and right as it prepares to open a Fort Mill plant.
Locals in Fort Mill staged protests. They inspired two bills at the Statehouse. They commissioned billboards lambasting the company.
They even took Silfab to court — a case that’s pending and could determine whether the company gets booted after sinking tens of millions of dollars into the property.
About two hours southwest lies a much different story.
When ES Foundry opened its solar cell manufacturing facility in unincorporated Greenwood County, situated roughly between Columbia and Greenville, residents flooded the company with interest and support. It’s already snagged a national award celebrating its positive impact.
Trentsie Williams, the CEO of the Greenwood Chamber of Commerce, said the area has been nothing but receptive. The company created hundreds of jobs and brought new life to a facility that’s been vacant for several years, she said.
“Usually when they’re creating jobs, unless there’s some huge environmental issue, most people are OK with new employers coming to town,” Williams said. “Typically you don’t get a lot of pushback from a large fraction of your community not welcoming a company.”
So, why have two South Carolina facilities in the same line of business received such different reactions?
History and demographics offer a partial explanation.
Both communities relied on manufacturing to prop up their local economies before diverging near the turn of the century.
An influx of transplants caused Fort Mill’s population to swell by more than 126 percentage points since 2010, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Greenwood County’s population increased by less than one percentage point over the same time period.
Many Fort Mill residents today arrived long after its textile mills closed and the town transitioned to other sectors. But manufacturing is still the number one employment sector in Greenwood and accounts for one quarter of its labor force, according to James Bateman, the county’s economic development director.
“It’s a heavily industrialized community in some areas,” Bateman said. “There is a strong textile heritage in Greenwood. As the textile industry faded, modern technologies led to investments in advanced materials firms we have today.”
ES Foundry opened just as another long-time factory closed. Hundreds lost their jobs, Bateman said, including 200 direct employees and 100 contractors.
The companies worked together to facilitate new roles for displaced employees so they could walk straight into ES Foundry without ever missing a paycheck, Bateman said.
About 100 of their current employees came from the closed factory, ES Foundry CEO Alex Zhu said. The company will employ 500 people once fully staffed.
“Greenwood is not a big city,” Zhu said. “Every job in that location (is) important, and any of the factories (closing) will have significant impact on the local community … We helped to reduce the impact.”
Trade & Industry Development magazine honored ES Foundry with a Corporate Investment and Community Impact award in May. That same month, Fort Mill residents protested outside of a York County Council meeting to demand officials revoke Silfab’s permits.
Silfab will create an estimated 800 jobs.
Zhu traveled across the country to find the right location, he said. That included the Silfab site in Fort Mill, which was a vacant distribution warehouse at the time.
It wasn’t ideal.
The building was an empty shell that would take a full year to connect to utilities, he said. ES Foundry would have to work from scratch to upfit the facility to handle wastewater treatment, gas and chemicals.
By contrast, the Greenwood site had most infrastructure already in place because it housed a heavy industrial company for decades, Zhu said.
“A good site means less investments, more ready to go,” Zhu said.
Only eight months passed from the day ES Foundry signed a lease to the day it opened, Bateman said. ES Foundry did not receive any tax breaks or economic incentive deals from the county.
To date, Silfab has spent more than $100 million to upfit the facility, according to the company. Silfab is still working to open after more than a year of preparations.
County officials actively recruited Silfab to Fort Mill. York County Council approved a 30-year tax rate incentive at about half the typical manufacturing rate, and Silfab also received a $2 million state economic development grant.
Silfab leaders saw “strong potential” in the local workforce. And unlike ES Foundry, Silfab considered the emptiness of the site a plus.
“The size and layout of the facility were key factors—it offered the square footage needed for our planned production capacity, sufficient loading docks, and a clean shell that gave us flexibility during construction,” the company said in a statement.
The crux of the Silfab controversy is zoning.
