Electrician in Rock Hill, SC

Rock Hill serves as an example for South Carolina communities in transition from a mill town production past to a more modern future. Now, Rock Hill also will serve as host.

The first week of May, the city will host the 2023 South Carolina Community Capital Conference. Economic development professionals from across the state will come to learn about investment and community financing options. They’ll tour Rock Hill from Knowledge Park to Freedom Walkway to Clinton College.

Mayor John Gettys said people have come to Rock Hill for years to talk about sports tourism, community empowerment or special projects like the Rock Hill Sports & Event Center.

“It’s nice to now have them come specifically to talk about investing, how you create those opportunities,” Gettys said.

Gettys is a panelist at the May 2-3 conference, and will open alongside UNC public policy and business professor Jeanne Milliken Bonds with a presentation on Rock Hill’s strategic vision. Gettys said the success Rock Hill had the past four decades of reinventing itself isn’t some closely held secret.

Rock Hill is South Carolina’s fifth largest city.

“Historically, it’s very easy to explain,” Gettys said. “It’s relationships.”

Community members and groups like the Rock Hill Economic Development Corporation put a critical eye toward the city in key moments of transition, to set a vision for what Rock Hill could become.

In fall 2019 a large gathering of economic leaders and investors came together in Rock Hill to outline more than half a billion dollars of planned downtown revitalization. Much of it stemming from economic incentives available at the time, like federal opportunity zones. Former mill, warehouse and other buildings would become apartments, restaurants and business sites. Despite COVID-19, some of those projects are open and others are under construction in a rapidly growing center city.

However, Rock Hill isn’t all success.

The high-profile plan to bring Carolina Panthers headquarters to the city fell through after disputes between the team, city and county on financing. Yet that site remains a key piece of the city’s future. It’s now hundreds of acres the city owns through bankruptcy proceedings by the team, with new roads under construction and a new interchange off nearby I-77.

Gettys said work on roads, a bridge, the interstate and demolition of the former Panthers facility will take another six months. Then the city will be in a better place to determine what will go there.

“We do have, it seems like almost daily, contacts,” Gettys said. “Interested people or interested companies. We’re in no rush.”

As mayor, Gettys often talks about the transition in Rock Hill from successful city to a significant one. As change at the downtown mills and warehouses brought opportunity in recent years, so can the former headquarters site off the interstate.

“Opportunities like this are what allows successful cities to become significant,” Gettys said.

The upcoming conference centers on the theme “Forget What You Thought You Knew: A New Vision of an Old Town.”

It will dive into community financing options and new capital sources for economic growth in South Carolina. Speakers include Tara Sherbert whose company is behind The Power House project, Justin Smith with Hoppin’ and Gary Williams with Williams & Fudge to explain how deals came together at Knowledge Park.

“The economic growth and robust community development projects in the Rock Hill community make it an ideal venue to showcase and learn about how community development financing can grow and evolve a community,” said Bonds, who also chairs the capital alliance board of directors.

Other speakers bring a wider view. Tonya Matthews is CEO of the International African American Museum set to open in Charleston this summer. Jennifer Clyburn Reed is federal co-chair of the Southeast Crescent Regional Commission. Both will serve as keynote speakers.

“This is a wonderful opportunity for community development financiers and leaders to hear first-hand about the powerful and positive impact provided by creative financing tools for community economic development projects,” Matthews said.

Clyburn Reed co-chairs a federal-state partnership that focuses on economic development for 428 counties and areas in seven Southeastern states. She served almost three decades in education with South Carolina public schools.

“South Carolina communities are in constant need of more creative financing tools and capital sources to drive economic growth,” Clyburn Reed said. “I look forward to connecting with leaders from around the state to discuss ways we can move community financing forward.”

With a revitalizing downtown corridor, Rock Hill has something of a new challenge.

Anyone can look at dilapidated structures or failing areas and see the need for change. But can the city maintain that momentum -- that decades-long foresight -- when the present seems so promising?

Gettys said it’s still about relationships, about taking success and extrapolating it to parts of the city that haven’t yet seen it, to all areas and for all citizens.

“Successful as Rock Hill’s been for a while now,” Gettys said, “you still see something like Miracle Park built. You still see Clinton ConNEXTion come together.”

