Space to grow: County prepares 100 acres for western industrial park

NEESES — About 100 acres of land is being cleared at the western Orangeburg County industrial park in an effort to attract potential industries to the fledgling site.

“The bottom line is this will greatly reduce the time it takes a prospect to begin construction of a new facility in the industrial park,” Orangeburg County Development Commission Executive Director Gregg Robinson said. “Therefore, Orangeburg County is able to provide valuable savings to a prospect interested in CSX main line rail and ultimately create job opportunities for local residents.”

Orangeburg County Council has contracted with Richardson Construction for $759,000 to bring 100 acres to a “near shovel ready” condition with clearing, grading and grubbing. The work is to be finished by year’s end. The project is being paid for with the capital project sales tax.

Orangeburg County Councilman Heyward Livingston, whose district includes the park, said he is pleased with the work.

“They are making good progress,” Livingston said. “I will be glad when they get it cleaned up.”

Livingston said a clean property will prove attractive to industry.

“I think we will get some good prospects over the next few years,” Livingston said, adding there have already been three or four inquiries into the property. The work being done “will mean a lot, because once industry gets on this end, people will not have to drive so far to work. I think it will be a blessing for the western end. Once it gets started, I think it will grow. We are in a good spot.”

Incoming Neeses Mayor James E. Hoffman said he’s pleased with the work he’s seen.

“It feels good to see these things happen,” Hoffman said. “There is a lot on the plate and we are getting our menu together.”

Hoffman said, “I think it will be a boon to Neeses.”

“Shovel ready” industrial sites have all of the planning, zoning, surveys, titles, environmental work, soils analysis and public infrastructure/engineering completed or cost estimates identified.

“Certified shovel ready sites are in growing demand among companies and site selection consultants,” Robinson said. “They are an increasingly popular tool for communities to attract new business and industry.”

The park consists of about 230 acres. The remaining 130 acres will be addressed when money is available, Robinson said.

“I am trying to get it as shovel ready as I can,” he said.

There is no wastewater at the park currently, though it is scheduled to be added as part of the county’s capital project sales tax, Robinson said. It is expected at the park within the next five years.

Robinson said the park would still be able to serve light assembly and manufacturing facilities that could use commercial septic system until wastewater is in place.

Last year, the county’s Department of Public Works cleared land for roads at the property, allowing the property to be shown.

The road work was also paid for with money from the county’s capital project sales tax.

Approximately $3.7 million has been set aside for infrastructure at the park.

Robinson said the property has received some interest and has been shown several times to distribution-related companies engaged in light assembly and manufacturing.

County officials hope the park will have its first occupant within the next five to 10 years.

The park has been touted by economic development leaders because of its rail connectivity, proximity to interstates 20 and 26, and the elevated water storage tank already at the site.