Jennifer, let us bring the uh city council order.

She didn't even hear me.

Um we're gonna stand for a moment of silence and uh be led by the pledge of allegiance and while we're standing, I don't know if you know the Span family, but Jane Span on Educator here in Spartanburg passed.

Oh, yesterday.

Husband was a uh realtor around town, but very prominent family, so just think about them and your prayers.

Moment of silence.

I mean, you want to come up and lead us.

I know I'm putting you on the spot, buddy.

Yes, sir.

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the rainbow for which he stands.

Thank you, sir.

Thank you.

Swearing in of the mayor and city council members, and I will start it off with uh oh she missed the Bible.

Um the honorable mayor Jerome Rice Junior, oath of office administered by Jerome Rice the third, Javarz Rice to Lee Carwell and Jamario Pigney.

Uh Jamario's not able to make it, and assisted by Dr.

Shea Rice.

Come on up, guys.

Yep.

I Jerome Rice Jr.

I Jerome Rice Jr.

Do solemnly swear.

Do solemnly swear.

That I am duly qualified.

That I am duly qualified.

According to the Constitution of the State of South Carolina.

According to the Constitution of the State of South Carolina.

To exercise the duties of the office.

To exercise the duty of the office.

To which I have been appointed.

To which I have been appointed.

And that I will to the best of my ability.

And I will to the best of my ability.

Discharge the duties thereof.

Discharge the duties thereof.

And preserve, protect, and defend the constitution of this state.

And preserve and defend the constitution of this state.

And the United States of America.

And the United States of America.

And I do further and I do further solving swear.

And I do further solemnly swear.

That as mayor for the municipality.

And as mayor of the municipality of Spartanburg.

I will equally fairly and impartially.

I will equally fairly and impartially.

To the best of my ability and skill.

To the best of my ability and skill.

Exercise the trust reposed in me.

Exercise the trust reposed in me.

And I will use my best endeavors to preserve the peace.

And I would use my best endeavors to reserve preserve the peace.

Support and defend the interest of.

Support and defend the interests of the citizens of the city.

The citizens of this city.

And carry it to effect according.

And carry into effect accordingly.

To the law and the purpose to which I have been elected.

Thank you.

Yeah.

You guys can see who my uh biggest critics are.

Um right here.

He was trying to give me as much as he can.

But uh again, uh thank you to Spartanburg for this opportunity to serve as your mayor for the next four years.

Um and first and foremost, I cannot say anything except giving honor to our God, Lord and Savior, Jesus, who makes everything happens for our household.

So to that end, I do want to thank my family, uh, my mother, of course, uh, we all call her Grandma B.

Uh, so thank you to my mother.

I wouldn't be here without her.

Um, to one of my uh biggest cheerleaders back there, uh I'm sure going live, my sister Jennifer, and of course, you met my my family, my kids, Jamaria was not able to be here, but but but also my my biggest um um before I get to my biggest, and also Bathsheba, uh uh she's like a sister to us, more so than just a cousin, so it's always happy to see her and really to to to my biggest cheerleader, the one that really keeps me grinded to my wife, Dr.

Shay Rice, man.

Thank you.

Thank you for putting up with me.

Thank you for putting up with this city and all the things that come with it.

And and again, thank you all uh for the ones that supported me.

Uh I couldn't be in this position without your support, your help for from a doorknob from a financial standpoint, and just from an encouraging word.

Uh thank you.

Uh again, I don't take this lightly to serve as the mayor.

I uh I do not um as a young man growing up, as a young kid growing up in Spartanburg.

I see a very good friend of mine, Keith McCullough.

We grew up over in the north side, and uh man, we didn't see this, bro.

We we we didn't see this, and and it's such an honor, guys.

You you don't know what it means to me to stand before you to carry this title and uh to to carry this load with with this council.

Um I ran my platform on uh again public education, public health, uh public um safety, and and that's still paramount, still paramount as to where we're going.

