Officials discuss Marion County's economic outlook

Sharing information about the economic development in Marion County, acting Director of the Marion County Economic Development Commission, Frank Jones, said working together has made a difference. Jones said the county’s unemployment rate fell from 12.7 percent in the first four months, to 12.3 percent in the final four months, of 2007. Over the first four months of 2008, the rate has declined another two percent, he said.

More than 200 people attended Monday’s Economic Outlook Luncheon at Dry Dock restaurant in Mullins. The annual event, presented by the Marion Chamber of Commerce, the Greater Mullins Chamber of Commerce and Marion County Progress, Inc., welcomes public officials and business owners and was sponsored by Anderson Brothers Bank, Marion Regional Healthcare System and Pee Dee Federal Savings Bank.

Revisions to the Economic Development Commission’s marketing plan included upgrading the group's Web site. That change, Jones said, has caused traffic on the site to pick up, with it having as many as 5,000 unique visitors. The housing industry’s ongoing slump has led to an alternative approach in attracting retirees through development communities, he said. The county has increased its marketing efforts in other communities that are gaining retirees, he said. It is expected retirees will continue moving into South Carolina, he added.

Various groups in the county are working to better train potential employees, and Jones commended the One Stop, S.C. Employment Commission, tje REWARD Program and the Florence-Darlington Technical College satellite campus in Mullins. REWARDs has seen 40 percent of its 125 students find jobs and the FDTC enrollment in Mullins has grown from 41 in 2003 to 369 in 2008. Jones reported there are 33 industries in the county with 2,895 employees bringing in an annual payroll of nearly $58 million dollars. In 2008, 17 prospects were referred to the county, with a potential investment of $1.4 billion dollars and 5,208 jobs.

Marion County Economic Development Commission Chairman Larry Atkinson discussed the Marion County Industrial Park's plans. The Class Four site has been certified, he said, adding that a speculative building will soon be built at a proposed location.

Jason Smallwood, development manager and leasing agent with Avtex Commercial Properties that is developing the Wal-Mart Supercent shopping center, said the center has experienced "a lot of progress." During the meeting he told those attending the names of the businesses that have already signed leases. "But don't tell anyone," he joked. The shopping center will have 24,000 square feet of retail space, when built, he said. “I’m proud to say we did pre-lease about 75 percent of the space,” Smallwood, adding that the center should ready by October.

Chuck Paterno, managing member of Carolina AAC, LLC, which recently announced its new industry’s arrival into Marion County, said the area’s growing building product segment is an asset. Carolina AAC will be manufacturing Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (AAC) for commercial and residential use. In May, the company announced its $17 million investment in the county that is expected to create about 40 jobs. Additionally, the company is hoping to be a catalyst for creating “green” construction jobs.

Gary DeCosse, president of Road Rescue, commended the people of Marion County. The ambulance manufacturer has grown in the past year, he said, and company officials are hoping to add a painting facility in 2010.

“It’s not the product that makes the difference, it’s the people," Decosse said.