Home Care In Piedmont, SC

SOUTH CAROLINA — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will invest more than $48.6 million this year through the Joint Chiefs’ Landscape Restoration Partnership for projects that mitigate wildfire risk, improve water quality, restore forest ecosystems and ultimately contribute to USDA’s efforts to combat climate change.

The USDA is investing $17.4 million in 14 new projects. One of which is in on South Carolina’s Sumter National Forest and surrounding public and private lands in 10 Piedmont counties through the South Carolina Piedmont Watershed Restoration Project.

The Joint Chiefs’ Landscape Restoration Partnership enables the Forest Service and the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to collaborate with agricultural producers and forest landowners to invest in conservation and restoration at a large enough scale to make a difference. Working in partnership, and at this scale, helps reduce wildfire threats to communities and critical infrastructure, protect water quality and supply, and improve wildlife habitat for at-risk species.

Congress recently recognized the value of this important USDA program by memorializing it in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law signed by President Joe Biden on Nov. 15, 2021. The law includes enhanced collaboration and public engagement associated with future projects.

“These Joint Chiefs’ projects are excellent examples of how federal, state and local agencies can use targeted funding to achieve results that meet conservation goals, help at-risk species, build drought resiliency, and mitigate climate change,” said NRCS State Conservationist Ann English. “Through collaboration and strategic investments in local communities, we continue to work with the Forest Service to respond to significant conservation needs on private and public lands.”

The Forest Service and NRCS will invest in watershed restoration efforts in these South Carolina Piedmont counties: Abbeville, Chester, Edgefield, Fairfield, Laurens, Greenwood, McCormick, Newberry, Saluda and Union.

The South Carolina Piedmont Watershed Restoration Project will focus on improving watershed health, water quality and flood resilience in these counties that have been heavily impacted by historic agricultural and forestry land-use practices. By improving stream and riparian conditions and providing for aquatic connectivity and streambank stabilization, this project will benefit aquatic and riparian wildlife species as well as downstream communities. This project will also reduce sedimentation and other water quality issues within the watershed by supporting improved forest management practices which will increase water quality within the streams and rivers.

“This Joint Chiefs’ project will improve water quality and habitat across 10 rural counties in the South Carolina Piedmont,” said JaSal Morris, forest supervisor for the Francis Marion and Sumter National Forests. “This group effort of local, state and federal partners working together will benefit all South Carolina citizens with improved water quality and the conservation of important natural resources for future generations.”

Besides providing cleaner streams and rivers in the Piedmont, the project will benefit many native fish and wildlife species including 46 species of fish, freshwater mussels and crayfish that are listed as a priority by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources in the South Carolina Wildlife Action Plan. Partners in the Piedmont watershed restoration project include all 10 counties, Clemson University, Dominion Energy, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the State of South Carolina, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Trout Unlimited, American Rivers and many local riverkeepers and land conservation groups across the state.

The USDA has invested more than $286 million in 110 projects over eight years in Joint Chiefs’ Landscape Restoration Partnership projects, which focus on areas where public forests and grasslands intersect with privately-owned lands. Since 2014, these projects have delivered important forest and rangeland funding to 42 states and Puerto Rico.

Agricultural producers and forest managers interested in participating in Joint Chiefs’ or other USDA conservation programs should contact their local USDA Service Center.

Thirteen recreation projects across South Carolina will see upgrades and improvements on park grounds, boating docks and more as a total of $4.2 million in federal Land and Water Conservation Funds (LWCF) were awarded throughout the state at the end of January.

Three of those thirteen projects will enhance Upstate based parks as Piedmont Riverfront Park (Anderson), Duncan Park (Spartanburg), and Gower Park (Greenville) will see a total of $1.3 million of LWCF dollars applied to their enrichment plans.

These federal funds come in response to increased activity at local parks amid the COVID-19 pandemic, said Samantha Queen, director of communications at S.C. Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism.

