The Town of Bowman received the 2023 Award of Excellence from the South Carolina Community Development Association for its remodeled medical center and new library. This annual award recognizes community development projects which have significantly improved the community and served as catalysts for further improvements to the area’s quality of life. The SCCDA board of directors chooses three finalists to present their projects to the meeting attendees, then meeting attendees score each of the finalists, resulting in the winner.
After Bowman’s town doctor decided to retire following a 35-year career, the community was left without any medical office. Additionally, the town public school was moved outside of the city limits and the only grocery store was destroyed by fire. Several anchors of the community disappeared in a matter of just a few years.
To replace the medical needs of the town, the town reached out to the RMC Hospital Group who took over the existing Bowman Medical Facility. RMC remodeled and reopened the medical office, providing nearby medical care for Bowman residents, many of whom are elderly and have difficulty traveling long distances. The Medical University of South Carolina is now operating the medical center.
The library began with a lump sum of money from the state, and the town later entered into a partnership with the state and the Bethune Bowman School to fund the new library building. The library sees a high amount of traffic and will likely add summer programs for the local children.
“City officials worked with community partners to bring much- needed resources to the town for its residents of all ages. This is community development at its core,” said Sara Whitaker, staff associate for the SC Community Development Association.
The SC Community Development Association is an affiliate program of the Municipal Association of SC that provides a forum for learning about the community development process. Its members include municipal, county, regional and state community development professionals; employees of private companies with an interest in community development; as well as elected officials and volunteers.
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