As City Administrator, I am deeply proud to acknowledge the exceptional work and national recognition achieved by the Fountain Inn Natural Gas (FING) Department under the leadership of our Gas Director, Eduardo Noriega. Serving over 12,600 customers, FING continues to exemplify excellence, innovation, and commitment to safety and service in every aspect of its operations.

Recently, FING was honored with the System Operational Achievement Recognition (SOAR) award by the American Public Gas Association (APGA)—a prestigious award reserved for public natural gas systems that demonstrate superior performance in key areas, including system integrity, improvement, employee safety, and workforce development.

Of the 750 APGA member systems across the country, only 16 were selected as SOAR recipients in 2025. Fountain Inn Natural Gas proudly stands among this elite group, marking a significant milestone in our utility’s history. Even more impressive, this year FING moved from the Bronze-Level SOAR award it first received in 2022 to the Silver-Level SOAR award—a testament to the department’s continuous growth and commitment to operational excellence.

In the words of APGA President and CEO Dave Schryver:

 “Fountain Inn Natural Gas was highly rated in all four areas required of SOAR. They consistently demonstrate a commitment to providing natural gas safely and efficiently to all those in their community and, as such, serve as a model for all other natural gas utilities in the country. APGA is proud to recognize Fountain Inn Natural Gas and is confident in their continued success.”

This recognition does more than highlight the technical achievements of our natural gas utility—it also reflects the hard work and professionalism of every member of the FING team. Our community continues to receive safe, affordable, and reliable natural gas service every day because of their dedication.

Please congratulate Eduardo Noriega and the entire Fountain Inn Natural Gas Department on this outstanding accomplishment. We are proud to see our hometown utility standing tall on a national stage—and we are even more excited about the future as they continue to lead with integrity and excellence. 

Shawn Bell is the City Administrator of Fountain Inn and an ICMA-Credentialed Manager. For more information, go to www.fountaininn.org, call 864-531-0644, or email shawn.bell@fountaininn.org.●