The city has an ongoing commerce corridor plan focused on zoning and land use implications for close to 3,000 acres along I-77 in the southern part of the city. It will look for ways to best match residential, commercial and industrial uses as land develops. It’s one of several large projects aimed at creating what Rock Hill wants to become, before the city gets there.

“It was just a few years ago we were talking about the hundreds of millions of dollars worth of development downtown,” Gettys said. “Now we’ll see, who knows what the numbers are now?”

ROCK HILL (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — The Rock Hill Schools board is considering a policy that would allow students to bring phones to school but require them to turn them off and put them away in lockers or book bags during the school day.

Almost everyone has a cellphone and an opinion about them.

“I despise cell phones, I think they have no use at all in our schools,” said Pete Nosal, a Rock Hill Schools board member.

The board had its first reading of the proposed policy at its meeting Tuesday night.

“Our teachers are begging for this,” said Helena Miller, another school board member.

The school board is considering whether to put in the new policy regarding personal electronic devices because of concerns over cyberbullying, harassment, and recording and posting on social media.

“I hear teachers tell me all the time that every time there’s a fight in the school, you know it’s going to happen because the cell phones come out before the fight even starts because it’s all about likes and clicks,” said Miller in the meeting Tuesday night.

It’s unclear if smartwatches would also be included.

“Smartwatches don’t record, they don’t present the same problems as cellphones do,” said Brent Faulkenberry, a school board member.

“I don’t think they need phones while in the school,” one parent told Queen City News.

Another mom believes she’d be more comfortable with her child having access to a phone at school, in case of an emergency.

“Leadership feels that this move can help curb learning disruptions, disciplinary incidents and mental health worries,” said Dr. John Jones, Deputy Superintendent of Rock Hill Schools.

The superintendent says he’s ready for any pushback from parents.

“I ask parents to be parents in this stance, not to be a friend. This is your child’s future that we’re fighting for. If we have to be the bad guy, so to speak, I think I’m hearing from seven of you, and I know how our administration feels, we’re willing to step up and be the bad guy,” said Dr. Tommy Schmolze, Superintendent of Rock Hill Schools.

The school board will take its final reading on the cellphone policy in June, and if it passes, the policy would go into effect next school year.

If the policy passes and a student is caught using a cellphone during the school day, their phone would be taken and given back at the end of the day.

Faulkenberry asked for a legal opinion on whether the district would be liable for confiscating someone’s personal property.

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One local leader hopes future development at the site can bring up to 2,000 jobs to the area.

Crews began the demolition of the failed facility on Friday in Rock Hill.

Published: Fri Feb 17 2023

ROCK HILL, S.C. (WBTV) - We’re just weeks away from the one-year mark from when Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper pulled out of plans to bring a multimillion-dollar practice facility to Rock Hill.

Tepper’s real estate company filed bankruptcy following the squashing of the plans, before the City of Rock Hill took over the site this past December.

Plans for the future of the site means the partially-constructed practice facility will have to be torn down, a process that got underway on Friday.

One day into the demolition process, many are wondering what’s next for the site.

Previous Coverage: Panthers terminating agreement with City of Rock Hill for new facility

Local leaders said they hope a new owner will bring thousands of good-paying jobs to the area.

“The best scenario would be to land a company that can bring in and probably bring us 1,500 to 2,000 jobs on that property,” City Councilman William Roddey said.

Originally, York County estimated demolition would cost up to $10 million, but the city worked out a plan to tear down the complex for a single dollar.

The contractor responsible for tearing down the incomplete facility will be allowed to make a profit from the steel and personal property sold from the site.

“It’ll start to come down, not all of the personal property is out, so the contractor is planning to start on one edge of the structure, he’s got a big crane, he’s just going to pull it down,” Gettys said. “As to the site itself, we’re really moving around quickly, as to what might happen with the site, it’s going to go a little bit more slowly, we’re going to take our time and do something that we’re all comfortable with.”

Whatever becomes of the 245-acre site, Roddey hopes its future brings new jobs to the area. The councilman is against more warehouses in the area and wants to keep people in York County instead of traveling north to Charlotte for work.

He believes commercial options for the space could be used for manufacturing, retail and distribution centers, as well as other businesses.

“We have an opportunity that nobody else has right now in the Charlotte metro region and in the state of South Carolina, and we fully expect that we’re going to get the highest and best use and have something that everybody is proud of,” Gettys said.

