Page 74 - FDI Alliance International Magazine | September 2018 1

PRODuCT ON THE

SHELF

To sell something, you have to have something to sell. That is
the message that the North Eastern Strategic Alliance (NESA)
has been expounding for more than a decade. Located in the
northeastern corner of South Carolina, encompassing the
Florence and Myrtle Beach MSAs, NESA has been a staunch
supporter of product development including industrial parks,
sites, and spec buildings. With an improving economy and
nearly half of all economic development projects requesting
an existing building, having spec or “shell” industrial buildings The Georgetown County Spec building has begun construction with the walls going up as recently
in inventory is more important than ever. as July 2018. This 50,000 sq. ft. is located in the Georgetown County business Center, which
Companies demand speed to market. In general, companies is rail accessible and just off of Highway 521 in Andrews, S.C.
that locate manufacturing operations in a spec building can
save six months or more of design, zoning, permitting, and undergo. Pertinent engineering reports would include an environmental site assessment, archeological report,
construction lead times. Spec buildings are not inexpensive geotechnical exploration, endangered species assessment, and wetlands delineation with a jurisdictional
investments which is why communities need to perform determination letter from the US Army Corps of Engineers. Having these reports completed not only
adequate due diligence on sites that are being considered. mitigates the risk of the community with regard to its investment, but also lends credibility and speed to
Although there are numerous issues to consider, market for an end user. In addition to the engineering reports, the community should assure that the site
siting a spec building follows a similar due diligence is appropriately zoned for industrial development and has adequate water, wastewater, natural gas, and
process that a manufacturing client would expect to electrical infrastructure in place to accommodate a major manufacturing operation.

The Marion County Spec building broke ground in August 2018. The 100,000 sq. ft. building is being built in the Marion County Industrial
Park located off of Highway 501 in Marion, S.C. and just 18 miles from Inland Port Dillon.

74 FDI ALLIANCE | SEPTEMBER ISSUE 2018