In 2020 outdoor recreation increased as people looked for safe, socially distanced activities. The influx of visitors put a larger demand on parks across the state, Queen said.

In addition, the expansion of Paris Mountain alongside Mountain Bridge Wilderness Area will provide more acreage to two of the more popular state parks, which are intended to provide more access points to greenspaces into northern Greenville County, she added.

The 2022 LWCF grant recipients were selected based upon plans and their history of maintaining their parks and administering grants.

Park project upgrades are not expected to begin until summer or fall of 2023 and could expand well into 2024 depending upon the remaining funding needed to complete the upgrades.

Here are the parks that received federal grant funding in the Upstate and will see a major overhaul in upcoming years.

Gower Park Renovation, City of Greenville

? Federal Grant Total: $500,000 ? Total Project Cost: $1,400,000

The spider-web cracks seen on the basketball and tennis grounds are soon to disappear as Gower Park's ball courts will be reupholstered with a resurfaced asphalt for safer hoops and racket-based activities.

Gower Park will also add eight new pickleball courts to the property with an additional renovation headed to the parking lot, which is slated to begin later in 2023, said Jeff Waters, senior capital projects manager at the city of Greenville.

"We want to improve the assets we have to make sure it's safe, attractive and user friendly," Waters said. "We're excited about the new look and making our parks more enjoyable."

Waters anticipates the remaining $900,000 dollars to come from a neighborhood improvement bond package fund, and shortly after those funds are secured, the construction portion of the project will go out to bid.

Duncan Park, City of Spartanburg

? Federal Grant Total: $300,000 ? Total Project Cost: $600,000

In collaboration with PAL Spartanburg, the city of Spartanburg will upgrade the Mary Black Foundation Rail Trail with just over a mile worth of asphalt upgrades that will expand out across Union Street.

The project will also address the invasive plant species that are beginning to take over the biosystem as Privet, Wisteria, and Eleganus flowers are growing up alongside the trees and choking out the native plants.

"We want to enrich that area naturally," said Ned Barrett trail development manager of PAL Spartanburg. "Duncan Park is a really great property in the middle of the city. The lake is not used, and the woods don't see the same activity as the baseball stadium or tennis courts. We want to activate that entire property to make it available for more people to use."

The final park upgrade will see the reconstruction of a 40-foot wooden bridge and be rebuilt with aluminum materials for easier maintenance and upkeep, Barrett said.

The city of Spartanburg will contribute the remaining $300,000 dollars to the overall project with a timeline of early 2024 for its full completion.

Piedmont Riverfront Park Phase One, Anderson County

? Federal Grant Awarded: $500,000 ? Total Project Cost: $1,210,065

An expansion of the Saluda River Rally and Rhythm on the River are on the horizon as phase one of the 48-mile river corridor development project will introduce additional ADA-compliant kayaking docks for safe launch and takeouts to-and-from the river.

Phase one is the beginning of a six-section project which will eventually connect Powdersville to Ware Sholas via the Saluda River, and additionally promote fishing, walking, experiencing wildlife and duck hunting as a shoreline trail will come with the project upgrade.

"It will fit in neatly with our plans of the Saluda River Blue Trail," said Rusty Burns, Anderson County Administrator. "There will be plenty of room for everyone to enjoy the camp trail, getting back to nature and even concerts by the river.

Anderson County has a favorable notice to secure the remaining funds for phase one of the project, yet the source of where it will come from is unknown at the time, said Matt Schell, parks manager for Anderson County.

There is anticipation of the project to conclude near the end of fall 2023.

– A.J. Jackson covers the food & dining scene, along with arts, entertainment and more for The Greenville News and Anderson Independent Mail. Contact him by email at [email protected], and follow him on Twitter @ajhappened.

At 73 years old, Danny Oliver can remember riding his tricycle on the wooden front porch of his childhood home in Piedmont and also driving his three-wheeler through the kitchen, burning to pretend rubber while turning laps around the dining room table.