But I do want to talk about opportunities for the next four years.

Opportunities for our young people.

I mean, right now in Spartanburg, you know, we we're having a time with with violence, and this is a lot of violence with our young people.

So I plan in the next four years.

So I plan in the next four years, we're already establishing a children's cabinet.

We're working with Sam, Sponbair Academic Movement, Dr.

Booker and I have had conversations, and we are full steam ahead with getting our young people involved and having opportunities, having opportunities.

Uh we would we never would have thought, man, to have a baseball team here downtown Spartanburg.

That's an opportunity.

Uh to have the new city county joint complex downtown.

That's an opportunity to have the new development on the north side.

That's an opportunity to have Dr.

TK Gregg, to have C C Woodson, to have all of these amenities, to have the walking trail, Laura.

That's an opportunity for our young people here.

And the way Spartanburg moved, we've always been uh a resilient people in Spartanburg.

We've always worked hard in Spartanburg, but the harder we work, we have to identify and notice our young people.

I happen to work at the high school, and and I should be giving that speech to them.

But again, this next four guys, we will we we have a lot of momentum going.

There's a lot of great things that are happening, but we want all of us, all of us to help a young person out, mentor a young person, pat a young person on the back, encourage a young person.

You never know how far that goes.

You never do.

But I want to encourage each and every one of us, each and every one of us.

When you see a young person, just pat them on the back, ask them how they're doing.

You never know how far that goes.

One last thing.

I think it may have been Baker, and he just walked in a little late.

I had a reporter or uh um channel, one of the news reporters asked me about success.

And I talked a little bit about success when I talk about baseball and the things we have going on downtown, the planetarium, all the new uh uh housing developments and all that.

But one thing uh Dr.

K.

Woodward called me the ever-present mayor.

I wanted to be out and about amongst our people.

So one thing I measured my success for is I was leaving the Y one day, Shay, and uh stopped by Family Dollar right here on Main Street, get a Gatorade or something.

I just finished working out short, and I'm a sweater for you guys that do the miles with the mayor.

I'm sweating, and um I get out of my car, and it's this gentleman, older gentleman, he's a little older, well, appear to be a little older than I am, two of them, and he had two little kids.

A little boy, little boy, maybe seven, eight, two little girls, three, four, five, somewhere in there, and uh they're on the sidewalk.

So he tried to get them off the sidewalk so I could walk by.

I'm like, no, no, no, no.

I'll go around.

I go out in the street, you know, in the parking area, and um go in the parking able to go in.

And as I walked by the kid and the in the uh older gentleman, I could hear the little boy whisper, that's the mayor.

That's the mayor.

So I turned around, went back, introduced myself.

Of course, he already knew who I was, but that's what I mean by opportunities.

That little boy that met me somewhere along the line that going into that family dollar, sweats, tennis shoes, probably sweating.

He could do the same thing because we're shopping in the same store.

We're walking in the same footprint, okay?

So that's what I mean by success.

And that's what this last four years has been to me.

There's a lot of great things out there that's going on, but to me, that's how I measure success.

So thank you all for your support.

Thank you all for being here tonight, and thank you for the next four years.

Thank you.

That was good.

Ruth is a big cheerleader too.

Thank you, Ruth.

All right, B, we have the honorable Jamie Former, City Council District 4, oath of office administered by um McClane, uh Fairclaw, former, assistant by Catherine Former and Dr.

Sid, former.

Come on up, Doc.

Dr.

Sarah.

I, Jamie Former.

I, Jamie Former.

Do solemnly swear.

Do solemnly swear.

That I am duly qualified.

That I am duly qualified.

According to the Constitution of the State of South Carolina.

According to the Constitution of the State of South Carolina.

To exercise the duties of office.

To exercise the duties of office.

To which I have been appointed.

To which I have been elected.

Appointed.

And that I will to the best of my ability.

And then I will to the best of my ability.

Discharge the duties thereof.

Discharge the duties thereof.

And preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of this state.

And preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of this state.

And the United States of America.

And the United States of America.

And I do further solemnly swear.

And I do further solemnly swear.

That as council member for the municipality of Spartanburg.

As a council member for the municipality of Spartanburg.

I will equally fairly and impartially.

I will equally fairly and impartially.

To the best of my ability and skill.

To the best of my ability and skill.

Exercise the trust reposed in me.

Exercise the trust reposed in me.

And I will use my best endeavors to preserve the peace.

And I will use my best endeavors to preserve the peace.

Support and defend the interests of the citizens of the city.

Support and defend the interests of the citizens of this city.

And carry into effect according to the law.

And carry into effect according to the law.

The purposes for which I have been elected.

The purposes for which I have been elected.

But I was joined by my youngest son McLean, my wife, and my father.

But I want to thank my family, friends, supporters, and especially the voters of District 4 for trusting me with the opportunity to represent you for another four years.

I also want to congratulate the mayor and Janie for being sworn in tonight, and I look forward to working with you and all of our colleagues on council as we serve the people of Spartanburg together.

I've said this before, but it's worth repeating.

Friends from across our state and region are often amazed by how much Spartanburg has changed over the past generation.

And we know all know that that didn't happen by accident.

It happened because this community was resolute and we chose collaboration over division.

Today public discourse is often driven by mistrust, misinformation, and performative activism, amplified by social media platforms that fuel and accelerate vitriol, but deliver little real change.

The best response to that noise is not more noise, it's results.

Simply put, we can dream big and we can achieve great things.

Oath of office administered by Mr.

Roland Lamont Sally, assisted by uh Dr.

Sarah Simmons.

I Janie Sally.

I Janie Sally.

Do solemnly swear that I am duly qualified.

Do solemnly swear that I am duly qualified.

According to the Constitution of the State of South Carolina.

According to the Constitution for the State of South Carolina.

To exercise the duties of the office to which I have been appointed.

To exercise the duty of the office to which I have been appointed.

And that I.

And that I to the best of my ability.

To the best of my ability.

Discharge the duties thereof.

Discharge the duties thereof.

And preserve.

And preserve.

And protect.

And protect.

And defend the constitution of this state.

And defend the constitution of the state.

And the United States of America.

And the United States of America.

And I do further further swornly.

I do further solely swear.

I do solemnly fully.

Ooh.

I do further solemnly swear.

I do further solemnly swear.

That is council member of the municipality.

That is council member of the municipality.

Of Spartanburg.

That I will equally.

Fairly and impartially.

Fairly and impartially.

To the best of my ability.

To the best to the best of my ability and skill.

Exercise the trust reposed in you.

Exercise the trust that was imposed upon me.

And I will use my best endeavors.

And I will use my best endeavors.

To preserve the peace.

Support and defend.

Support and defend.

The interests of the cities, citizens of the city.

The interest and the citizens of the city.

And carry into effect.

And carry into effect.

According to the law.

According to the law.

The purposes for which I have been elected.

To the purposes of which I have been elected.

Good evening.

I thought I was funny.

And I want to say thank you to everyone that has come tonight.

Also especially want to say that I am filled with gratitude and humility and honored to have your trust and support.

The confidence in you for seeing my vision and my leadership is humbling.

My husband is not here tonight because he's ailing.

Mary, South Carolina, says a long way from here out of Camp of Ellen, getting off at 5 30 and dealing with the traffic.

But I do have my family, and I have my supporters, and I have my friends.

And welcome and congratulations to the mayor and councilman Fulham.

Lastly, I want to say that I know that we have successfully brought Spartanburg to a beautiful fruition.

And I know it's going to go further.

I want to make sure that we only not take care of the downtown area, but the surrounding areas.

So as we look forward for the next four years, I will be plugging at you, digging into you, and requesting of you.

So to the neighbors in district that I represent, I want to make sure that you're happy and that we continue to work well together.

Thank you.

