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Taylor County economic development officials report new industry interest, site-readiness work
Summary
At a June 24 City of Perry council meeting, Michelle Curtis provided a quarterly update on Taylor County economic development activity, highlighting nine new industry inquiries, Duke Energy-funded site readiness work for a Highway 30 parcel and progress on several large available sites.
Michelle Curtis, a Taylor County economic development board member who also identified herself as treasurer of the TCBA, told the City of Perry council on June 24 that the county is focusing on recruiting industrial employers and keeping existing industry supported.
Curtis said the county has 50 megawatts of Duke Energy power available and named power capacity, qualified sites and a trained workforce as the community’s main competitive advantages. "We have had 9 new industries expressing interest at Taylor County," she said, describing a mix of heavy, light and defense-related projects on the inquiry list.
Why it matters: economic-development work and ready sites are prerequisites for large industrial investments and jobs. Curtis said the county has been pursuing site-readiness work and outreach to site-selection consultants so Taylor County parcels are considered alongside competing locations across the country.
In the presentation Curtis and board member Jeff Bryson described two parcels receiving targeted attention: a Highway 30 site across from the old Jeep facility that Duke Energy selected for a site-readiness evaluation (a final report was described as due in late June), and the former West Fraser sawmill property, which a private buyer named John Cheryl purchased and is cleaning up for resale to industry. Curtis said 4 Rivers owns more than 3,000 acres that could be developed if infrastructure is built.
Curtis listed common reasons prospective firms remove Taylor County from contention: the nationwide nature of corporate searches, transportation concerns, insufficient power for some projects ("they wanted 80 megawatts; we have 50"), and financing or tariff issues for firms shipping overseas. She also said some prospects were defense- or munitions-related and a biofuels and an aerospace/data-center prospect had shown interest.
Curtis said Duke Energy had funded a site readiness assessment for the Highway 30 parcel and that the finished site packet would be distributed to site-selection consultants: "That site readiness information ... will be given to all these site consultants that they'll have it to compare and compete with other ... sites." She also said the TCDA has produced a new investment brochure and is applying to the Duke Energy Foundation to update its website and marketing materials.
Council and staff did not take formal action on the presentation; Curtis invited questions and feedback.
Ending note: Curtis emphasized the county’s active outreach and the importance of having shovel-ready sites and workforce training to convert interest into firm commitments.
