Economic Development Partnership talks planning
By Melissa Rollins, Editor, editor@newsandpress.net
An infrastructure study is being done to see what possibilities Darlington County holds for perspective developers and also to see what is holding the county back. That information was part of Frank Willis’ Director’s Report during the Jan. 17 meeting of the Darlington County Economic Development Partnership.
Willis told Board Members that one potential pitfall is the lack of water and sewer availability throughout the county. He said that there is land between Hartsville and Darlington, as well as land in Society Hill, that could attract investors if not for the fact that certain utilities are not currently in that area.
“We’ve initiated a little bit of an infrastructure study which I think addresses a little bit of what we’re talking about this morning,” Willis said. “The issue with the water and sewer, and I say this not as a criticism but just as a matter of fact, is that Darlington County Water and Sewer, they are not looking for places to put water and sewer. If we have an interest we go to them and say ‘We’ve got XYZ companies coming and we need water and sewer.”
Willis said that that leaves some responsibility on the Economic Partnership when they are seeking to attract new companies or companies wishing to expand.
“We’ve identified three areas,” Willis said. “The 151 corridor between the racetrack and the City of Hartsville, there is no sewer along that corridor. We’ve got some really great properties in there but we don’t have the water and sewer, we don’t have gas, so we’re going to have to initiate it.”
Willis also said that the partnership needs to be sure it is giving the same attention to all of the municipalities in Darlington County.
Darlington County Economic Development Partnership Board Member Greg Alexander said that the partnership should be looking as far ahead as possible to anticipate needs that may arise.
“We’re trying to think five, ten, fifteen years down the road and we have a product to sell to a new business coming in, that being location,” Alexander said. “Making sure that we have the best location in Darlington County, identified and ready for that next industry to come in. We felt like to get to that point, where we had product ready to sell, it would be helpful to bring in these other bodies (such as water and sewer) so that we are already ready, we aren’t having to play catch up when someone is approaching us.”
Willis agreed, saying that preparation will be key to their success.
“We only have one product to sell and its land,” Willis said. “If we are not prepared with land, then we’re simply not prepared. For us to not incorporate any agency or any organization that’s involved in the process, we are being derelict.”