Greenville County Historic & Natural Resources Trust

The path to funding

In late 2020, Greenville County Council voted unanimously to approve the Historic and Natural Resources Trust ordinance, the crucial first step in establishing the framework for a fund that will be used to protect land, historic resources, and parks — in turn helping our economy, health, quality of life, and the future of Greenville County. The Council also appointed a 12-member Board that began meeting immediately in preparation for getting to work.

However, in 2021, the first draft of the Greenville County budget allocated zero funding for the newly created HNRT, meaning the board was charged with the impossible task of protecting special historical and natural places in Greenville County with empty pockets. For several weeks, it looked as though the HNRT would spend its inaugural years without any funding at all.

Through a monumental effort, hundreds of residents, business leaders, nonprofits, and other key stakeholders sent letters, made phone calls, and showed up to meetings speaking on behalf of the HNRT. They convinced Council members, one by one, to support a budget amendment funding the Trust.

On June 20, 2021, citizens carrying green "Fund The Trust" signs packed the Council Chambers to show their elected officials that Greenville residents care deeply about responsible growth and the protection of historic and natural resources. The result was a huge success: Council members unanimously voted to commit $2 million over the next two years to the Greenville County Historic and Natural Resources Trust!