By Delayna Earley
The Island News
A long-discussed convocation center at the University of South Carolina Beaufort’s Bluffton campus cleared a key hurdle Monday, March 23, as Beaufort County Council voted 6-5 to commit $11.1 million to the project despite a prior deadlock at the committee level.
The funding falls well short of the $47 million university officials initially requested, but supporters framed it as a critical step toward moving the more than $100 million project forward.
“We have to look forward to see what we expect to be happening here and then provide the support that’s necessary for this university to thrive,” Councilman Larry McElynn said. “I really believe this will pay benefits to us all in the future as we go forward.”
The first phase of the project includes a 5,000-seat arena and a sports complex with baseball, softball and track facilities.
University leaders have already secured $47 million in state funding, but a significant gap remains.
Council’s vote came after the Finance, Administration and Economic Development Committee split 4-4 on the same proposal the week prior.
The approved plan combines $9.5 million originally set aside for a law enforcement bond with about $1.6 million in projected tax revenue growth.
Supporters described the investment as a long-term economic and community asset, pointing to the facility’s potential to host concerts, graduations and regional events.
Some also noted the building would be designed to withstand a Category 5 hurricane, making it a potential emergency asset.
“This is going to be the hub of our community,” Councilman Joe Passiment said.
Opponents, however, questioned whether the county should redirect funds from other priorities toward a project that is not yet fully funded.
“This is [the] people’s money. We should ask them how they want us to spend it instead of just doing it,” Vice Chair Anna Maria Tabernik said during earlier discussions, suggesting a referendum.
Councilman Logan Cunningham also raised concerns about committing local dollars while infrastructure needs remain unmet.
The split vote reflected a broader agreement on the project’s potential, but sharp disagreement over timing and funding priorities.
USCB Chancellor Al Panu, who addressed council ahead of the vote, called the decision encouraging and said it will help the university move into its next phase of planning.
The funding is not yet finalized. County officials must still bring forward and approve a bond ordinance amendment to formally reallocate the $9.5 million tied to the law enforcement project.
Even with the county’s contribution, university leaders will need to secure tens of millions more to fully fund the development.
For now, though, the vote signals something that had been uncertain just days earlier: the project is moving forward, even if the path to completion is still taking shape.
Delayna Earley, who joined The Island News in 2022, formerly worked as a photojournalist for The Island Packet/The Beaufort Gazette, as well as newspapers in Indiana and Virginia. She can be reached at delayna.theislandnews@gmail.com.