Many years before the Oliver family kitchen served as Danny's racetrack, the home near the old Piedmont Manufacturing mill site operated as a multi-denominational Piedmont Union Church when it was built in 1878. It was recognized as the first building in South Carolina dedicated to being a YWCA facility in 1908.

It's been unoccupied in recent years.

"There's houses near the old mill starting to crumble," said Dianne Young, older sister of Danny Oliver. "I didn't want to see momma and daddy's house like that."

The white colonial-style house is now safe from the dangers of decay, demolition, and development as the Piedmont Historical Preservation Society has purchased the home from the Oliver family.

The selling price went for $140,000, which was $13,000 below the appraisal price for the .72-acre property, according to Anne Peden, chairperson of the Piedmont Historical Preservation Society.

The preservation group's intention is to rededicate the building to be a museum to commemorate the Piedmont Manufacturing Company, local textile mill history, and contribution to the local economy.

Yet, more financial help is needed to open what is to be known as the Piedmont History Museum.

"It's where it needs to be," said Darlene Peden, another sister of Danny Oliver who also grew up in the home. "You've got a lot of people who love it. I want my house saved."

The new museum is to be a centerpiece for a revitalized Piedmont, as the area is expected to have tremendous growth over the next decade.

Grants and private donors bring Piedmont museum to life

"We've been working towards this about four to five years," said Anne Peden, sister-in-law of Darlene. "We want to be the place (where) the new people come in and understand that this was the textile center of the world."

The rich history of the residence made the historic site the desired location for the Piedmont Historical Preservation Society’s museum.

“That was our first choice when we started talking about getting a place for the museum,” Anne Peden said. “We didn’t dream we’d ever be able to come up with the money to buy it.”

In late 2021, the Piedmont Historical Preservation Society submitted a grant request for $53,000 to the Greenville County Historic & Natural Resources Trust.

The house at 7 Piedmont Avenue was ultimately awarded the grant and became the only historic site to receive funding among five other natural-resource preservation efforts during that grant's cycle, according to Carlton Owen, chair at GCHNRT.

“The 220,000 people coming to Greenville (in years to come through growth) don't know the story of the textile history,” Owen said. “If we wish to continue to compete for and win funds from outside the county, it is vital that we exhibit the importance of those projects by being among the first to invest.”

“This was a project we were definitely excited to fund,” said Alex Reynolds, board member of GCHNRT. “We have a vested interest in making sure this project is continuing."

Beyond the $53,000, the Piedmont Historical Preservation Society acquired $75,000 through a land-bank program and an additional $140,000 from Steve Bichel, a local retired electrical engineer.

“I knew a lot of people from Piedmont and have a lot of respect for those folks” said Bichel, a graduate of Woodmont High who grew up near the local mill. “I’m extremely supportive of redevelopment and zoning, but some developers have no concern for history whatsoever...

“It's a combination of things: a reconnection with Piedmont, my father working in other nearby mills, and to raise awareness of the project,” he said. “At least give 5 or 10% of what I gave. I challenge people to do the same."

Money still needed to open new museum in Greenville County

The purchase of the former YWCA, Union church and Oliver family historic home is a first step, but a long list of upgrades will require more financial help to bring the building up to date to function as a museum.

As of early September, the list of building improvements amounts to $460,000, which includes estimates of:

“The purchase of the building and the preservation of our museum is the first step towards our goal of having a state-of-the-art facility here in Piedmont, South Carolina, said Charlene Spelts, marketing and communications lead for the Piedmont Historical Preservation Society. "We've set ourselves a goal on 12 to 14 months to open.

"Money is the biggest thing we need.”

The museum could open as soon as the fall of 2023. It's to feature eight rooms for educational programming, which will be open three days a week for free, and also feature meeting rooms and space for homeschooling.

