Phase One of construction on Sumter Power Village underway

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) - As a development in Downtown Sumter continues, the first phase of a project called Sumter Power Village is currently underway.

“The goal is for the whole block to be technology-friendly, a tech village,” said Dr. Elayne Brunson, the developer of the Sumter Power Village.

The mixed-use development includes a business tech hub, where businesses in technology and art can work together in the same space.

Phase one will convert part of the property into a tech hub, featuring a vending cafe with Wi-Fi that can be rented out for private meetings and parties.

Dr. Brunson hopes to have phase one of the construction done by June.

“I feel this project is going to bring jobs to the community,” Dr. Brunson said, “It’s just going to be a cool place where the small business owner can collaborate potentially with other business owners.”

Other Sumter business owners said Sumter Power Village is another great addition to the development going on in Downtown Sumter.

They say business owners in the community are not just each other’s customers, but they’re also a tight-knit group.

“It’s remarkable; every time we get a new retailer that moves downtown, it just creates more energy,” said Stephanie Dowling, Owner of One Accord Women’s Apparel & Fine Art, “It’s exciting to be down here, and it’s exciting to be a tiny part of that.”

They feel that other businesses coming downtown will expand their family even more.

“It thrills me,” said Roy Flynn, Owner of Sumter Cut Rate Drug Store, LLC, “I live down here, my home is somewhere else, but South Sumter is where I live.”

Brunson says the whole Sumter Power Village project will cost roughly $10 million. She hopes to have the second phase of construction complete by Summer 2026.

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