South-Carolina
New report puts dollar figure on impact of infrastructure spending in SC
COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) – Billions of dollars in recent years have been spent on improving South Carolina’s roads, bridges, sewers, drinking water and even broadband.
A new report has found the payoff, in terms of dollars, has far exceeded those major infrastructure expenditures.
The study, conducted by economists at the University of South Carolina, determined infrastructure investments across South Carolina are expected to generate a $56.2 billion impact on the state’s economy over a seven-year period.
“Because of the growth that we’re seeing in South Carolina, infrastructure investments now provide a unique opportunity to invest in the future of this state and to ensure that we’re able to remain economically competitive,” Joey Von Nessen, a research economist at USC’s Darla Moore School of Business, who conducted the study, said.
The study weighed how these investments yield both short-term economic impacts, like money spent on construction and design work, and long-term, permanent benefits, like job creation and attracting new businesses.
Von Nessen said if the investment in South Carolina’s infrastructure continues at current levels, employment will permanently go up by as many as 157,000 additional jobs.
With about a quarter of all South Carolinians crossing county lines on their daily commutes, better infrastructure keeps the workforce working.
“For rural communities, infrastructure isn’t just about convenience; it’s about making connections,” South Carolina Rural Infrastructure Authority Executive Director Bonnie Ammons said.
The American Council of Engineering Companies of South Carolina commissioned the report — in part, it said, to show federal and state leaders the value of spending billions of dollars on infrastructure.
The study looks at the period from 2021 to 2027, during which South Carolina received massive influxes of one-time money from the federal government.
Much of that was specifically earmarked for infrastructure, and the General Assembly has added hundreds of millions more dollars to the effort in recent state budgets.
“I think there’s going to be a dialogue in DC about how we can maintain the investment that’s been made in there. I think there’s also a really big opportunity to look at how can we cut red tape, how can we cut the regulatory hurdles so we can deliver projects faster as a result,” South Carolina Secretary of Transportation Justin Powell said.
While money for road and bridge improvement comprises a significant portion of South Carolina’s infrastructure investments, this report also evaluated billions of dollars the state has spent and received in recent years on sewer and stormwater, drinking water and broadband.
This is the first time this study was conducted, and it focused mainly on money from the federal government, along with allocations from the state’s General Assembly for roads.
The group that commissioned it plans to update the report in future years, with more data from other forms of state funding and even local dollars.
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NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCIV) — North Charleston police are investigating an incident on Interstate 26 West near Aviation Avenue, according to a report from local authorities.
I-26 westbound will be completely closed between Remount Road and Eagle Drive, police said.
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Drivers are encouraged to find an alternate route. Those currently on the roadway were turned around.
On Thursday, South Carolina managed to flip four-star EDGE Julian Walker from the Michigan Wolverines. The new Gamecock pledge then signed his paperwork to make things official with USC.
In South Carolina’s 2026 signing class, Walker (No. 72 nationally in the Rival Industry Ranking and No. 26 nationally in the Rivals300) ranks behind only Darius Gray (No. 45) in the Rival Industry Ranking and behind only Zyon Guiles (No. 24) in the Rivals300. Ranked 26th, he is also within future five-star range in the Rivals300.
The (second day of) Signing Day pilfering made national recruiting waves. In fact, Rivals’ Greg Smith called the flip one of college football’s best in the class of 2026. Walker’s Michigan-to-South-Carolina swap was one of Smith’s six biggest flips of the cycle.
Walker’s choice primarily came down to the Wolverines and the Gamecocks, but the North Carolina Tar Heels got involved late. His high school coach, Tom Knotts, even said that head coach Bill Belichick was “throwing money at him.”
In the end, though, relationships with South Carolina won out. Walker’s father, Jamil Walker, is on the strength staff at USC. Head coach Shane Beamer, defensive ends/outside linebackers coach Sterling Lucas, and defensive line coach Travian Robertson all have strong relationships with the dynamic pass rusher.
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A product of Dutch Fork High School just outside of Columbia, Walker will get to stay home with the Gamecocks. At 6-6 and 255 pounds, he could be a candidate to play early, though he has considerable developmental upside, too.
On Saturday, two days after his signing, Walker wrapped up a state championship season with the Silver Foxes. He was arguably the player of the game, as he logged three sacks and a defensive touchdown against Summerville.
Walker’s next time on a field will be in garnet and black. He will be part of a group of EDGE players looking to help replace the production of graduates Bryan Thomas Jr., JT Geer, and Demon Clowney.
Rising junior Dylan Stewart, rising senior Desmond Umeozulu, rising sophomore Jaylen Brown, and rising redshirt freshmen Jaquavious Dodd, Anthony Addison, and Kobby Sakyi-Prah all have eligibility remaining in the room. Redshirt senior George Wilson is also expected to apply for an additional year after an injury sidelined him for all of 2025.
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Meechie Johnson scored 17 points and South Carolina beat Stetson 82-51 on Saturday.
Johnson made all five of his field-goal attempts, including two 3-pointers, and all five free throws while also handing out four assists. Grant Polk made 4 of 6 3-pointers and scored 12 points. Elijah Strong had a pair of 3s and 12 points for the Gamecocks (6-3), who shot 55%, including 44% from the arc (12 of 27).
Collin Kuhl, Ethan Copeland and Jamie Phillips Jr. scored 10 points apiece for the Hatters (3-8), who lost their fifth straight after shooting 32% and making just 4 of 21 3-pointers.
Stetson scored the first five points before South Carolina went on a 18-4 run capped by consecutive 3-pointers by Strong and the Gamecocks led the rest of the way. They finished the first half on an 18-3 run with Johnson scoring the final six points with a three-point play and a 3-pointer for a 43-24 lead.
The Gamecocks remained comfortably ahead in the second half, taking their largest lead of 33 with under three minutes to go.
Up next
Stetson is home against Rhodes College on Dec. 15.
South Carolina is home against The Citadel next Saturday.
Copyright 2025 WCSC. All rights reserved.
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