Anderson County, S.C. (May 21, 2024) – The Town of Honea Path has been awarded a $2,650,770 grant from the US Environmental Protection Agency for environmental remediation and cleanup efforts at the Historic Chiquola Mill site. The funding was awarded under the auspices of the Federal government’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) of 2021. Honea Path is one of only 35 cleanup grant recipients in the southeast, and the grant amount awarded to the project is the fourth highest in the region.
Cleanup efforts will be supplemented by a $1 million redevelopment site grant from the State of South Carolina sponsored by State Senator Michael W. Gambrell and State Representative Jay West. Anderson County is serving as a project partner and is providing technical support and other resources toward the redevelopment effort.
“This is a monumental day for our Town and our community,” said Honea Path Mayor Christopher Burton. “Almost all of our residents have ties to the Chiquola Mill, and we are committed to helping the site become something that will help Honea Path usher in a new era of prosperity.”
“Small towns like Honea Path are the backbone of South Carolina, and promoting revitalization efforts in these areas makes for a more prosperous community for us all,” said Rep. Jay West. “I am proud to have been part of this effort and can’t wait to see what the future brings!”
“Renewal of the Chiquola site has been a top priority here since the day the mill closed its doors for good, and now the time has come when we can finally celebrate what the future holds in store,” said Sen. Michael W. Gambrell.
“Honea Path is a very unique, very resilient community with some of the best people you’ll find anywhere,” said Anderson County Councilmember Cindy Wilson. “I am so proud of them today—they truly deserve to have this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
According to Stantec, the site’s environmental consulting firm, cleanup activities will include removing approximately 10,750 tons of asbestos-containing materials found in debris piles and the remnants of onsite structures. It will also include removing approximately 6,500 cubic yards of contaminated soil. In the area of soil removal, a demarcation barrier will be installed, and the area will be backfilled to grade with 1-1.5 feet of clay and 0.5-1 foot of topsoil.
Chiquola Manufacturing (later Springs Industries) developed a textile mill on the property in the early 1900s. Its operations included spinning, carding, and weaving. it remained the town’s largest employer until its closure in 2003, and it provided work for thousands in this region over several generations. As such, the site has always been an integral part of Honea Path’s geography and character. Local, state, and community leaders have pledged to work together to ensure that redevelopment efforts will serve the greater good in much the same way as the Chiquola Mill did in its lifetime.
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