Silfab sits near homes and restaurants and next door to two future schools, one of which will open this fall to more than 800 students. York County zoning staff determined in 2022 that solar cell manufacturing was allowed in light industrial areas such as the site of Silfab’s 7149 Logistics Lane facility. Silfab obtained permits and began construction with that understanding.
But in May 2024, the York County Board of Zoning Appeals unanimously determined solar cell manufacturing was not allowed in light industrial areas. The county soon issued a statement saying that ruling only applied to future construction — not to Silfab. County planners don’t have to answer questions about why they approved Silfab for the area.
The company has sustained a community pressure campaign ever since trying to force it out of town.
“Silfab has worked closely with all local, regional and federal government agencies and authorities to ensure that the Fort Mill facility met or exceeded all requirements and provided a benefit to the community as well as economic prosperity and growth of the region,” Silfab said in a statement. “It is unfortunate that a small group initiated a deliberate misinformation campaign that has generated fear and misunderstanding among some members of the community trying to overshadow the significant benefits associated with this investment and endorsement in the region.”
Fort Mill residents organized into the “Move Silfab” movement and targeted several chemicals, such as hydrochloric acid and silane, they said were inappropriate to use so close to schools.
They consulted a group of pediatric environmental health specialists, who agreed the types and quantities of chemicals Silfab will use warrant a closer look, and commissioned the University of South Carolina’s Arnold School of Public Health to study potential health risks.
Silfab maintains the building’s light industrial zoning aligns with its operational needs, and no schools were in the immediate area at the time the company was approved.
Zoning was never an issue for ES Foundry, Zhu said. His company operates in an area with a different zoning designation.
ES Foundry inherited a facility zoned for heavy industrial operations and surrounded by other factories. ES Foundry is miles away from the nearest school and sits in a relatively rural pocket of Greenwood County.
“It’s nothing new to have a factory there versus a newly proposed facility being constructed that is in a nonindustrial area, in a part of town where residents aren’t accustomed to it,” Bateman said.
FORT MILL, S.C. (WBTV) - The town council for Fort Mill voted unanimously to put a moratorium on new housing projects through the end of this year.Mayor Guynn Savage said they are working to update their 10-year comprehensive plan and want to make sure they continue to grow and build responsibly.A GoBankingRates study found that Fort Mill was the seventh fastest grow...
FORT MILL, S.C. (WBTV) - The town council for Fort Mill voted unanimously to put a moratorium on new housing projects through the end of this year.
Mayor Guynn Savage said they are working to update their 10-year comprehensive plan and want to make sure they continue to grow and build responsibly.
A GoBankingRates study found that Fort Mill was the seventh fastest growing suburb in the U.S.
Savage said in 2024 Fort Mill saw nearly 8 percent in growth. She said in addition to its school system and proximity to Charlotte, Fort Mill is a great place to live.
“You’re two and a half hours from the mountains, three hours from the coast. We have the perfect storm here in Fort Mill and then you add on top of that. We’re a real community. We have a sense of community that is just unwavering,” Savage said.
The moratorium will pause acceptance and processing of new applications of rezoning or annexing new residential developments. Mayor Savage said the town needs to focus on its state-required update on its 10-year comprehensive plan.
“Our growth has been so rapid that we are seeing such diminished opportunities for growth that we wanna make sure that we are… everything changes every day, and we have to stay current with doing what is right for our infrastructure our community and the land that is left," Savage said.
This moratorium will not impact plans that are already underway or approved -- including 7,000 home units that are already expected in Fort Mill.
Commercial and industrial growth will not be impacted either. Savage said they want to work closely with builders and look at infrastructure and transportation as they move forward.
“We’re working hard to get our processes as clean as possible so that our relationship with development and landowners is clear,” Savage said.
The mayor said they do want to continue to grow, but responsibly.
“We have so much to offer. So, we do welcome, but we also wanna make sure that we don’t erode the quality of those programs by not paying attention to the changes that happen in our growth rate,” Savage said.
Savage said the town will focus on improving its approval process for new housing projects to make them more efficient.
