The sale of the former Wellman Inc. Palmetto Plant in Darlington to a company that markets former manufacturing facilities globally represents significant potential for Darlington County’s economy, the county’s top economic development official said.
Robert Long, executive director of the Darlington County Economic Development Partnership, said the sale of the 1.1 million-square-foot Wellman facility, which closed last November, to International Process Plants (IPP) was the result of nearly 10 months of work.
Getting Wellman’s bankruptcy proceedings out of the way expedited the sale, Long told members of the partnership’s Board of Directors during their regular meeting Wednesday, one day after officials announced the sale.
Darlington Developments LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of IPP, announced the purchase of the plant Tuesday.
In addition to the manufacturing space the facility affords, the purchase includes 760 acres of land and all of the plant’s equipment and machinery.
“I think this means some exciting things for us in the near future,” Long said.
“We’re certainly pleased about the Wellman announcement,” said Wesley Blackwell, chairman of Darlington County Council.
Partnership board Chairman Jim Ramsey expressed the board’s thanks to council for its support of the partnership’s efforts.
In other matters, the group heard a report on efforts by Darlington County Progress Inc., a nonprofit entity that provides support to the partnership, on its effort to hire a full-time person to spearhead a planned private sector fundraising effort.
Gray Segars, chairman of Darlington County Progress, said an aggressive effort is needed to generate new revenue for the partnership.
The position would be temporary for an anticipated three months.
Ramsey noted that the Florence County Economic Development Partnership has a similar position full-time.
The person would work under Darlington County Progress, Long said. He said typically such positions pay for themselves from the additional revenue generated.
Segars also gave a report on efforts to recruit new members for the partnership. He said the group needs to boost its membership to generate additional revenue.
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