The city of Florence will use $1.5 million in grant funding to rehabilitate sewer line in this area along the south side of David H. McLeod Boulevard. (PDB2B photo by Don Fujiwara)
The Rural Infrastructure Authority announced in May that it had made available about $29 million for capital improvement projects in 16 SC counties, including the $1.5 million grant to Florence and funding for three other projects in the Pee Dee. These grants are to go toward improving water, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure, benefiting more than 50,000 households and businesses and bolstering services that support economic growth, the statement said.
Michael Hemingway, utility planning and economic development director for the city of Florence, said in an email, “The grant funding is specifically for the construction and installation of new larger gravity sewer infrastructure along David McLeod Boulevard.”
A map provided by Hemingway shows construction will take place on the south side of the street between Crossroads Center, 2670 David H. McLeod Blvd., and Woody Jones Boulevard.
This map provided by Michael Hemingway, utility planning and economic development director for the city of Florence, shows construction will take place on the south side of David H. McLeod Boulevard between Crossroads Center and Woody Jones Boulevard. (PDB2P image by city of Florence)
The larger diameter will increase “carrying capacity (volume) of the pipe,” Hemingway said. “The material will be a combination of both ductile iron and PVC.”
Hemingway shared the expected timeline for the project:
Final design completion, winter 2027
Regulatory permits, spring 2027
Bid advertisement, summer 2027
Start construction, fall 2027
Project completion, spring 2028.
“A public bid will be released via the city’s website and SC Business Opportunities to be awarded to the complete most responsive bidder,” Hemingway added.
Other SCRIA grantees in the Pee Dee included:
Chesterfield County Rural Water Co. received $1,473,691
Darlington County received $1,500,000
The town of Latta in Dillon County received $1,491,600
The town of Kingstree in Williamsburg County and Williamsburg County itself also received infrastructure grants. Additionally, the Rural Infrastructure Authority selected the town of Olanta in Florence County to participate in its new viability improvement program aimed at helping smaller utilities strengthen long-term viability.