Four million dollars comes in the form of an infrastructure grant to extend sewer to the new Atlantic Gateway Logistics Park east of Lilesville. The park, whose first tenant, Pee Dee Electric Cooperative, opened last month, is positioned to take advantage of the I-73/74 Cordova exit, which is expected to open in late 2022. Atlantic Gateway is located just two miles from the future exit. The sewer extension will facilitate additional tenants and open adjacent land on the east side of the county for development.
Another $8 million comes in the form of a revolving loan fund to construct speculative industrial buildings in the county. The first of those, 100 Industry Drive, will break ground in mid-2021 at the Wadesboro Industrial Park. It will be a 50,000 square foot building with 28-foot ceilings that is designed to attract potential food and beverage manufacturers. The money must be returned to the state at the end of 10 years, so a quick turnaround is critical to fully utilizing the funds. "If we manage the construction and marketing properly, we should be able to get three complete buildings from the loan fund," according to Marek. "Plans for the second building are ongoing, but it will most likely be located at Atlantic Gateway and will be a larger building with higher ceilings for warehouse/distribution."
Marek credits Representative Mark Brody and Senator Tom McInnis for shepherding the founding through the legislature. "Our legislators really came through for Anson County in this budget." Marek also credits the Anson Economic Development Partnership Board of Directors. "The fiscally sound and transparent operations of the AnsonEDP board over the past six years gave our legislators the confidence to entrust this sort of funding to us. Without that trust, none of this happens."
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