Seneca Rail Park Undergoes Tree Clearing
Over the next few months over 90 acres of trees will be removed from the Seneca Rail Park to aid its marketability and make way for the installation of a new entrance road for the newest phase of the industrial park.
While clearing of trees may not sound like a major task, it is ever so crucial in the world of economic development. The removal of the trees will improve the visibility of the industrial park and aid in the Oconee Economic Alliance mission to make the county-owned industrial sites project ready. This phase of product development will open up the 111-acres for future prospects, but first they need to be able to see it. This is where clearing this land gets the first domino to fall.
This initiative began on March 7th by bid awardee Thrashers Grading, LLC, and weather permitting; the tree clearing is expected to be completed by the 1st of June. The tree clearing, funded by a SC Department of Commerce grant, will open the site up and make way for the new road, which will serve as the new entrance into the park. The Oconee Economic Alliance secured the grant from the SC Department of Commerce to pay 100% of the cost to clear the land of timber off the 111-acre certified industrial park.
Seneca Rail Park is a rail-served industrial park, within a new market tax credit eligible census tract, that has 82 buildable acres and is not only 10 minutes from Clemson University but just 2.4 miles from US highway 123/76. This industrial park is already home to logistic operations conducted by BorgWarner and Johnson Controls, but this initiative will increase the ability to attract new prospective industries. As this phase is completed and others begin, Seneca Rail Park will continue to see the dominos fall.
Thanks to SC Department of Commerce for this necessary funding to complete the tree clearing which will aid in our continued efforts to get industry to locate and create jobs in Oconee County.
Daja B. Dial is the Marketing and Communications Manager for the Oconee Economic Alliance, which is a public-private nonprofit effort to accelerate job creation and capital investment, increase per capita income, diversify the local tax base and generate awareness of Oconee County as a business location. To learn more visit www.InvestOconeeSC.com.