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The plan was discussed during Tuesday evening's meeting. The district promised more would be shared on Wednesday.FORT MILL, S.C. — As concerns continue to mount over the controv...
The plan was discussed during Tuesday evening's meeting. The district promised more would be shared on Wednesday.
FORT MILL, S.C. — As concerns continue to mount over the controversial Silfab Solar plant under construction in York County, leaders at the Fort Mill School District are sharing their emergency plans for the elementary and middle schools nearby.
The district shared during its meeting on Tuesday, August 5, that it had contracted with the environmental health and safety consulting group known as Citadel EHS. Julie Wojnowski, a member of the group's leadership team, presented an update on its Health, Safety and Emergency Planning recommendations for school leadership at Flint Hill Elementary and Flint Hill Middle. A board update email shared after the meeting concluded said the group focused on the campuses' emergency protocol coordination, indoor environmental quality and operations, and community engagement and continuity planning.
The recommendations, which the district shared online Wednesday, explained, "This plan is not a prediction of what will happen, but provides an outline for how to respond to emergencies. Its value lies in the groundwork it sets: clear roles, coordinated systems, and consistent communication, all ready to activate when needed. As Flint Hill Elementary and Middle Schools welcome students, the Fort Mill School District and its partners are equipped not only with plans on paper, but with the capacity to act with clarity, with alignment, and with the trust of the community they serve.”
Additionally, the district shared that Citadel EHS had started handling periodic air quality testing at the school site to "establish baseline levels for continued monitoring", and that school leaders are evaluating possible continuous fence line air quality monitoring when or if Silfab's plant goes online.
The full board meeting is available to view on YouTube:
In a statement, a Silfab Solar spokesperson shared they're “pleased to cooperate with Citadel to help inform their recommendations and robust emergency plans for Fort Mill Schools.”
Community members have long argued that Silfab's proximity to the schools presents a health risk because of the chemicals used to create the solar plants the company produces. One family told WCNC Charlotte earlier this year they planned on moving away because of their own concerns.
In June 2024, WCNC Charlotte was invited inside Silfab Solar for an exclusive interview with COO Treff MacDonald. MacDonald acknowledged the use of these chemicals but argued the plant and chemicals are safe.
Flint Hill Elementary opened its doors to its first class of students on August 4, 2025. Flint Hill Middle is set to open in 2026, and both campuses will be connected. They're located along Gold Hill Road, less than two miles south of the Silfab plant.
Soon after the 2010 Census came out, the South Carolina Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office (RFA) projected that by the end of 2019, Fort Mill’s population would double, to 22,284.RFA was close. But short. Fort Mill’s 2020 Census population ...
Soon after the 2010 Census came out, the South Carolina Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office (RFA) projected that by the end of 2019, Fort Mill’s population would double, to 22,284.
RFA was close. But short. Fort Mill’s 2020 Census population estimate was 24,529.
Since 2020, the town’s population has grown past 36,000. The next projection by RFA is that York County will add 64,580 residents by 2035 – and will pass the 400,000 mark within 15 years.
According to an email from Assistant Town Manager Gordon Burnette ,Fort Mill "has had a total of 1,542 units" over the past five years.
Numbers like these are making town leaders take a breath.
On Monday, the Town Council voted unanimously, and with no one offering public comment, to pause all rezoning and all annexation permits that have a residential component to them.
“This moratorium will ensure that no new residential developments are proposed that would conflict with the goals and the future vision of the town,” said Assistant Town Manager Chris Pettit at the council’s May 19 meeting, when the ordinance to implement the moratorium was introduced.
The moratorium will be in place until Dec. 31. It does not affect projects that already have received approval and does not stop proposals to build on land already zoned for residential development. It pauses applications to rezone non-residential areas to residential zones.
“The intent of this,” Pettit said, “is to give staff time to complete our new comprehensive planning process, our new downtown Master Plan process, [and] our Parks and Recreation Master Plan.”
