Greer CPW announced May 24 it received a $2 million grant from the Economic Development Administration to replace the pump station at the BMW Manufacturing Plant in Greer.
This grant follows a $500,000 grant from the S.C Rural Infrastructure Authority for this project, which was awarded in May 2020.
“This pump station is more than 25 years old and it was time for upgrades,” said Greer CPW engineering and planning manager Mark Harvey. “By receiving this grant money, we can make the much-needed repairs to ensure reliable and top-quality sewer utilities for BMW and the surrounding communities.”
The pump station, which is used to pump wastewater away from where the land does not allow for the natural flow of water, also serves areas northeast of the facility and south of I-85 west along Highway 101.
The total project is expected to cost $4.2 million and add a 14,000-foot extension of the existing force main from the current discharge point to the Maple Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant. The extension will remove the BMW station flow from the gravity line and may make it available to serve future growth north of BMW.
In addition, the EDA expects the pump station project will create 600 new jobs and generate $600 million in private investment.
“This is big news for our manufacturing and distribution cluster and helps Greer compete for the next generation of new projects,” said Greer Development Corporation executive director Reno Deaton. “Great infrastructure equals world-class companies and high paying jobs.”
Greer CPW plans to put the project out for bids in the next few weeks. Construction is expected to last approximately 15 months.
The utility provider also announced its finance department was awarded the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for the 2019 fiscal year from the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada.
“It is a great honor to receive this award,” said Greer CPW finance manager Angela Karcher. “While much of our work is known for keeping lights on and water running, it is also important to be transparent in how we spend customer dollars, cycle money back to infrastructure improvements and work to lower our long-term debt.”
This is the 15th consecutive year CPW has received this award and is the highest form of recognition in governmental accounting and financial reporting.