No, before I go to item four, um, councilwoman Erica Brown um had a recent surgery, so she's not able to be with us.

I know she's watching online, so she would have hers as soon as she's able to return her swearing in as soon as she's able to return.

Just so you know.

Um, item four, we have election of the 2026 Mayor Pro Tim to council.

Do I hear a motion?

Mr.

Mayor, I'll make a motion we elect council member little jelly.

Second.

All in favor?

Aye.

Any opposed?

Ayes have it, Ruth.

Welcome.

To that end, item five.

We have approval of the minutes for the December 15th, 2025 City Council meeting.

Second.

Do I have a second?

Second.

All in favor?

Aye.

Any that oppose?

Eyes have it.

Item six, approval of the agenda for the January 12th, 2025, 2026.

Second.

Oh, um, you sway.

Um in favor?

Aye.

Any opposed?

Eyes have it.

Great, great.

Uh, public comment.

Uh, we do have um a few.

And to that end, we know there's a new way of doing public comments.

We uh wanted to make it more efficient and accommodate anyone that may need some accommodations by doing it a little early.

So you still have the opportunity to go forward.

I know it's online, but you do have the cop uh opportunity to go to the city hall to fill one out as well.

Um so with that being said, we still have two minutes.

I'm gonna stick with two minutes of of your time to speak.

And once you give us your name and just name.

Don't even worry about your address.

We have your address here.

So just give us your name again, state who's coming forward, and you turn it around.

And we will your time will start after that.

So, Phoebe, we're gonna ask you to come up, please, ma'am.

Is that it?

Uh what's the uh help me out?

My glasses.

Webbington.

Phoebe.

We have a good didn't show.

Now that's something that we'll have to address.

Okay, good.

Moving on, we have Julie uh Miss Wright.

Yes, Miss Wright.

Come, uh, either one, either one.

You have uh give us your name, and we will start your time after that.

My name is Juliette Wright.

Please excuse me because this is emotional.

Yesterday afternoon on Sunday, January 11th, I had a terrifying incident while walking on the Birchwood Trail where I was confronted by two men in a coordinated plan attack.

One man who was at least six feet tall, maybe taller, and was wearing a full ski mask covering his whole face, except for this trip of his eyes.

He was carrying what can only be described as a six-foot lamb behind him and both hands, so it stuck out either side.

The other man that was with him split to the other side of the path, blocking my way.

So the only way I could get through would be to go between them.

I have shared the details of this incident on Facebook and to warn other women that walk and run alone on these trails that we usually feel safe on.

Um I don't have time to go into the full story, but you can see that there.

Um I've also made a report of this to the police that are taking this seriously.

This is a well-traveled beloved trail on the east side of Spartanburg, and these men were emboldened to threaten my safety and my life in daylight.

And these men were emboldened to threaten my safety and my life in daylight.

Thankfully, I was able to get away when another young woman jogged up unknowingly behind them and took a look at what was going on.

And we made eye contact and she turned around and started running back the opposite way.

I knew that I couldn't let her out of my sight because they would have me there alone again.

So I broke through with my dog and my little dog lunged at the man and the ski mask as he turned towards me within inches of me, barking and growling as we ran by.

Keep going.

Again, this should never have happened on a well-traveled recreational trail in daylight.

And again, like the details are on Facebook, so please read them because it's terrifying and it's not right, and there's no other explanation.

Um, but they were there to do me harm.

And we had to warn other people.

There was a woman that was about to get on the trail with a toddler and a stroller.

There was an elderly couple that we met when we were running back to the front, and we told them not to go on, and they didn't.

So again, I don't there may have been a third man that was involved.

Um again, those details are on my Facebook post as well.

And the police also have a full description of both men.

I didn't pull a full description online because I don't know if somebody's out there that is that knows these men and could warn them.

I'm honestly afraid a little bit to put my face on Facebook to put my face out here because I'm afraid of these men.

And that's all I have to say.

