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By Stan Welch
Each year, Anderson County invests approximately $75,000 in the Appalachian Council of Governments (ACOG), an organization established in 1965, which seeks to leverage local resources into a variety of projects, and to fund those projects through a variety of loans and grants.
By Stan Welch
Former State representative Dan Cooper, of Powdersville, has been honored for his efforts to attract jobs and industry to Anderson County. Cooper, who sat for six years as Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee prior to his abrupt resignation from the House, was nominated by the Anderson County Economic Development Board as Ambassador of Economic Development for the County.
(Photo – Anderson County Council District Seven representative Cindy Wilson talks with Melvin Gregory during a reception held in Wilson’s honor Sunday in Williamston)
By David Meade – Approximately fifty people including elected officials, members of the Anderson County Republican Women and the public attended a reception honoring County Council District Seven Representative Cindy Wilson Sunday.
By David Meade
Local and state officials joined members of the Palmetto Area Economic Development Committee (PAEDC) for a conference Friday to discuss marketing and promoting the area to business and industry. A varied group of people representing the community heard from officials involved in state and local economic development.
Representatives of the State Department of Commerce, Anderson County Economic Development and local educators shared information about programs and steps related to being successful in recruiting business, industry and jobs to the area.
Anderson County Sheriff’s Office CATCH (Criminal Apprehension Through Community Help) Team K-9 Unit recently completed certification courses held by the APCA (American Police Canine Association). Each of the five K-9’s and their handlers completed the courses successfully.
Anderson County performed well in capturing South Carolina travel expenditures according to the 2010 U.S. Travel Association’s “The Economic Impact of Travel on South Carolina Counties.”
The study, which provides preliminary 2010 estimates of domestic traveler expenditures in SC, as well as the employment, payroll income, and state and local tax revenue directly generated by these expenditures, was prepared for the SC Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism by the U.S. Travel Association.
By Stan Welch
After weeks of observing secrecy, symbolized by the naming of a potential economic development project as “Project Cougar,” the company considering the investment let the cat out of the bag. Michelin, Inc. ran public notice of a public hearing on the proposal in the local daily paper, effectively removing any need for secrecy. The company, which currently employs more than 700 people at two facilities in Anderson County, is contemplating building two more facilities, which might employ as many as another three hundred people and involve a capital investment of more than $500 million.
Anderson County has received approval from the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) for the County’s recently submitted redistricting plan. District lines are reviewed every 10 years to make sure voting districts accurately reflect the population dispersion. The 2010 Census figures show Anderson County has a population of 187,126, with significant growth taking place in the Powdersville and Piedmont communities.
Obtaining a building permit in Anderson County became more convenient in 2012. As of January 3, the offices of Building and Codes and Development Standards began accepting credit/debit cards.
“Doing business in Anderson County became more convenient this month,” said Anderson County Council Chairman Tom Allen.
By Stan Welch
This is a compilation of some of the most important stories of the year 2011, concerning county government, politics and finances.
JANUARY
The Anderson County Council retained its leadership intact, returning Tommy Dunn to the Chairman’s seat, and Eddie Moore to the Vice chairman’s role. Moore was elected over Tom Allen in a 4-3 vote.
They then moved quickly and smoothly through a substantial but organized agenda, with perhaps the key action being third reading approval of an ordinance that would once again allow Council members to disburse funds individually for infrastructure projects, rather than having the transportation department prioritize and allocate the funds.
