COLUMBIA (The Post and Courier Columbia) — Crews have officially broken ground on the largest office development in downtown in decades, as one of the city’s largest financial institutions plans to expand.

Palmetto Citizens Credit Union held a groundbreaking ceremony on April 15 at the site of the credit union’s future headquarters at the corner of Lady and Sumter streets.

Gov. Henry McMaster, Columbia Mayor Daniel Rickenmann and representatives from Richland County, Columbia City Council and the Columbia Chamber of Commerce led the ceremony.

“It's the Midlands’ time,” Rickenmann said at the ceremony. “It's our time. We know who we are. We’re the capital city, the capital region, and we’re so excited about all the investment that’s happening here.”

The site was cleared for Palmetto Citizens’ 100,000-square-foot, five-story headquarters beginning in January. Crews have compacted and leveled soil on the site — causing nearby buildings to shake — outlining the rectangular footprint of the future building.

The new building will allow the credit union to consolidate its 300-plus workforce under one roof from locations scattered across the Columbia area.

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