Thank you for sharing that with us.

Um I know I saw a couple of the officers earlier.

Thank you for that.

Um, and and we are so sorry that that has happened.

Um thank you, council.

My name is Alancio, and I am Juliet Wright's mother.

And I quickly want to highlight some facts about our Spartanburg uh police force that have a direct bearing, I think, on my daughter's terrifying uh experience on the River Birch Trail on Sunday yesterday.

And these are facts well known to City Council who whom I know are in close touch with our uh Spartanburg police chief Alonzo Thompson.

Um it is a fact that a visible police present presence is a strong deterrent to crime, and it's far better to deter crime uh from ever happening than to respond to crime that that is happening or that has already happened.

And Spartanburg, as you probably know, but many don't know, is experiencing uh a rapidly um dwindling police force in comparison to our uh expanding population growth, and I know that this has been an ongoing problem from my recent reading.

And um the fact that it is not keeping pace with um the growth of Spartanburg has to do with the fact that we've got 40,000 new people in Spartanburg in the last four years approximately, documented increase, and um many more people who are unknown to us who have come into the city.

And so I know in 2022 uh it as an incentive to try to attract and call and to keep our police force, the officers' salaries were raised, and what I read online was that the re the incentive was a four thousand dollar raise per year.

Um it did not have an effect uh for starters.

I would think that we would have a much more, a much larger incentive for our men and women in blue.

Is that my time already?

Yes, ma'am.

Can I go on for a minute?

Um so um, you know, I I would think at least 14,000.

Um I I feel like you know, we need a police presence all over the city, not just downtown, but on recreational um activity sites for all of our citizens to feel safe, including children's city parks, the rail trail, the river birch trail, and all the other great places that we have to offer in Spartanburg.

Increased population means that we also have increased city revenues from city taxes, and I I believe strongly uh that a larger police force needs to be the priority uh in our in our city's funding because what does it matter what we have to offer in Spartanburg if we cannot offer the safety of all our citizens protected by the men and women in blue?

Thank you for your time.

Thank you for your time.

Thank you.

Sir, come on up, Mr.

Jenkins.

I'm not as dry as I used to be.

Anyway, um, my name is Edward Jenkins, and uh I'd rather not be here, but I have uh spent 25 years in Spainburg.

I've never tried to get any attention.

Uh public attention.

I volunteered at Waffle Football for three and a half years.

If it wasn't for Joe Flacco, who was still playing football, we might have won the national championship in 2003.

I worked with the school system in District 7 in four different schools.

I put a year in with Mary A.

Wright's to start with and Cleveland now Academy, which I helped to make Cleveland Academy.

Um after that and two other schools, I did a year at each, and I got up at 7:30 in the morning, and I went to bed at the uh I quit working with kids at nine at night for four years at four different schools, and I brought to Wolf College Tuskegee Airmen.

I brought to uh the library, uh Africa uh Negro League baseball players.

Most of all of those men that I brought here are now past.

Uh I have known lots of former Negro League players.

I've known lots of uh um Tuskegee Airmen, and uh I appreciate the fact that I have spent 25 years after retiring in Spartanburg, but I feel that I should uh I'm not patting myself on the back.

I feel like I should kick myself for I uh now in the last year have suffered with uh a neighbor who has brought a tree serving business with the with the cordwood and with the with the trucks and with the noise and with the uh daily changing of his yard.

He claims his his stuff is is uh his his equipment is stuff that he's using to clean his yard, but every day the equipment changes, it gets larger and larger, it's big and noisy, and the last week of I mean of this uh January um what was it the 12th?

No, December the 12th, uh 21st, December the 21st.

He loaded a truck with wood in the back of his yard in his backyard, and he had no way to get out because all he had so many vehicles in front of him, and half of them are operable.

So he drove across my yard, left a huge trail uh uh rut gone across my yard.

And so I called the police, they came out, they they never made a report though uh it was on um January 21st.

I called them at 1246 in the afternoon.

