Two Proposed Projects would bring $280M and 450 Jobs to OC

Two economic development projects proposed for Oconee County identified only with code names involve investments totaling $280 million and the addition of more than 450 jobs. A published legal notice shows one of the projects belongs to Michelin North America, Inc. On Tuesday, the Oconee County Council advanced incentives for “Project Sarah” and approved incentives for “Project Fountain.” A legal notice for a Dec. 16 public hearing identifies Michelin as the project previously identified as “Project Sarah.” The $250 million project, with 30 full-time employees and 120-170 “third-party” workers, would be built at the Golden Corner Commerce Park off S.C. 59 near Fair Play. The incentive package, which is on the Oconee County Council agenda for final reading Dec. 16 following the public hearing. “Project Fountain” is a “mixed retail and commercial” project on U.S. 123 east of Seneca. The $30 million development by Columbus, Ohio-based Casto Southeast Realty Services LLC is expected to create about 300 jobs. The company purchased 45 acres that border Hartwell Lake. The property was previously the site of a Milliken textile plant. Oconee Economic Alliance executive director Richard Blackwell said, “That’s one that we’re tremendously excited about. This development is a “gateway project” for the county across the lake from Clemson. These are jobs we need in Oconee County, and we are excited about new places to eat and new places to go shopping.” The Casto website identifies the retail project as Hartwell Village and says it will open in early 2016.