The county has received a $1 million grant from the Economic Development Administration to build infrastructure at the new park at I-26 and Highway 773.
The federal grant will be used to put in waterlines, a waste water system and roadways at the new industrial park.
The county applied for the grant in January and was able to use Nasmyth Precision Product's announcement to move to the park to meet the grant's job creation requirement.
“Without Nasmyth's decision to locate it's first North American facility in Newberry County, we would not have qualified,“ said Newberry County Economic Development Director Teresa Powers. “Having an announced tenant for the park was the key to securing these dollars.“
Phase one of the park's infrastructure will cost around $2.6 million. Utility companies have funded more than $200,000 and the S.C. Department of Commerce has made a $400,000 contribution. Combined, the grants will fund 60 percent of the phase one development.
County Administrator Wayne Adams said it was a March trip to Washington D.C. by local leaders that put the grant application on the “radar screen for federal legislators.“ On the trip, County Council members and Adams discussed the park with the legislators and made them aware of the importance of the new commerce park to the county.
“Our Washington delegation's involvement was critical. Senator (Lindsey) Graham and his staff got the ball rolling for us and kept things moving. And Congressman (John) Spratt and his staff provided crucial assistance when the application was hung up in the bureaucracy,“ said Adams.
In 2006 County leaders committed to purchasing the 463-acre tract at Exit 82, the development of which they understood would be a long-term proposition, said Adams.
“The acquisition was largely necessitated by the success of the County's first industrial park,“ said Adams.
The first park, located on Highway 219 at I-26, only has a few small parcels that have not been developed.
“The success of industrial recruitment requires maximizing existing advantages.
“The I-26 corridor has proven very successful as a draw for industrial development, but it takes more than just an interstate and raw land to capture industrial investment and job creation,“ said County Council Chairman Henry Summer.
Adams also said the Central Midlands Council of Governments helped prepare the grant application and will be charged with administering the grant for Newberry County.“
The construction on the first phase of the Mid-Carolina Commerce Park is expected to begin later this year.
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