SC: Chester County Megasite Becomes Certified

Chester County Megasite Becomes Certified Chester County Supervisor Carlisle Roddey announced that a 1,438 acre site, The Carolinas I-77 Megasite, located in Chester County, South Carolina has been certified as a Megasite suitable for automotive assembly operations and other major advanced manufacturing facilities. “Chester County supports economic development and having the best tools available to promote future opportunities. Our leadership is committed to creating jobs for the citizens we serve.” The Chester County site received certification from McCallum Sweeney Consulting, a national consulting firm that performs site selection and develops and implements certified site programs for corporate clients worldwide. The Lancaster and Chester Railway and it’s subsidiary, the L&C Development Corporation, retained McCallum Sweeney to provide verification that this site met all of the criteria that McCallum Sweeney Con-sulting deemed pertinent for their Megasite certification stamp of approval. The Carolinas I-77 Megasite, located on Interstate 77 between exits 62 and 65, is the first industrial site in the Charlotte Regional Partnership Region to receive the Megasite certification from McCallum Sweeney. It is one of 12 sites throughout the Southern United States that have met the program’s high standards. Cri-teria considered during the certification process included size, available workforce, access to dual rail ser-vice, adjacency to an interstate, proximity to an international airport, utility infrastructure and satisfactory environmental assessment. “Achieving certification is an incredible accomplishment.” said Ed McCallum, Senior Principal with MSC. “This site will now be very easy to market to prospective industries. This community will not have to spend valuable time conducting site due diligence and collecting information. You already have it at your finger-tips. You will be able to close the deal much more quickly.” “The L&C Railway is pleased to partner with Chester County, Charlotte Regional Partnership, Duke En-ergy, Chester Development Association, it’s Allies, and the State of South Carolina in announcing this new Megasite designation by McCallum Sweeney,” said Steve Gedney, President of the L&C Railway. “We look forward to working with our Allies in locating and serving a major manufacturing facility on this site that will benefit South Carolina, the region, and the local economy.” “The Charlotte Region is pleased to have this Megasite designation,” said Ronnie Bryant, President of the Charlotte Regional Partnership. “This certification achievement could not have occurred without the coop-eration demonstrated by all of our partners at the local, regional, and state level.” Chester County’s Economic Development Director, Karlisa Parker, stated that, “Having this certification gives Chester County a position of strength when making the statement that the Carolina I-77 Mega Site is an ideal site for large industrial clients – the proof is in the dollars invested, time spent in due diligence, attention to the details and the collaborative partnerships it took to make this happen. ”