The state requires local governments to reevaluate their comprehensive plans every five years and to update them every 10 years. A comprehensive plan is a municipality’s blueprint for growth and development.
Fort Mill is at the 10-year mark. In February, the town announced it is developing its 2045 Comprehensive Plan – Fort Mill: Our Path Forward – to craft a long-term vision for the town’s growth over the next 20 years.
The process is expected to finish at the end of this year, with public meetings scheduled for November and December, at which time the Fort Mill could extend the moratorium, provided it is still connected to a planning process.
Monday’s vote to impose a moratorium on residential building comes one week before new impact fees in town are set to kick in. On July 1, new single-family homes built within the Fort Mill School District – which includes parts of Tega Cay – will see impact fees of $29,640 per unit tacked onto construction costs. That’s higher than the average impact fee in California, whose average impact fees dwarf those of every other state, according to data from the Pacific Legal Foundation..
New multi-family units built in Fort Mill after July 1 will see an additional $20,796 added to construction costs. Critics of Fort Mill’s impact fees say they eliminate the chance to build affordable housing.
In March, representatives of the Fort Mill School District made their case before the York County Council – which imposed the impact fees – for large impact fees. Assistant Superintendent Leanne Lordo said that since 2018, impact fees have brought in more than $73 million and have given the school district the ability to build without referendums.
This story was updated on June 27 to include the number of units Fort Mill has seen over the past five years.
FORT MILL — A former Silfab Solar employee said he was the one who alerted authorities in June about workplace violations at the Fort Mill plant under construction.In a lawsuit filed July 29, that former employee said he was fired weeks later.“Silfab is currently reviewing the allegations and denies that the former employee’s termination was based on any reports he may have made and we plan to vigorously defend the suit,&...
FORT MILL — A former Silfab Solar employee said he was the one who alerted authorities in June about workplace violations at the Fort Mill plant under construction.
In a lawsuit filed July 29, that former employee said he was fired weeks later.
“Silfab is currently reviewing the allegations and denies that the former employee’s termination was based on any reports he may have made and we plan to vigorously defend the suit,” the company said in a statement on July 30.
York County inspectors on June 23 issued a stop work order upon determining there were unauthorized personnel at the Silfab plant at 7149 Logistics Lane.
"(Inspectors) discovered Silfab employees there who are not involved in the ongoing permitted construction," York County officials said. "That is a violation because the company does not have a certificate of occupancy for the building."
In the review, inspectors said employees were working in a building with access partially blocked and no working “exit” signs, according to York County documents. Fire alarms and a sprinkler system also had not been added to the building at that time, officials said.
The county lifted the stop order on June 27. In their statement, Silfab officials said the solar panel manufacturer “worked cooperatively with local officials to promptly address and satisfy concerns raised.“
Former quality control technician Jason Rhodes said he contacted the fire marshal about the unauthorized employees being inside the warehouse without an occupancy permit, according to the lawsuit filed by attorney Cameron Halford.
“(Rhodes) further reported quality assurance and safety concerns regarding machinery that had been assembled inside the facility by Silfab workers and not the general contractor,” the lawsuit states.
Rhodes said his termination happened July 7. The lawsuit is for wrongful discharge and retaliatory discharge.
In separate lawsuits, Halford also represents Fort Mill area residents who have objected to Silfab’s construction in the light-industrial zoned area. The use of silane, anhydrous ammonia, and hydrochloric and hydrofluoric acids at the site, in proximity of homes, businesses new schools, has put residents on edge for the last few years.
The Canadian manufacturer has been planning to open the plant by the end of the year.
The legal entwinements for Silfab continue at 11 a.m. August 4 at the York County Courthouse with a hearing in the company’s lawsuit against the county’s Board of Zoning Appeals. Last year, that board voted against manufacturing solar panels as an appropriate use for light-industrial zones.
York County officials said the board’s vote didn’t apply to Silfab but the company is appealing the ruling as further confirmation they are operating legally. A Fort Mill resident, Wally Buchanan, has petitioned to have the case dismissed.
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