Phase 1: Establish Foundation & Framework – 40% Complete
Key activities are well underway. A website has been launched to build awareness and encourage community participation. SSI is conducting research on community demographics, the building’s historical significance, and the cotton ginning industry of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
In September, SSI will begin documenting gaps in community services that might be addressed by repurposing the Cotton Gin building. We also look forward to engaging directly with residents at Varnville City Fun Day, where we will share initial ideas and gather broader community input.
To support this effort, SSI has commissioned a local artist to create an impressionistic oil painting of the Cotton Gin building as it appeared in its operational days. This painting is targeted to be completed and available at the Varnville City Fun Day festival.
SSI completed two trips to Varnville, one for the kick-off meeting and the other to attend and present at the Varnville City Council meeting.
Phase 2: Define Alternatives – 10% Complete
While additional community input is needed to confirm service gaps and priority functions, SSI has started framing potential uses for the repurposed facility. All alternatives under consideration include:
- A literacy center for tutoring both children and adults,
- A multi-use event space with senior programs, arts and crafts, and other educational offerings,
- Three broad alternatives based on space requirements:
- Incorporating a commercial kitchen,
- Establishing a small spirits production facility,
- Using the entire space for training and events.
Phase 3: Develop and Evaluate Preferred Option – Not Yet Initiated
Status Against Project Scope (Activities)
Phase 1: Establish Foundation & Framework (July – October 2025)
Activities
- Clarify and confirm project scope, objectives, and goals.
Status: Completed on 8-12-25 via attending the Varnville Town Council meeting and the kick-off meeting (July 25th). Documented within the website.
- Gather baseline data on demographics, economy, zoning, and tourism potential.
Status: Have initiated documentation of Demographics (40% Complete)
- Identify and involve stakeholders
Status: Created Excel sheets that currently have X # stakeholders identified. Listed all churches within Varnville City, Museums within Varnville and Hampton County, started a list of all businesses registered within Varnville City, Educational and medical within Hampton County, Commercial kitchens within 150 miles of Varnville and specific individuals (e.g., Varnville Mayor and town council), etc. (40% Complete)
- Gather historic photos of the Gin and Lowcountry culture.
Status: Contacted museums located within Hampton County (60% Complete)
- Identify potential partners (Hampton County School District (HCSD), University of South Carolina (USC) Salkehatchie, Technical College of the Lowcountry (TCL), South Carolina (SC) Works, industries, nonprofits, youth organizations)
Status: Have initiated documentation of contact information
- Perform market demand analysis.
Status: Have not started (0% Complete)
- Demographics, income, employment
Status: Documented based on internet searches, but has not been confirmed with the Varnville City. (60% Complete)
- Gaps in services such as retail, childcare, training, nutrition, and education.
Status: Initiated, estimate (20% complete)
- Competition and demand drivers (tourism, underserved needs)
Status: Initiated, associated with Education, estimate (20% complete)
- Create and launch a survey to help engage stakeholders and gather market research.
Status: Completed, launched 8-22-25 (100% Complete)
- Document bounding functions and requirements
Status: Being developed as alternatives are identified, estimate (30% complete)
- Create a project website to promote transparency, encourage community involvement, and facilitate information sharing.
Status: Completed, launched 8-22-25 (100% Complete)
- Attend Varnville City Fun Day, a small-town celebration, to help engage general stakeholders.
Status: Confirmed space for enabling a 10 x 10 booth to be set up and providing information associated with the study to festival attendees (5% Complete)
Deliverables
- Stakeholder List & Engagement Notes
Status: List being developed (as noted above), Minimal engagement notes documented since haven’t stated contacting individuals and organizations (30% Complete)
- Baseline data report (demographics, economy, zoning, tourism)
Status: Started documentation in separate files but not into a report format yet (10% complete)
- Website live with project overview, timeline, surveys, flyer, and updates.
Status: Completed, launched 8-22-25 (100% Complete)
Phase 2: Define Alternatives (August – December 2025)
Activities
- Conduct at least two listening sessions and stakeholder workshops
Status: In process of establishing dates, post distribution of flyers, and Sept 27th Festival (5% Complete)
- Identify 3–5 realistic adaptive reuse options (e.g., Workforce Hub, Heritage Museum, Business Incubator, Food Innovation Center, Training Center, Distillery).
Status: In development of three alternatives, rough layouts have been created, including equipment (20% complete)
- Estimate square footage & target audiences
Status: Rough layouts within square footage for three alternatives have been completed, and target audiences identified (40% Complete)
Status of Remaining Phase 2 Activities: Minimal documentation, verbal discussions have occurred
- Define services and community/economic value
- Develop ROM for capital and operating costs for each alternative.
- Forecast ROM revenue sources (leases, sales, rentals, grants, donors)
- Conduct financial analysis of 10-year ROM cash flows
- Assess the economic and social impact (such as jobs created, households served, and ripple effects)
- Identify funding and financing options (grants, public-private partnerships, tax credits, debt options)
- Prepare a business case for each alternative.
- Risk assessment and handling strategies
- Executive summary, space allocation strategies, and cost/revenue models
Deliverables
- Stakeholder Workshop Summaries
- Conceptual design packages for alternatives.
Status: Initiated, <20% Complete
- ROM Cost and Revenue Projections
- Risk Assessment Report
- Business cases for each alternative
Phase 3 Status: Have not started any activities within Phase 3
Phase 3: Evaluation & Recommendation (January – March 2026)
Activities
- Engage key stakeholders to reduce options to the top three.
- Verify that requirements are met.
- Develop evaluation criteria (economic, cultural, sustainability)
- Implement the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) modeling
- Pairwise comparisons
- Sensitivity analysis
- Prepare the final recommendation report with a ranked portfolio.
- Hold an in-person briefing with Town leadership and stakeholders.
Deliverables
- AHP Decision Models and Documentation
- Draft Feasibility Study (February 2026)
- Final Feasibility Study with Implementation Roadmap (March 2026)
- In-person briefing for Varnville town leadership
Ongoing Deliverables (July 2025 – March 2026)
- Biweekly & Monthly Status Reports
- Stakeholder engagement reports
- Website updates on progress, surveys, and documents.
Final Completion: March 2026
- Final report delivered and presented
- Stakeholders validate recommendations
- Study concludes with a roadmap for implementation