Darlington Progress annual meeting
By Jana E. Pye, Editor, editor@newsandpress.net
The board of directors for Darlington County Progress, Inc. met for their annual meeting and reception on Thursday, August 29 at the Darlington Country Club and welcomed the S.C. Speaker of the House of Representatives Jay Lucas as their speaker.
“Darlington County reached a new milestone in economic development with the announcement of the Darlington County Foundation Technical Park being named a South Carolina Certified Industrial Park by the Department of Commerce,” said chair John Kimbrough, who also referenced the addition of Birdsong Peanuts, the Sonoco plant to constructing the $12 million research and development facility, 1-20 Park, and successful membership drive to add more revenue to the Darlington County Economic Development Partnership. “Darlington County is work ready,” said Kimbrough. “Members, we are all proud of Darlington’s certification and recommendations as having a highly skilled workforce which you know is the key ingredient to successful development.”
John Kimbrough, outgoing chair of Darlington County Progress 2015. Photo by Jana E. Pye
Speaker of the House Jay Lucas was applauded by the members for his tumultuous first year which included historic flooding, tragedy in Charleston, the Abbeville School ruling, and removal of the Confederate flag from the statehouse.
“I can tell you my first year is one I wouldn’t wish on anyone,” said Lucas. “But problems and challenges like this bring great opportunities to this area. I truly believe that over next year, we will have a road-funding bill passed in South Carolina and our roads will look like North Carolina’s and Georgia’s and we’ll have orange cones everywhere instead of the conditions we have now. I do believe we will pass an ethics reform in South Carolina next year, and in dealing with the Abbeville decision will pass education reform that will not only make our children college ready but career ready to walk out and take these manufacturing jobs that come to South Carolina.”
Kimbrough was thanked for coming in midyear to act as chair of the board.
The new chair for 2016 is Jack Roach.
Board members to have terms end this year included:
Don Clark, Commercial & Industrial Contractors
John Kimbrough, Individual Member, Retired, Welman, Inc.
Mary Kelley, Arbor One
Bobby Holland, SCANA
Ronnie Holley, Individual Member, Retired, Sonoco
New members are:
Johnna Shirley, Coker College
Quinetta Buterbaugh, Hartsville Chamber of Commerce
Dr. Eddie Ingram, Darlington County School District Superintendent
Danny Johnson, North Industrial Machine
Pat Godbold, McLeod Health
Will Johnson, Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd.
After the meeting, director of Darlington County Economic Development Frank Willis said, “We hope to move forward and market these two industrial parks. We didn’t have much to share in the past, we now we are prepared to bring industry to this area.”
