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Oconee County approves Lift Technologies tax‑incentive ordinance, OKs $100,000 state set‑aside
Summary
Oconee County Council unanimously approved third reading of an ordinance authorizing fee‑in‑lieu and special source revenue credit agreements with Lift Technologies Inc. and voted to enter a $100,000 state set‑aside agreement to support the company's expansion; the county reports no local fiscal obligation.
Oconee County Council on April 15, 2025 voted unanimously to approve third reading of Ordinance 2024‑25, authorizing a fee‑in‑lieu of ad valorem taxes and a special source revenue credit agreement with Lift Technologies Incorporated, and then approved county participation in a $100,000 set‑aside agreement with the South Carolina Coordinating Council for Economic Development to support the company’s planned expansion.
The ordinance, read and approved after a public hearing with no speakers, allows Oconee County to designate the project property as part of a multi‑county industrial and business park under Title 12, Chapter 44 of the Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, as amended. Council members voted “aye” on the ordinance and on the subsequent motion to enter the set‑aside agreement.
Mister Gilbert, a county staff member who spoke to the council during the discussion, described the $100,000 award as a state set‑aside for eligible project costs and explained the reimbursement process: "It's a really simple process," he said. He told the council the company documents eligible expenses, submits receipts after completing the project or qualifying process, the county forwards those receipts to the state, and the state reimburses the grant amount to the county for transmission to the company. Gilbert emphasized the county incurs no direct financial obligation under the set‑aside agreement.
Council members had no speakers during the public hearing on the ordinance and offered brief comments expressing appreciation for continued private investment and local job retention. The council then approved the ordinance on third reading and the county’s entry into the state set‑aside agreement by voice votes; no recorded roll‑call was provided in the transcript.
The actions approved at the meeting enable the financing structure and state reimbursement mechanism described by staff. Council materials and staff commentary indicate the county will serve as the authorizing agent and pass reimbursed grant funds to Lift Technologies after state approval of eligible costs. No county appropriation was made or required at the meeting, and staff stated the arrangement is customary for economic development projects.
Council next moved to routine committee reports and other agenda items.
