Fort Mill Academic Hub gets $1 million, to offer education opportunities

ROCK HILL, S.C. — There’s new money for schools, cities and law enforcement across South Carolina counties in the Channel 9 viewing area.

The future Fort Mill Academic Hub is getting $1 million.

A few months ago, Channel 9 reported the education hub would be built in downtown Fort Mill, creating a place where people of all ages can learn.

“The cost of college after high school has been going up for many years now,” said Fort Mill Schools spokesperson Joe Burke.

In May, Channel 9 reported that Winthrop University is preparing to open a new campus in downtown Fort Mill. It will offer educational opportunities for people of all ages, including Fort Mill High School students, who want to get a head start on college.

“So, for the dual enrollment piece of this, it is really important for our students. No. 1, it gives them an opportunity to go ahead and take some of those college credit courses before they even get into college,” Burke said.

Gov. Henry McMaster signed a bill this week that will give one million in surplus dollars to the project. Rep. David Martin, R-York, pushed for the funding.

Martin said the goal is to get students involved in AI and engineering projects.

The bill also gave millions to other local projects, including:

$4 million to renovate the Moss Justice Detention Center in York County.$1 million for a new Clover Police headquarters.$1.1 million for Lancaster’s Lindsay Pettus Greenway.

$750,000 for maintenance and equipment at the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office.

“I think that just talks about the leadership that we have and the ability to work together to bring resources back to York County,” Martin said.

The campus will also feature a childhood development program and adult learning opportunities.

It could open by fall 2027.

The funding bill was removed from South Carolina’s budget and approved separately.

No nonprofits received any direct funding from it.

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