New Year means New Business Opportunities

Excitement is at an all-time high in Oconee County as we enter the New Year, thanks to business opportunities being made available at two commerce parks.  Richard Blackwell, executive director of the Oconee County Economic Development Commission, updates work being done at the Golden Corner Commerce Park in Fair Play. “We are extremely excited for what County Council has allowed to transpire because we are putting product in place that is going to change the future of Oconee County for the batter.  The Golden Corner Commerce Park is a certified site.  The sewer referendum passed that is going to allow a sewer solution, which is the last missing ingredient that we have for Golden Corner Commerce Park.  We also did a master plan just a few months ago that County Council passed, so we know what we want it to look like and the sewer is the key ingredient that is going to start the first of the year and will take about 18 months to build out.  As soon as the shovel goes into the ground we have something to market and put in front of decision makers.” Construction has already begun on the Echo Hills Commerce Park in Oconee County, which Blackwell sees as having limitless potential for new jobs.  “If you go down Highway 11 right now, you see dirt being moved.  If you went by two months ago, you probably saw glorified farmland, so we are tremendously excited about the build out of Phase 1 of Echo Hills.  That is a 300,000 square foot pad ready site and a 50,000 square foot pad ready site.  What pad ready means all a company has to do is make a decision on Monday and start to go vertical on Tuesday.  Thanks to County Council and County Administrator Scott Moulder, we have fast track permitting, so again when a company makes a decision, they can go vertical.” In 2012, Oconee County collaborated with the City of Seneca to purchase the old Propex property.  Two tenants are currently operating on site and the county and city are actively recruiting more tenants to the site as well.