Deer Park facility might come to Pee Dee

The Chesterfield County Economic Development Board says that Nestlé Waters North America Inc. is considering sites in Chesterfield County for a potential spring water source and bottling facility for its Deer Park Spring Water brand of bottled water.  The company is also reviewing sites in other states in the Mid-Atlantic region.

“It is a feather in our cap to have Chesterfield County under consideration by a company such as Nestlé Waters, especially in these challenging economic times. With 18 percent unemployment, we can certainly use the new jobs they could provide,” said Cherry McCoy, executive director of Chesterfield County Economic Development Board. “We are working closely with the South Carolina Department of Commerce to encourage them to come to South Carolina.”

The Nestlé Waters facility would open with a minimum of approximately 30-40 employees and invest capital throughout construction and operations in the selected community. 

“At this stage of the evaluation process, chances of site selection in this region are about 50/50,” explained Nestlé Waters Natural Resource Specialist Lance Tully.  “If we conclude that one of the spring sites can supply the spring water needed to serve our consumers in the southeast U.S. in a manner consistent with the local environment, the area will become a candidate site for a spring water bottling facility.”

Tully added that every decision in the spring selection process is based on sound science to assure sustainability and a healthy eco-system for future generations.  Once a spring has proven to be sustainable, other points of consideration for Nestlé Waters in choosing a site include the availability of a skilled work force, access to highways and the location of a desirable site for a bottling facility. 

Chesterfield County provides all of these requirements and more.