One of the most important assets in the Sumter community is Shaw Air Force Base. Shaw is an enormous economic and cultural resource for the entire community. Although the most recent Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) review resulted in a favorable outcome for Shaw, the base remains vulnerable to encroachment threats and will be subject to further BRAC reviews. Accordingly, the City of Sumter and Sumter County, in cooperation with federal and state officials, have been working diligently to prevent further base encroachment.
The City of Sumter has not added a new water plant to serve area businesses and residents in more than 16 years, despite substantial growth during that period. Currently, major growth in areas south of town is inhibited due to the lack of plentiful water.
Economic development and quality of life are the two principal motivations for acquiring targeted historic properties for either renovation or for the creation of green spaces for recreational purposes.
In regards to the acquisition of historic properties for renovation, the lessons learned from other communities have shown that public-private partnerships are powerful tools in creating economic development and growth. In many cases, the renovation and adaptive re-use
Pocotaligo Industrial Park remains agricultural land because it is not yet ready for industrial development prospects. While the old economic development model of deal first, infrastructure later used to work, development prospects today demand ready-to-go parks and shovel-ready sites. As is, Pocotaligo Industrial Park stands only a small chance of attracting a significant industrial development tenant, because it lacks to necessary water and sewer infrastructure.
The Sumter Airport has been identified through strategic planning as a major economic development asset to the Sumter community. The Sumter Airport complements the availability of aviation-trained workers who came to Sumter through Shaw Air Force Base. But the Airport is not ready for