They uh uh the crew that came out was A Alpha 66.

I don't know what all that means, but I don't care.

Anyway, nobody has done anything about this man who claims to uh have uh to not have a business there.

He's not the owner, the owner had uh uh is away a lot, but uh he wants to sell the the the house to this gentleman for 330,000.

It's a bit high, but and if he gets it, if this man is able to get up 330,000, they both talk to me and confirm this that he's gonna buy the house, and the other guy is gonna drift off to Florida someplace, the owner, and uh the the gentleman's name uh I have his business card, which gives Mr.

Jenkins, Mr.

Jenkins.

He says he doesn't have a business thing, but here's his business talk.

Mr.

Jenkins, I can help you.

I'm sorry, that's all right.

We just gotta sit down.

Come on.

All right, all right.

You you you have talked with staff uh as well, he has talked with staff.

No.

I'll help you with it.

Mr.

Limehouse, our assistant.

And I got pictures for a year.

Okay.

And then nobody's doing nothing, and I wish I hadn't done anything.

Thank you, Mr.

Jenkins, and I'm sorry, uh, about that.

And um recognition of City of Spartanberg retiree, Mr.

Frank Wilson, engineer and inspector.

Frank, come on down.

I know you don't like this, but uh we got it anyway.

We we had uh an opportunity uh last week to spend a little time with Frank before he made it officially.

But Mr.

Frank Robert Wilson has been a value employee with the city of Spartanberg for over 27 years, and I do want to say Robin is included as well.

Uh uh his wife.

He has had a few roles with the city of Spartanberg, among those roles has been an inspector and engineer inspector.

Frank has been a valuable resource for other departments and has coached other city teammates, including uh city teammates acquiring various professional qualifications, both in building inspection and building maintenance.

In addition to building inspection, engineering public work, Frank was reserved, was a reserve police officer for a few years as well.

So you can see he's very well rounded.

Frank has a unique ability to communicate with contractors and has always been able to get the most out of every project.

So you can see the trouble when we have that ability to deal with the contractor.

Yeah, we already know how that goes.

Frank is a hard worker and has never shared away, shy away from a challenge or project.

Frank is true uh definition of kindness and compassion and has been true leader to the teammates in public work.

We wish Frank and his wife uh uh best wishes as they transition into their next journey.

So Frank, we do appreciate the time that you've served with us and been with us and on behalf of the city of Spartanburg outstanding service award, special special recognition to Frank Wilson for his dedication and commitment to the city of Spartanburg.

Uh what's that 3199 to January the 2nd, 2026?

I did give Frank the opportunity, uh the uh option to say a few words, and of course you can see he ran back to his feet.

We got the uh item nine proclamation declaring January the 12th uh 2026 at Spartanberg Alumni Chapter, a Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated Day.

So we have a few deltas here.

I'm not gonna say why uh Councilwoman Mayor Pro Tim wore her uh other colors, but so on behalf of the city of Sparnberg, you know, I do so just me personally appreciate all that uh all the divine uh plays a role in uh helping our young people and just volunteering as a whole, and especially when we see the deltas out quite often, quite often.

So with that being said, whereas Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated, founded in 1913 at Howard University, is a public service organization committed to promoting academic excellence, providing assistance to those in need, and advocating for social justice.

Whereas Sparnberg Alumni Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated, chartered on November the 18th, 1961, has served the Sparnberg community with distinction through programs to support educational development, international awareness, and involvement, physical and mental health awareness, economic development, and political awareness and involvement, and whereas the members of the Spartan Alumni Chapter has demonstrated unwavering dedication to uplifting the community through initiatives such as scholarship for local students, voter education drive, and partnering that strengthens families and neighborhoods.

And whereas the city of Sparnberg recognizes and commends the Spongebob Alumni Chapter for its outstanding contribution to civic engagement, leadership development, and service that enriches the lives of residents throughout the region.

