Cherokee County site to get Duke Energy assistance

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The Revman site in Cherokee County is one of four properties selected by Duke Energy for participation in the first half of its 2018 Site Readiness Program to enhance the readiness of the sites for business and industrial development.

Through the program, Duke Energy identifies high-quality industrial sites and partners with county officials and local economic development professionals to develop a strategy for providing water, sewer, natural gas and electricity to the properties, according to a news release.

The Revman site is an 80-acre property in Cherokee County located on visible frontage along I-85 with easy access to two interchanges. The site has the potential to accommodate up to a 1 million-square-foot industrial facility and is in a prime location for any company looking for quick interstate access, the release said.

“The Duke Energy Site Readiness Program has helped to take Cherokee County’s site development program to the next level,” said Ken Moon, deputy director of the Cherokee County Development Board, in the release. “This program has helped us know the strengths and shortcomings of each of the sites we have evaluated over the last three years. This has been critical in formulating a plan to ensure Cherokee County is a viable contender for new industries looking to locate in the Upstate of South Carolina.”

The Site Readiness Program has helped prepare properties that have won 29 major projects in the Carolinas since the program started in 2005, resulting in more than 6,200 new jobs and nearly $7 billion in capital investment, according to Duke Energy.

The other properties selected for the program include the U.S. 521 Lancaster site, a 400-acre property located north of the city of Lancaster; the Gallimore Dairy site, a 75-acre property located in the city of High Point, N.C., and the Greensboro Airport site, a 430-acre site owned by the Piedmont Triad Airport Authority.

“Economic development is a team sport and we are a key position player — working with many local and regional partners in different capacities throughout the economic development process to achieve success,” said Stu Heishman, Duke Energy’s vice president of economic development, in the release. “We have a specific focus on site readiness, industrial recruitment and collaborative efforts with our state and local partners. The Site Readiness Program has been a uniquely successful tool for communities across the Carolinas to help close deals.”

Duke Energy is working with major site selection firms to evaluate the four sites. Based on consultant recommendations, Duke Energy will collaborate with county leaders and local economic development professionals to develop an improved strategy for marketing these sites. Additionally, each site is eligible to apply for a $10,000 matching grant from Duke Energy to help prepare it to attract projects.

After each site’s state of readiness has advanced, Duke Energy’s business recruitment team strategically markets each of them nationwide to companies looking to expand or relocate their operations, according to the release.