Fairfield County Government Complex

Community Facility

An historical building in downtown Winnsboro, S.C. that once served as an educational institution for college and high school students is undergoing renovations to become the new home of Fairfield County’s government services.

Currently many of the County’s offices are spread across different locations due to the lack of space its current complex location offers. The new building will allow the County to locate Administrative Services, Sherriff’s Department, 911 Call Center, and Parks & Recreation in a central location.

1st & Main development started working with Fairfield County to create plans to transform the historic Mt. Zion Institute School into a County Complex.
Rory Dowling, the principal for the development company, has close ties to the building and wanted to see it transformed into something that the community could benefit from.
“A few of my cousins went to school there and my grandmother also attended,” said Rory. “I know it would mean a lot to them and the town of Winnsboro if we reimagined the building and made it into something that the town could enjoy.”

Once completed, the new Fairfield County Government Complex will increase recreational offerings for the County’s residents and allow the County’s daycare services to expand.

The restored theatre on the property will serve as a production space for the local Players group, Rotary Club, Chamber of Commerce, etc. when it is not in used for Council Chambers. The historic teacherage building will be renovated into Fairfield County’s first Visitor’s Center.

Large scale projects like the Fairfield County Government Complex often require a variety of funding sources including tax credits and affordable short and long term capital. SCCLF contributed to the project with a $12 million New Market Tax Credit allocation. We also provided $3.5 million in additional funding in partnership with the The Reinvestment Fund.

“We are hoping that this new complex would attract more people to downtown Winnsboro which as a result will support the local businesses.”