Councilwoman: HBCUs key in Orangeburg growth

Orangeburg City Councilwoman Annette Grevious speaks to Panther reporters.

 A 23-year resident of Orangeburg and Claflin faculty member said she was driven by a desire to address growth potential when she ran for and was elected to Orangeburg City Council in 2023.

In a session with Claflin student reporters on Feb. 20, Annette Grievous highlighted the city's two HBCUs and the need for development. She cited the importance of attracting new businesses and the role of public art projects such as the "Uniting Orangeburg Through Art" initiative. She emphasized the need for city promotion to include local universities and encouraged student participation in local elections to influence city governance.

“I wanted to be a part of the growth,” said Grievous, a tenured, associate professor of speech and drama and professional actress.

Grevious said Orangeburg is a community wanting growth. The people want new places to eat, shop and do other activities.

“The challenge is finding someone to sell the city,” Grevious said.

Too many people in Orangeburg believe there is no change being made and not many things are going on. Not so, Grievous said.

“There are a lot of new businesses coming in,” Grevious said. Recently, Orangeburg has gotten a Krystal, a new place for fast food. There is also talk of a Jersey Mike’s coming, a Longhorn Steakhouse, new development of homes, etc.

“Someone has to be able to sustain a business,” Grevious said.

Grevious said the city is working to beautify itself. “Uniting Orangeburg Through Art” is a public project working to have the community come together and make Orangeburg better.

“There are things happening that we cannot see,” Grevious said.

Orangeburg is primed for growth, and its two HBCUS -- Claflin University and South Carolina State University – and their large student populations are a key reason.

Orangeburg can effectively promote Claflin and SC State as key components of the city's story and identity, Grievous said. The city cannot promote itself effectively without prominently featuring the two institutions.

She said the city should:

-- Showcase the large student population from the HBCUs as a significant part of the city's demographics, which can attract businesses looking to cater to that market.

-- Promote the universities' academic programs, research and community engagement as assets that can benefit new businesses and residents looking to locate in Orangeburg.

-- Partner with the universities on joint initiatives, events and development projects that showcase the city-university collaboration.

The goal should be to tightly integrate the HBCUs into the city's overall branding and marketing efforts to leverage their presence and reputation to attract new investment and residents to Orangeburg, Grievous said.

Grevious told students that their voices matter and they are important, especially because they are a major portion of the city’s population. Students should register to vote and participate in local elections.

Grievous said the city should:

-- Coordinate with the universities to provide voter registration drives and information sessions on campus, making it convenient for students to register.

-- Ensure the city promotes election dates and deadlines well in advance, so students can plan accordingly.

-- Engage student government associations and other campus organizations to help spread awareness and encourage student voter participation.

-- Highlight how local elected officials and policies directly impact the universities and student life in Orangeburg.

 The key is to make the process accessible and emphasize the students' ability to shape the future of their community through civic engagement, she said.