According to the City of Rock Hill, it will take approximately six months for the demolition process to be completed.

In that meantime, Roddey is hoping a buyer or developer will purchase the property with plans to bring jobs to the area.

Previous Coverage: Site of Panthers’ failed Rock Hill facility listed for sale

Copyright 2023 WBTV. All rights reserved.

York County finalized a deal Monday night to bring Pallidus to Rock Hill.

The silicon carbide manufacturer intends to create more than 400 jobs and invest $443 million. The company founded in 2015 will relocate its headquarters from New York to a 300,000-square-foot facility at 1786 and 1800 Overview Drive in Rock Hill.

Pallidus applications can serve the electric vehicle, mass transit and green energy sectors, among others. Pallidus intends to expand the country’s semiconductor market.

Operations should begin third quarter of this year. In an announcement from the state commerce department Tuesday, company vice president of global facilities Jerry Knowles said Pallidus is thrilled to partner with South Carolina and the local community.

“The decision to select Rock Hill, South Carolina for our next manufacturing facility was the result of extensive research to locate to a community that aligned with our innovative and collaborative spirit, offered an exceptional quality of life for our employees and is easily supported from our research and development facility in New York,” Knowles said.

Rock Hill Mayor John Gettys said his community invested for decades in utility systems would bring investments like Pallidus. Attaining high standards for the sight resulted, Gettys said, ine one of the most impactful economic development announcements in the city’s history.

“We welcome Pallidus and the new generation of manufacturing jobs they bring to the ‘good town’ as well as the opportunity for more of our people to build wealth through high paying wages,” Gettys said.

Charlotte Regional Business Alliance chief business recruitment officer Danny Chavez said the move is big beyond just York County.

“The state of South Carolina, along with our region, continues to be a magnet for innovative, next-generation companies like Pallidus,” Chavez said. “Success stories like these, within our targeted industries, are a testament to our streamlined, dual-state economic development capabilities.”

York County Council finalized an economic incentive deal for the project on Monday night. Chairwoman Christi Cox said jobs will be liveable wage, many at $80,000 a year or more. Cox spoke with company officials and was impressed that Pallidus is American-owned with American investors.

“It opens up some tremendous opportunities for the county,” Cox said.

Councilman Tom Audette said the number of new jobs is good news for York County.

“The opportunity here for the community, and the opportunity for job growth, is immense,” Audette said.

High school football is a way of life in countless Southern towns, but only one has earned the right to call itself “Football City, USA.”

With a population of 75,000, Rock Hill, South Carolina, says it has turned out more NFL players per capita than any other city in America.

Each of Rock Hill’s three public high schools (Northwestern, Rock Hill, and South Pointe) have won at least one state championship in football since 2000. Together they’ve produced dozens of NFL players including Gerald Dixon, Tori Gurley, Robert Massey, Stephon Gilmore, and Jadeveon Clowney.

“No other area in the state has produced as much NFL talent, especially when compared to size. I believe the last number was 41 players from Rock Hill who have been on NFL rosters,” Northwestern High School coach Paige Wofford told ETV in 2022. “I have coached across the state from the Upstate to the Lowcountry. Football in Rock Hill is unique because of the importance placed on it by the community and the three high schools.”

Michael Strahan recently paid a visit to Rock Hill for ABC’s Nightline series, Impact. Strahan spoke to 14-year-old J’Zavien Currence, a freshman at South Pointe High School who already has six Division 1 offers to play football in college.

“You’re one of the best wide receivers in the country,” Strahan said. “Is that a lot of pressure because you’re only a freshman?”

“Nah,” Currence replied. “You can’t let the game get bigger than yourself. I don’t think about it too much.”

With Rock Hill’s population continuing to grow, locals expect the city to keep pumping out football stars for many years to come. But that’s not to say that football isn’t fun in York County. Rock Hill’s stellar football program also offers valuable lessons to young athletes, regardless of whether they continue to play after high school.

“We have the opportunity to provide young people with brighter futures than if we did not have those things,” Strait Herron, a former coach at South Pointe High School, told ETV. “It is important to note that almost every kid that plays football wants to go play in college, but the reality is that will not happen for most. However, with the correct type of leadership, every player in every sport can learn attributes that can help to create future success.”

Keep up the good work!