Florence County Council members said earlier this year that economic development within the county is their top priority.
They've achieved success recently, as several businesses decided to locate in the county. Already the county has enticed a Monster.com facility to come to the area, and Heinz and MIT plants are under construction.
Now, council members have new ideas to bring in even more industry. One idea involves coordinating with Marion and Williamsburg Counties to provide additional job tax credits to companies interested in locating in the area. Another is a "fee in lieu of tax" agreement that would benefit some businesses already in the area, including Wellman and Smurfit-Stone.
"We're trying to enhance the quality of life for the citizens here in Florence County and in the Pee Dee Region," said County Council Chairman K.G. "Rusty" Smith, Jr.
Smith says the new ideas could add $23-million in new investment, and 350 new jobs.
They're jobs that are much needed in the area, as Florence County's unemployment rate inched up to 12.1-percent last month. Judy Jordan, Assistant Area Director of the Florence County Employment Security Commission, says the county's efforts are good news to job seekers throughout the area.
"Any time that we can bring in new industry that are looking for people that are looking for work, it helps the community," she said.
Smith says people outside the region and even outside the state have already begun to notice the county's success.
"Florence County is truthfully becoming a Mecca to the business community," he said. "People are finding out all over the southeast and all over the country that this is a place to do business. Florence County means business."
The council will discuss the new ideas during its regular meeting on Thursday.
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