The city of Newberry is “exceeding expectations by every number and every initiative,” according to Mayor Tim Marden during the city’s annual State of the City address on Thursday.
Following the “Taste of Newberry” precursor featuring food from local restaurants, around 100 citizens, city staff, county commissioners and state legislators gathered in the Mentholee Norfleet Municipal building for the address.
Annah McGehee, chair of the Mayor’s Youth Council and Newberry High School junior, introduced Marden to the stage, where he distributed Community Champion Challenge coins to city staff for various accolades and guided attendees through a series of videos prepared by each city commissioner.
The videos provided updates on completed and upcoming city projects like Champions Park, the F-300 AgFoodTech Innovation Park, transportation and the Newberry Charter School, all which Marden said made Newberry a place every municipality wants to be like.
“Growing pains are better than shrinking pains for a community,” Marden said. “I do not apologize for being a successful community. I wear it proudly as a sign we are doing something right for our families, for ourselves and our community yesterday, today and tomorrow.”
Commissioner Donald Long said in a video that Newberry public works is planning significant upgrades across its park system, including at Champions Park, which the city took back control over last fall after its contract with RADD Sports expired.
Long said the city renovated the Freddie Warmack Center and would expand its surrounding park.
Commissioner Mark Clark detailed the Memorial Day 2025 opening of the Veterans Memorial at Lois Forte Park, which will also receive enhancements. The new Mayor’s Youth Council will be in charge of all veterans events to help connect the older and younger generations.
Marden said the city put its tax dollars to work in the Community Redevelopment District, giving facade grants to local businesses like Pabst Primary Care and highlighting its historic district with street markings and signs.
Commissioner Monty Farnsworth said the city recently established the Newberry Historical Association for collecting, preserving and sharing its history, such as the original light generation plant.
He said the city secured a $500,000 grant to begin restoring the plant where Newberry used to power its homes and businesses. A “Reignite the Light” benefit dinner on March 26 will continue raising money for the renovation.
Farnsworth also said the city would turn the Little Red School House into a museum and continue preserving its oldest commercial buildings so that Newberry will not be at risk of being forgotten.
“Preserving our history is not about looking backward. It’s about grounding ourselves as we move forward,” he said. “It gives us pride, stability and a shared understanding of who we are. It reminds us that Newberry is a city with roots, with stories and with a heritage.”
Marden shared that crews will break ground on the F-300 AgFoodTech Innovation Park this year, already with a $132 million investment from Harvest Singularity for two hydroponic greenhouses and $5.6 million Jobs Growth Grant from the state.
Each hydroponic greenhouse will create over 50 new jobs paying an average annual wage of $91,000 and produce four tons of non-genetically modified and organic leafy greens every day.
Commissioner Tony Mazon said the city also completed one of its largest roadway projects ever with a $2.4 million reconstruction of SW 15th Avenue near Newberry Elementary School and that construction of two-way pairs connecting 1st Avenue with State Road 27 would begin this year.
Recognition of Newberry Charter School board members and leadership bookended the address.
Marden asked people to support it with their time, money and prayers as the controversial school, approved by the state in September, is slated to open in August.
“This is a school that will finally be run by a board from our community, and will be able to focus on education, not agenda, kids not adult fantasy, in a disciplined environment where teachers can finally be teachers,” he said.
After years of dark skies, Marden also said the city is bringing back Fourth of July fireworks in time for America’s 250th birthday. The fireworks will be near the CountryWay TownSquare and sponsored by the Norfleet and Green families and Edward Jones.
Marden got emotional concluding the address for Newberry, which he said is the only place he wants to be mayor of.
“Newberry is our home, where we choose to raise our families, where we plant our flag, where we go to work and where we go to church,” Marden said through tears. “Here we embrace the freedom of rugged individualism that built America into the greatest country on earth and reject the stifling false hope and promises of collectivism that undermines her. Happy 250th birthday, America. We believe in America. We believe in Newberry, because the state of Newberry is strong.”