There will be antiques, including various artifacts dating back to 1818, some from Don Roper's mill collection that he's gathered since 1950, as well as an organ from the original Baptist church in Piedmont.

The new space for the museum is to house it all.

"Now that we have it, we have a lot of responsibility," said Anne Peden. "Owning a public building — although we are thrilled and it's a blessing — it's a little bit daunting.

"Now we've got to keep it up and make it live a long life as a museum, and every bit helps."

– A.J. Jackson overs arts, entertainment and more for The Greenville News and Anderson Independent Mail. Contact hum by email at [email protected], and follow him on Twitter @ajhappened.

This story first appeared in the Feb. 21 print edition of GSA Business Report.

Developers of a green townhouse community on the banks of a Saluda River mill dam plan to break ground this spring after a two-year pause.

In 2019, Red Oak Developers went public with plans to create a hydro-powered residential development within the bones of 1876-era Piedmont Mill One.

Only a smokestack stands from the original mill itself following a 1983 fire, but at one point, according to the S.C. Historic Properties Record, Piedmont Manufacturing’s Henry Hammett built out the property to be one of the largest textile plants in the world in the 1800s.

The Saluda River dam, a footbridge across the river between two of the Piedmont mill sites and a soon-to-be renovated mercantile space remain, laying the groundwork for what Red Oak Developer’s Brad Skelton hopes will become a “cool urban living” space.

The area is “prime for the pickings,” he said, with Piedmont’s close proximity to Greenville and cheaper property than in most municipalities in the county. The historic structures and corresponding tax credits also sweeten the pot.

“I think it will be more of a millennial vibe maybe. In the town of Piedmont itself, which is contiguous, there are several developers who are already upfitting some of the old building there,” he said. “There’s already a co-work space in an old bank there.”

Plans for the refurbished mercantile space will also cater to the younger demographic: a coffee shop, taphouse, cafe and five art studios committed to lease the space several years ago, according to developer KDS Commercial Properties.

Skelton aims to build out 90 to 105 three-level townhomes in Piedmont Village, as well as 25,000-square-feet of commercial space set to house the Saluda Falls Brewery. An eight-foot pedestrian bridge will be reconstructed on the Anderson County side of the Saluda River, which will be dotted with kayak put-ins and accompanied by a trail network once the community is complete.

“We’ve got a builder — we’re probably 90 to 120 days before we start moving dirt down there,” he said, adding that he couldn’t share his contractor yet. “We’ve got all of our due diligence down, we bought the property, we own it.”

The CEO and owner of Red Oak Development is less sure today that the community’s reliance on the Piedmont Hydro Electric Project for power will come through — “there’s still an outside chance that could happen,” he said — but the village will still center around green building practices and designers will pursue LEED certification.

Semi-underground waste and recycling containers distributed by Greenville-based Sutera will be installed across the property, limiting leakage and pollution into the river.

“You don’t have to build an enclosure, you don’t have to have a dumpster, you don’t have all that juice coming out,” Skelton said. “Everything stays in the container: it’s a much more environmentally sound unit.”

Coldwell Banker Caine signed on in 2019 as the community’s real estate partner.

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CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Piedmont Natural Gas has received approval from the North Carolina Utilities Commission and the Public Service Commission of South Carolina to reduce customer billing rates due to a decrease in the market cost of natural gas compared to last fall. The decrease will be reflected beginning with customers’ February 2023 bills.

This rate reduction translates to a savings of approximately $14 per month, or $170 per year, for the average North Carolina residential customer and approximately $10 per month, or $116 per year, for the average South Carolina residential customer. Because natural gas usage often is higher during the winter months, North Carolina customers may see as much as a $27 reduction each month for their winter bills. South Carolina customers may see as much as an $18 reduction each month for their winter bills.

