Municipal Association Executive Director Todd Glover, left, presents an Achievement Award trophy for Population 1 — 1,000 Category to Lowrys Mayor Joseph Wilson during the 2021 Annual Meeting on Hilton Head Island. (download image)
The Town of Lowrys has received a Municipal Achievement Award for its town hall renovation. The town won in the 1 – 1,000 population category. Twenty-seven cities and towns submitted their projects and initiatives for consideration in the annual awards.
In need of a permanent location to conduct its business, the Town of Lowrys transformed a former doctor’s office that it already owned to create a new town hall and meeting space. It renovated the structure, dating to 1949, leveraging a Hometown Economic Development Grant from the Municipal Association.
The facility now has office and meeting space, as well as rotating art installations in its lobby. It also features dedicated display space for artifacts from the town’s history, including items from the town’s former school, post office and train depot. The renovations added new parking and landscaping. While the town hall provides a central location for handling rentals of the town’s community center and organization for the iconic Lowrys Christmas Parade, it is also a meeting location for other small groups. Since moving council meetings to the facility, public engagement has increased substantially.
The town hall comes alongside other valuable upgrades to the local government’s services, including a part-time assistant to answer questions and maintain the town website. Other recent improvements include a successful grant application to improve handicapped accessibility at its community building and approval for a park project funded by a capital project sales tax.
“Officials in Lowrys leveraged grants and town resources to streamline services and consolidate its operations in a new town hall, while also showcasing its community history,” said Todd Glover, executive director for the Municipal Association.
These winning entries represent innovative projects undertaken by Municipal Association member cities and towns. Information and a video about the project are available on the Association’s website accessible by visiting www.masc.sc (keyword: Achievement Awards).
The Municipal Association of SC initiated the Achievement Awards in 1987 to recognize and encourage innovations and excellence in local government.
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