Laurens County Council has set in motion an incentive agreement to attract an industry that intends to invest $9.25 Million and create 43 jobs.
The incentive resolution and fee-in-lieu-of-taxes ordinance were adopted at the council’s Aug. 11 regular meeting. The resolution requires just one reading, while the ordinance requires 3 readings and a public hearing. The latest inducement is for Project Sora, and the name of the company is expected to be released at least by third reading.
The Council also received an update on construction projects financed by the Capital Projects Sales Tax, approved by a majority of Laurens County taxpayers in the November, 2020, General Election. The extra penny sales tax for construction sunsets after 8 years.
The report indicated that all construction at the Historic Courthouse in downtown Laurens should be finished by Christmas; however, funding for renovations to make the Martha Dendy School in Clinton a full community center will fall short - $750,000 from the CPST was spent to renovate the exterior and shore up the interior.
But a citizens group in charge of bringing the building back to life will need at additional amount just over $1 Million to complete the vision. The group is doing private fund-raising and seeking grants to cover the shortfall.
All the other 14 projects involved with the CPST are done or within easy access of being done. The first activities at the new Agriculture/Business Center, in Laurens, will be a Youth Livestock Show on Aug. 21 - 23 (rabbits & swine, beef, dairy & milk goats, and dog show). The complex is at 137 Fairgrounds Road.
Construction is continuing at the site for a horses performance area and a new home for Laurens County’s Clemson Extension Service.
Voters would have to approve a new referendum for an additional list of projects to have the one-cent additional sales tax renewed.
In other business, Council authorized the appointments of Bertha Rice and Janice Roberson to the GLEAMNS (anti-poverty agency) Board.
Also, the Council was informed that Emergency Management is receiving a $56,179 performance grant, and council members approved the recommended allocation of accommodations tax funds.
There was $76,231 available in ATAX funding this year, so organizations that requested $3,000 each were “bumped up,” mostly to $4,000 each - any leftover funds were allocated to the Placer AI software that allows the tracking of festivals and visitors information. All these groups received the $4,000 allocation, unless otherwise noted:
Ag & Art Tour;
Visit Laurens County billboards;
Rev250 Committee ($5,000);
Laurens County Community Theatre ($5,000);
Laurens County Chorale;
Clinton Canopy for the Millers Fork Trail;
Comin’ Home to Cross Hill (Aug. 30 - Labor Day weekend);
VIA Health Partners for Flight of the Dove ($5,000);
Lakelands YMCA for the Reindeer Run ($3,231);
Connect Lake Greenwood for Lights on the Lake;
Laurens County Museum billboards ($5,000);
Catfish Feastival (Ware Shoals);
Presbyterian College for Friends & Family Weekend ($5,000);
Main Street Laurens;
Laurens County Trails Association;
SC Gourd Society; and
Battle of Musgrove Mill State Historic Site for the living history encampment.
A citizens committee of the County Parks & Recreation Department makes the recommendations based on submitted applications.
Counties and cities qualify to collect and disperse ATAX funding, under state law.
The next regular meeting of the Laurens County Council will be Sept. 8, 6 pm at the Hillcrest East facility, 105 Bolt Dr., Laurens.