“Piedmont is continually working to keep costs as low as possible for our customers,” said Sasha Weintraub, senior vice president and president of Piedmont Natural Gas. “We’re happy the downward trend in the cost of natural gas allows us to provide some relief during the winter months, when increased usage driven by colder temperatures often results in higher bills.”

Piedmont requests periodic rate adjustments to reflect fluctuations in the market price of the natural gas it purchases for its customers. By law, Piedmont does not mark up the cost of natural gas and must pass through the actual cost on a dollar-for-dollar basis to customers.

“Even with these cost reductions, we recognize there are customers who may continue to struggle with paying their bills, and we encourage customers to apply for assistance, enroll in our Equal Payment Plan and implement energy-saving tips to help take control of their natural gas bills,” added Weintraub.

Level out your bill with the Equal Payment Plan (EPP) program

This free service helps customers manage their budgets by eliminating high winter bills. The EPP program levels out a customer’s natural gas bills, allowing them to pay a predictable, equal monthly amount to help avoid billing surprises. Piedmont determines this payment by adding up a customer’s annual natural gas usage and then dividing it into the same payment amount each month. Learn more here.

Assistance for customers in need

Piedmont is reaching out to customers whose bills are past due through email and/or text with information about utility assistance administered by agencies in their state and local communities.

Share the Warmth provides funds to local agencies to assist families with their utility bills, no matter the source of energy they use.

The Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP) provides winter heating assistance to pay for natural gas, electric and other methods customers use to heat their homes. There are many customers who are eligible but do not apply for this annual federal benefit that can reduce winter heating costs for low-income families. Information on how to apply locally:

Piedmont says anyone in need should apply for this and other newly available programs to see if they qualify. For detailed federal and state-specific information, go to piedmontng.com/WinterBills and click on your state.

Energy-saving tools

Piedmont Natural Gas also offers a variety of energy-saving tools to help customers and our communities identify ways to save money and energy all year long. These programs and tools help customers understand what factors are impacting their natural gas bills and emphasize specific actions they can take to reduce the impacts of high winter usage.

Eight low- to no-cost energy-saving tips and projects

Natural gas use typically spikes in the winter as customers combat low temperatures to stay warm. Below are tips to help manage your energy use when temperatures decline. B-roll of energy efficiency measures is available here.

Piedmont Natural Gas, a subsidiary of Duke Energy, distributes natural gas to more than 1.1 million residential, commercial, industrial and power generation customers in North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. Piedmont Natural Gas earned the No. 1 spot in customer satisfaction with residential natural gas service in the South among large utilities, according to the J.D. Power 2022 U.S. Gas Utility Residential Customer Satisfaction Study, and has been named by Cogent Reports as one of the most trusted utility brands in the U.S. More information: piedmontng.com. Follow Piedmont Natural Gas: Twitter, Facebook.

Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune 150 company headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., is one of America’s largest energy holding companies. Its electric utilities serve 8.2 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky, and collectively own 50,000 megawatts of energy capacity. Its natural gas unit serves 1.6 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Ohio and Kentucky. The company employs 28,000 people.

Duke Energy is executing an aggressive clean energy transition to achieve its goals of net-zero methane emissions from its natural gas business by 2030 and net-zero carbon emissions from electricity generation by 2050. The company has interim carbon emission targets of at least 50% reduction from electric generation by 2030, 50% for Scope 2 and certain Scope 3 upstream and downstream emissions by 2035, and 80% from electric generation by 2040. In addition, the company is investing in major electric grid enhancements and energy storage, and exploring zero-emission power generation technologies such as hydrogen and advanced nuclear.

Duke Energy was named to Fortune’s 2022 “World’s Most Admired Companies” list and Forbes’ “World’s Best Employers” list. More information is available at duke-energy.com. The Duke Energy News Center contains news releases, fact sheets, photos and videos. Duke Energy’s illumination features stories about people, innovations, community topics and environmental issues. Follow Duke Energy on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.

Media contact: Jason Wheatley Media line: 877.348.3612 [email protected]

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