Hartsville chamber to get major renovation
By ARDIE ARVIDSON
The Greater Hartsville Chamber of Commerce will get a $150,000 to $200,000 renovation to its offices in the Center Theater, chamber officials said.
John Isgett, chairman of the chamber Board of Directors, and Roger Schrum, past chair, made the announcement during a Business After Hours event at the chamber Thursday.
Schrum said the project, a brainchild of former board member Gordon McBride, will include a new conference room for use by the chamber board and the community, new office space, technology and utility upgrades, refurbishing of existing offices and entry.
On the left side of the ground floor of the theater, where the Darlington County Tourism Office is currently housed, that office and another rental space will be turned into a new conference room with a kitchen and new restrooms.
“The conference room is a member benefit,” Isgett said. “This represents a strong return on the investment.”
The existing conference room will be divided into two offices which will house the new tourism office and a rental space.
Bill Segars has been retained as the contractor for the project.
Schrum said the upgrades will bring the chamber into the 21st century.
He said the Center Theater Building Commission is stepping up to help with some of the cost. One-third will come from a capital campaign and another third from funds already designated for chamber improvements.
Schrum said he anticipates it taking about six months to raise the funds needed and work on the renovation should begin in the fourth quarter of this year.