''Come INN Strong'' Campaign to Support Downtown Business During Streetscape Construction

CommunityEconomicGeneral News ArticlePress Release

 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 2, 2025
City of Fountain Inn Launches “Come INN Strong” Campaign to Support Downtown Businesses During Streetscape Construction
 
Fountain Inn, SC – The City of Fountain Inn is calling on residents and visitors to rally behind our beloved downtown businesses during the ongoing Main Street Streetscape Project. While construction is improving the heart of our community, local businesses are experiencing reduced foot traffic due to limited access and lane closures.

To show support, the City is launching the “Come INN Strong” campaign, currently encouraging everyone to “Rock the Clock” Wednesday, May 7 through Friday, May 9.  The Clock Drive-In, 300 S. Main Street, Fountain Inn, is open Monday-Friday 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM.  Additional businesses will be highlighted in coming weeks. We invite everyone to visit downtown, grab lunch, shop, and experience the charm of our small businesses—even if it means some minor inconveniences.

The Streetscape Project, which kicked off in March 2025, is being completed in 100-foot increments, one side of Main Street at a time. The city and our construction partner, AOS, are working closely with local businesses to minimize disruption and maintain customer access. However, with weather delays and other unforeseen circumstances, minor adjustments to the schedule are sometimes necessary. The full project is still on track to be completed by November 2025.

The South Main Streetscape Project is an important step in bringing the community’s shared vision to life. This project, which will enhance South Main Street from Jones Street to Highway 418, is a strategic investment and foundational component of the INNvision 2024 Comprehensive Plan. Developed through extensive public input, the INNvision Plan serves as a guide for land use, infrastructure, and community investment decisions.  The plan is authorized by South Carolina’s Comprehensive Planning Enabling Act and carries a thirty-year time horizon, with required reevaluation every five years and updates every ten years.

As part of this plan, the Streetscape Project is designed to extend the walkable, vibrant feel of our downtown further south—connecting more businesses, neighborhoods, and destinations through improved accessibility and aesthetic enhancements. Downtown Fountain Inn already benefits from a pedestrian-friendly grid, and this project will build on that foundation by making it easier and more enjoyable to navigate South Main Street. While we recognize that construction may cause temporary disruption, the long-term benefits are significant. This project not only supports the businesses currently impacted but also aligns with our commitment to creating a thriving, people-focused downtown.

During this construction time, we encourage residents to get to know the South Main businesses that are currently impacted but always make our downtown special.

“Businesses like this are the soul of our Main Street,” said City Administrator, Shawn Bell, “and while construction is a short-term inconvenience, the long-term benefits will be transformational. We just need to show our support and loyalty now more than ever.”

Let’s show up, shop small, and come INN strong. Together, we can ensure these businesses thrive—before, during, and after the Streetscape transformation.
 

''Come INN Strong'' Campaign to Support Downtown Business During Streetscape Construction