Now, therefore, I Jerome Rice Jr.

by the virgin authority vested is me as mayor of the city of Sparnberg, and on behalf of my fellow city council members, do hereby proclaim the 12th day of January 2026 as Sponberg Alumni Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated Day.

So thank you.

On behalf of the Spineberg Learning chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated, we want to express our deepest gratitude for this recognition to my SORAS.

President, this honor belongs to all of us.

Nationally, we celebrate uh 113 years tomorrow of scholarship service and sisterhood and social action.

Our legacy of social action began at our very inception.

The first public act of our 22 founders was participating in the women's suffrage march of 1913.

Despite the risk of the time, our founders marched bravely for the right to vote, cementing our role as a sisterhood dedicated to social justice and political awareness.

That same spirit of activism has lived in the upstate for 64 years.

Since our chartering, the Spartan Burger Lemmy chapter has been a pillar of support for Spartanburg, Cherokee, and Union Counties.

Through our five-point programmatic thrust, we have remained on the front lines, mentoring our youth, providing thousands of dollars of scholarships, and advocating for the health and economic empowerment of our neighbors.

We don't just live in these communities, we are deeply invested in their future.

We accept this proclamation not just as an honor, but as a mandate to continue our work.

We remain committed to an uncompromising commitment to communities, service, leadership, and empowerment.

Thank you to the city of Spartanburg for recognizing 64 years of local impact and over a century of national service.

Let's move forward together with fortitude.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Consent agenda or 10, consent agenda.

A an ordinance authorizing the city manager execute documents for the transfer of city-owned property of Sparnberg County to facilitate the construction of the joint uh government center.

Do we need Mr.

Mayor?

I'll make a motion we approve the consent agenda.

Second.

All in favor?

Aye.

Any of that opposed?

Ayes have it.

B, read through the whole agenda.

The whole meeting.

You did A and B consent agenda.

Yes.

Good.

Thank you.

So item uh 11 resolution, resolution authorizing the city manager into a development agreement with Carolina Foothills Federal Credit Union for a location of the corporate headquarters and other matters related thereunto.

Mr.

Story, city manager.

Good evening, Mr.

Mayor, members of council.

This is an economic development item, but it's also uh an item that I think relates uh directly to some of our uh community development aims.

Uh this agreement that's before you um this resolution that would authorize me to execute this agreement uh would enable Spartanburg to become the corporate uh headquarters home for Carolina's Carolina Foothills Federal Credit Union.

Um that involves the relocation of uh uh approximately 20 uh well compensated white collar jobs to our community that in and of itself is positive.

It also involves investment in a facility uh on the west side of uh the city on WA I mean uh John B.

White Boulevard, um, and the construction of a new facility on the north side on North Church Street.

Um so collectively about a six million dollar investment and the in the in the presence of um additional white collar office.

It would become uh the uh first community development financial institution that is or other CDFI, we sometimes refer to them uh as um which is a unique financial uh uh uh it's a neat unique financial certification that the Department of Treasury uh gives to organizations that work um specifically uh to serve underserved communities and low-income individuals and help those those types of um clients meet their financial goals um and it would be the first to to be headquartered in Spartanburg.

Um and so we are thrilled about that.

We recommend uh your approval of this action.

Uh Carolina Foothills has had a long track record of partnering uh in and working in our community, notably uh uh deep engagement as part as a partner of the Northside Development Group and of the Power Up Initiative and other initiatives that are key to making sure our economic progress in this community is ever more widespread uh and inclusive and that we help uh folks along that economic mobility journey.

Um they've been a great partner in that, and we're thrilled uh uh upon your approval to to make this community uh their home base.

Recommend your approval.

Welcome any questions.

Any questions to Mr.

Story?

Yeah, yeah, Chris.

So you mentioned the the 20 jobs and the corporate relocation.

The investment that they are looking to make is what six million dollars?

Yes, roughly.

Six and they're they're they're building on church street, it would have to go by uh through the DRB, it would, and we've got uh uh