NorthMark is giving $1 million to Spartanburg County organizations. Here's who's getting it
SPARTANBURG — As the contentious data center with its attached 457-megawatt natural gas power plant is being built on Pine Street, the company behind it is trying to generate some goodwill with the community with $1 million in donations.
The data center, which Spartanburg County lured with tax breaks, has generated community opposition from residents worried about the potential for noise and air pollution at the site. The company maintains that its emissions will be within state regulations and that it will work with the county to mitigate the noise of its turbines.
It recently won one legal battle after the Public Service Commission agreed that the state's Siting Act — which requires producers of more than 75 megawatts to get permission first — did not apply because it wasn't putting power into the grid.
It faces another battle in state court over whether Spartanburg County properly treated it as a minor development instead of a major one , which would have required approval by the county planning commission.
And the Southern Environmental Law Center is fighting for changes to the Department of Environmental Services' draft permit for the data center's natural gas turbines.
Amid the turbulence, NorthMark Compute and Cloud has run advertisements promoting the cleanup it's doing at the former Kohler plant and announced this week that it's giving away $1 million to Spartanburg County educational organizations.
"Spartanburg is not simply where NMC2 is building, it is a community we are proud to be part of," Chief Operating Officer Mark Johnson said in a news release. "Our commitment is to invest in people, skills and partnerships that create opportunity and make a lasting difference."
Spartanburg Community College , the Spartanburg Science Center and the Middle Tyger Education Center are each getting $275,000. The remaining money is being doled out to organizations chosen by employees.
"NorthMark Compute and Cloud's investment reflects confidence in Spartanburg Community College's leadership and mission to expand opportunity, develop a highly skilled workforce, and drive economic prosperity," Michael Mikota, president of Spartanburg Community College, said in a college news release. "Together, we are creating pathways to success for students, supporting the growth of employers, and strengthening the future of our region."
The donation kicks off the company's fundraising campaign, with quarterly donations of $250,000 to $500,000 coming in the future, NorthMark spokesperson Sarah Knox said.
The charitable program is meant to promote STEM education, workforce development, public safety and resources stewardship, according to NorthMark's news release.
Spartanburg Science Center Executive Director Amanda Richardson said the donation will fund new tools and updates to the space to allow for more hands-on science.
"That's the whole point of what we do, and this investment lets us do more of it," Richardson said.
At the newly opened Middle Tyger Education Center in Duncan, the money will be used to create engaging learning environments where children can foster an interest in STEM education.
"We are deeply grateful that NMC2 recognizes early childhood education as the foundation for developing Spartanburg's future thinkers, creators and leaders," Middle Tyger Community Center Executive Director Haley Grau said in the news release.
NorthMark said it will also encourage its employees to contribute their time and knowledge through volunteer service, mentoring, STEM outreach and nonprofit leadership.
