Midlands Palmetto Pulse September

RECOVERY FUND

Recovery Begins at Literacy SC Office

Recent storm caused significant damage to the Literacy SC office, including roof damage, flooding, and substantial damage to the ceiling and interior space, resulting in a temporary closure of the office. Officials with Literacy SC emphasized their need to preserve and recover as many of their learning resources as they could, while still not knowing the full extent of the damage. The organization has set up a Literacy SC Flood Recovery Fund in hopes that the community can try to support their recovery efforts in the same way they have supported the community through the years.

CHAMBER DEPARTURE

Columbia Chamber President Carl Blackstone Announces His Decision to Resign, Issues Letter to Chamber and Public

Excerpt, From the Desk of Carl Blackstone

Dear Chamber Partners: After much thought and reflection, I have made the decision to step down as president and CEO of the Columbia Chamber to pursue a new professional opportunity. Serving the Columbia Chamber since 2014 has been one of the greatest honors of my professional career. ... While this decision was not an easy one, I leave with immense pride in all that we have accomplished together … Through a shared commitment to collaboration among business, government, education, military, nonprofit, and community leaders, Columbia has grown stronger and more connected than ever. 

NURSING EDUCATION

USC Expands Nursing Faculty Pipeline to Strengthen S.C. Workforce

Expanding Nursing Faculty Pipeline is a USC College of Nursing initiative that partners with Clemson University and the Medical University of South Carolina to prepare the next generation of nurse educators. The initiative will support nine doctoral nursing students, three at each university, during the final two years of their degree programs. Those new educators are expected to help train an estimated 300 additional nurses by 2030. According to data published by the National Center for Health Workforce Analysis, South Carolina has a shortage of over 5,300 nurses statewide, with that number projected to grow to almost 6,900 by 2035.

SPOTLIGHT

Prysmian Expands Lexington County Operations

Prysmian North America, a leading provider of solutions for energy and digital connections, has announced it is expanding its operations in Lexington County. The company’s $80 million investment will create approximately 135 jobs. Prysmian will expand its existing Lexington County facility, located at 700 Industrial Drive in Lexington, to increase its manufacturing capabilities in the state. Alongside its Lexington site, Prysmian also operates a manufacturing plant in Abbeville County. Operations are expected to be online in May 2028.

SPOTLIGHT

10th Annual Taste on the River Raises Funds for West Columbia Beautification Foundation Projects

The 10th Annual West Columbia Beautification Foundation Taste on the River celebrated the Midlands' culinary scene and supported ongoing beautification efforts in West Columbia. Held on June 11, 2026, at Stone River, the event drew hundreds of regional guests and raised over $48,000. Participating Restaurants included: •Black Rooster •Blue Marlin •Breads and Such •Brickhouse Gourmet Coffee & Tea Co. •Brookland Banquet & Conference Center •Cafe Strudel •Crave •Freshe Poke •Handels Homemade Ice Cream •Hites BBQ •The Hollow •Ikie Lu Record Club •Nick's House of Pizza •Signature Catering

ECONOMIC IMPACT

Restaurant Spending Fuels Columbia's $3 Billion Visitor Economy

Visitors to the Columbia region generated a $3.0 billion economic impact in 2025, spending $1.9 billion throughout the local economy and supporting 23,731 jobs, according to the latest Economic Impact of Visitors to Columbia, SC study conducted by Tourism Economics. The report found that 17.4 million visitors traveled to Columbia in 2025. Visitors spent $594 million on food and beverages in 2025, accounting for 31 percent of all visitor spending, making it the single largest visitor spending category. Food and beverage spending also recorded the strongest growth among all sectors, increasing 3.8 percent year over year.

HEALTH CARE COLLABORATION

National MS Society, Community Partners Show Early Impact in Closing Multiple Sclerosis Care Gaps in South Carolina

In South Carolina, the National MS Society has partnered with Prisma Health, the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), and the South Carolina Community Health Worker Association on distinct initiatives to build MS care capacity, train health care professionals, and connect patients to specialized support through the MS Navigator program — the society's personalized support service connecting people living with MS to information, resources, and care. An estimated 14,800 people in South Carolina are currently living with MS.

