A key site to Rock Hill’s economic future just got $3.8M worth of good news
The road to new industry in Rock Hill just got a good bit smoother.
Rock Hill received a South Carolina Department of Commerce grant to extend road access through Aspen Business Park, a site the city is staking much of its economic future on in coming years. The $3.8 million grant will connect Aspen’s entrance and Celanese and Museum roads to Heckle Boulevard.
The new road access will allow Aspen to continue what the city’s dozen business and industrial parks began decades ago, creating jobs and investment to fuel the state’s fifth-largest city.
“This investment marks a significant step forward for our community,” Mayor John Gettys said in announcing the grant Wednesday.
Sign manufacturer SouthWood Corporation and military product maker CAT Resources are in Aspen now. They brought 260 jobs and $20 million in capital investment. At buildout, the 215-acre Aspen park will have 10 buildings and 1.9 million square feet for industrial users. It’s expected to generate 1,300 jobs and $220 million of investment.
Aspen is a partnership between the city and private Charlotte developer Childress Klein. Along with industrial sites, options include outparcels for sale or speculative buildings for lease.
“The completion of International Drive provides increased connectivity and positions the park to attract new prospects and support the evolving needs of this area’s business community,” said Chris Daly, partner with Childress Klein.
Road work should begin this fall and take a year. The $8.4 million job includes money from the city, York County, the Rock Hill Economic Development Corporation and utility providers Comporium and AT&T.
The impact of the new road, and large industrial users that connection can help bring, will reach well beyond Rock Hill, said economic development corporation Chairman Robert Alexander.
“Improving infrastructure at Aspen Business Park positions Rock Hill to attract high quality employers and support the expansion of existing firms,” he said.
