Community Development

We’re Better Together!

Jenn Hulehan Community Development, News, One Simpsonville

We’re better together! That’s my philosophy–one that’s shared by my friends at Greater Good Greenville . Tonight we gathered to celebrate the partnerships between elected officials and nonprofits, funders, and community. I am proud to have been an early guest with Katy Pugh Smith and Mark Steenback on the Simple Civics: Greenville County podcast. With 47,000 downloads, the podcast has been a great way to help people be more engaged with their local government. That’s a win in my book! But partnerships always are. When I ran for office in 2015, I called for improved partnerships and better collaboration. And here we are–working together, not just for a better Simpsonville, but for a better Greenville County. Here we are, working together for the greater good.

It’s always good to see my friends and partners from Habitat for Humanity of Greenville County (Noel Brooks & Gail Peay). We’re planning the Woodside Park neighborhood block party together to celebrate that successful partnership, which resulted in 13 new affordable homes in Simpsonville. We’re better together.

Raising the Wall on the last home in Woodside Mills

Jenn Hulehan Affordable Housing, Community Development, Promises Made, Promises Kept

“To give much is to receive much.” Tri-Sigma (my sorority)

“Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Luke 6:38 (NIV)

“I like to think of us as givers, so I know that when we receive a blessing, we’ll be able to pass it on.” Denny Salgado (future homeowner)

I have no doubt that’s true. All of it. In this case, the Salgado Family isn’t given a home, though. They earned it. What they were given was…

🏡 Opportunity.
🏡 Hope.
🏡 Support.

I talk about what we, Simpsonville, receive as a result of our partnership with Habitat for Humanity of Greenville County that brought the Salgado family to our city. Watch my full remarks at the Salgado family wall-raising here: https://youtu.be/wg68kUv5d8U

Honored to speak at the wall-raising for the Salgado family
With Noel Brooks of Habitat for Humanity Greenville

SBS Scavenger Hunt Prizes

Jenn Hulehan Chamber of Commerce, Community Development, Downtown, Economic Development

SBS Scavenger Hunt Prizes

🍕$25 gift card to Sidewall Pizza Company

🍺1885 Taproom is offering up FOUR $25 gift cards.

🍫$20 gift card to CocoBon Chocolatier.

💍Clark’s Fine Jewelers has donated a Ronaldo bracelet (valued at $225).

🏃‍♀️ Run In Simpsonville has provided a $50 gift card.

🧘‍♀️ Steppingstone Haven Yoga & Spiritual Sanctuary has donated a two-week pass plus one free reiki session.

👩‍⚕️ Horner Chiropractic has donated a free initial chiropractic visit.

💄Merle Norman has given a free deep cleaning facial, which includes a chemical peel ($150 value)

🚗 Upstate Auto Magic donated a $50 gift certificate.

📚Mathnasium Simpsonville has offered a free month of the Mathnasium program for a student 2nd-12th grade.

🍻Gift card or t-shirt to Clocktower Taproom & Billiards

🎸One Month of Lessons FREE from Musically Gifted Lesson and Recording Studios

🧘‍♀️Five Class Yoga Pass from Centered Yoga and Wellness

☕Starbucks Gift Card from Grace Internal Medicine

🐕‍🦺2 free days of doggie daycare from K-9 Corner

🎄A set of Christmas Vacation themed drink ware from The Tutoring Center.

🔨Nailed It DIY: Coupons for 25% off a project booking for all players and a $50 gift certificate for one lucky winner!

Meet us at the clock tower downtown Saturday, November 27th between 9 AM and 12 PM to get your playing card! You can also grab a Chick-fil-A biscuit (while supplies last) and some free swag to show your support of our small businesses!

MTP in 2022

Jenn Hulehan Arts, Community Development, Downtown, Economic Development, One Simpsonville, Progress, Promises Made, Promises Kept, Simpsonville Elementary

In 2022 our Simpsonville Arts Center will be home to the Mill Town Players! For less than the cost of a matinee at the local cinema, you’ll have access to quality and affordable live theater right here in the heart of Simpsonville.

This is one of many projects we’ve undertaken to enhance quality of life for our residents. Plus, MTP has a demonstrated ability to draw visitors from across the upstate. When people visit Simpsonville for entertainment, they also dine at our local restaurants; they might shop in our stores. This is good for our local economy, and it can bring in tax dollars from others that can help further enhance the quality of life for those who live here.

