Oconee readying site with inland port rail link
July 28, 2014
Oconee County officials are readying an industry site that already has infrastructure in place and rail connections, including a direct link to the S.C. Inland Port at Greer. County Economic Development Director Richard Blackwell said the tract purchased by the county in 2012 offers incentives as a New Markets Tax Credit zone.
Blackwell said the county paid $400,000 for the 111 acres that had been owned by Propex Operating Co. LLC when the business moved.
“We are looking at developing it as a rail park,” Blackwell said today. He said the site will be ready within 12 to 18 months as trees are being removed and the county is working on certification. Blackwell said officials have been told the site will accommodate three rail spurs and a spec building could possibly be built.
Blackwell said businesses can benefit from the rail lines to send and receive products overnight through the inland port to Charleston. He said the Oconee County site near Shiloh Road and U.S. 123 is 3 miles from the county airport and 6 miles from Clemson.
Blackwell said the site is in a federally designated “economically distressed area” and qualifies for a new market tax credit, an incentive that amounts to 1/3 of a company’s investment. He said the incentives have been used in developing Greenville’s West End.