DISABILITY SUMMIT

Able South Carolina Announces 2026 Employer Summit

Able South Carolina and Hire Me SC announced the 11th annual Employer Summit, scheduled for Oct. 14. The event will be hosted at Dominion Energy’s VC Summer Nuclear Learning Center. While one in four people in the United States has a disability, one in three South Carolinians has a disability; meanwhile, 60 percent of people with disabilities in this state are unemployed. The summit will host two tracks: a track for employers with topics covering the ADA as a Business Tool and HR Mythbusting, and a track for service providers with topics centered on Practical Tools for Job Development and Using Assistive Technology as a Workforce Tool.

HEALTH INSURANCE

Lexington Health Reaches Agreement With Cigna

Lexington Health reached a multi-year agreement with Cigna and, as a result, Lexington Medical Center and its affiliated practices have been in network with Cigna as of July 1, 2026. Lexington Health officials said that patients can now reschedule any appointments or procedures canceled due to the disruption in the network status. Lexington Health had said it had been in active discussions with Cigna for several months to reach a fair and sustainable agreement that ensured continued access to care for its patients.

EDUCATION GRANTS

Midlands Technical College Students Earn SARA California Merit Award and Educational Grants for Architectural Design Project

Three Midlands Technical College Architectural Engineering Technology students have received a SARA California Merit Design Award from the Society of American Registered Architects. Each student also received a $1,000 educational grant from the Coalition of Community College Architecture Programs and mattress company Saatva. The students’ winning conceptual project, “El Encuentro” or “The Finding,” reimagines a textile mill in Greenwood, South Carolina, into a community hub. The students — Cynthia Aranda, Magdalena Aranda Ojeda, and Karina Rendon — accepted their awards and grants at a gala in Los Angeles this May.

PUBLIC SAFETY

City of Orangeburg Addresses Youth Firearm Trends Through Mentorship, Prevention

The City of Orangeburg Department of Public Safety (DPS) in South Carolina is addressing recent firearm-related incident trends among youth through mentorship, education, and community engagement. According to data reviewed by DPS, there were 44 total incidents involving the use, display, or possession of a firearm reported from Jan. 1, 2026, until June 5, 2026. Three involved domestic violence situations in which a firearm was used or displayed. Additionally, 10 incidents involved individuals between the ages of 15 and 21, representing approximately 23 percent of all firearm-related incidents reported.

SHIPPING AND LOGISTICS

Amazon Formally Announces Calhoun County Last-Mile Delivery Station

Calhoun County has announced that Amazon.com, Inc. has selected the Calhoun County I-26 Industrial Park at Sonntag Drive and Sires Lane in Gaston, South Carolina, as the site for a new 150,000+-square-foot last-mile delivery facility. Amazon purchased the land directly from the county following County Council’s approval, and broke ground in July 2026. The facility is tentatively scheduled to open in late 2027. The project is anticipated to bring more than 100 full- and part-time jobs to the region, with Amazon sharing more details as plans are finalized.

COMMUNITY IMPACT

Routine Eye Exam Leads to Life-Saving Cancer Diagnosis for West Columbia Doctor of Optometry

During a comprehensive dilated eye exam, Dr. Katie Davis, Doctor of Optometry at Vision Therapy Institute in West Columbia, discovered a choroidal nevus, commonly known as an eye freckle, in the back of a Midlands man's eye. While many are harmless, some can develop into ocular melanoma. Months later, the patient returned after experiencing flashes of light, and was diagnosed with ocular melanoma. Because the cancer was identified early, specialists were able to treat the tumor without removing the patient's eye, preserving his vision and quality of life. The patient continues to do well and has since entrusted Davis with the eye care of his children.

AT 12 with both Spotlights