The Arts Center was our vision for the future back in 2015. In 2022, it will be our reality. When I ran for office, I quoted Henry Ford on several occasions: “If everyone is moving forward together, then success takes care of itself.” Since 2017, this Council has proven me and Henry right. I hope that over the next two years, we continue, to borrow a phrase from our City Administrator, “rowing in the same direction.” That’s how we avoid the mistakes of our predecessors and continue to promote economic opportunity; support neighborhood vitality; and commit to community and cultural programs and services while remaining fiscally responsible and providing first-rate services. It’s what Simpsonville deserves. #SimplyHome

Westwood Mini National Night Out

Jenn Hulehan Community Development, One Simpsonville, Police Department

We’re better together! Team effort last night to pull off an amazing event for our local community. Turnout was better than we expected, and we’re excited about the opportunity to make this an annual event at Alder Park! Thanks to everyone who worked on this event: SPD, SFD, Parks & Rec, Public Works, and my Council partner, Councilman Lou Hutchings! Also many thanks to our sponsors, including our local Food Lion, Burger King, Simpsonville Family Dentistry , and Realtor Jordan Johnson. It was great to see everyone and to serve our community together. #SimplyPublicService #SimplyHome

Habitat Women Build

Jenn Hulehan Affordable Housing, Community Development, Promises Made, Promises Kept

It was an honor to speak at the wall-raising ceremony (<– click for video) for the Habitat for Humanity of Greenville County Women Build here in Simpsonville’s Ward 3! Women Build. What do they build? Women build houses and homes and families and communities and neighborhoods. They build businesses and corporations and financial institutions. Women build this city, this country, the world. Women build each other up. Women build the future. Together. Let’s do this. #SimplyHome

New in Downtown

Jenn Hulehan Community Development, Downtown, Economic Development, Promises Made, Promises Kept

What’s new in downtown Simpsonville? Well, Sully’s Steamers should be open this January! Across the tracks, CocoBon Chocolatier and Run In will be joining Kaffeine Coffee Shop And Roastery, SmoQued BBQ, 1885 Taproom, & Sidewall Pizza Company at Burdette Central. CocoBon hopes to serving us their chocolate treats by Thanksgiving! And with all that other good food, it’s a good thing Run In plans to open the first week of October, so I can get some new shoes to walk it all off this fall! #SimplyHome

Senior Citizens Day

Jenn Hulehan Community Development, Parks & Recreation

Happy Senior Citizens Day! We appreciate all of our seniors who call Simpsonville #SimplyHome. You help make Simpsonville great.

Did you know: The Simpsonville Parks and Recreation Department offers many activities for senior adults like:

🕺 Line Dancing
♠️ Canasta
✝️ Bible Study
♦️Bridge
👯‍♀️ Shag/Ballroom Lessons
💃Zumba Gold
🔠 Competitive Scrabble
♣️ Poker
🚌 Field trips to area restaurants and events

Most of these activities are conveniently located at the Simpsonville Activity & Senior Center at 310 W. Curtis Street.

And our Senior Center is about to get even better! A grant of $350,000 has been awarded to the City by the SC Department on Aging for improvements to our Senior Center. These funds will be combined with our Community Development Block Grant funding in the amount of $300,000 in order to complete kitchen and community room renovations, and expansion of outdoor space off of the community room to allow for additional senior activities, including congregate dining. The design is underway, and construction is expected to begin in November, with completion in April of 2022.

Vision + Teamwork = We Can

Jenn Hulehan Community Development, Parks & Recreation, Progress, Promises Made, Promises Kept

Back when I (and others) originally started talking about a vision for the future of Simpsonville, there were those who said “you can’t” to every idea. When they said, “where will you get the money from,” we talked about things like grant funding. I repeatedly said that you have to have the vision first. From there, you work to find the funding. Since then, we have secured grant funding for many of our projects–from the Arts Center to the trail project. It turns out, when you have the vision and a team of people who believe in it, you can.

Speaking of grant funding, a grant of $350,000 has been awarded to the City by the SC Department on Aging for improvements to our Senior Center. These funds will be combined with our Community Development Block Grant funding in the amount of $300,000 in order to complete kitchen and community room renovations, and expansion of outdoor space off of the community room to allow for additional senior activities, including congregate dining. The design is underway, and construction is expected to begin in November, with completion in April of 2022. This space will be available for use by the general public when not being used for senior activities.