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County announces first reading for Project Piranha: Amazon plans last-mile facility in Greenwood County
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Summary
At first reading, Greenwood County economic-development officials said "Project Piranha" is Amazon, proposing a roughly 57,000-square-foot last-mile delivery facility on 23 acres in the 96 Business Park, with an estimated investment of up to $20 million and up to 185 jobs; Amazon also offered to install sewer infrastructure and has requested reimbursement consideration.
James Bateman, Greenwood County's economic development director, told the County Council on April 21 that a long-running site-advancement effort at the 96 Business Park has produced a formal proposal from a company identified in the presentation as "Project Piranha." Bateman said the project is Amazon, which proposes to build an approximately 57,000-square-foot last-mile delivery facility on 23 acres and invest upwards of $20 million, creating as many as 185 full-time, part-time and third-party driver positions.
Bateman framed the announcement as the culmination of several years of site work, including a 2020 grant for site development, a land option approved in 2022 with the Adams family, a county-participated waterline extension in 2023, and expansion of the land option in 2024. "Project Piranha is Amazon," Bateman said, adding that Amazon has offered to install sewer service that would both serve the delivery facility and enable development across the remainder of the 96 Business Park.
The proposal presented at first reading asks the county to consider an infrastructure-credit arrangement and possible reimbursement for sewer installation to serve the park. Bateman said more detailed terms will be brought back for the council's second and third readings and that a press release coordinated with Amazon would be released the following morning.
Council members praised Bateman and county staff for the multi-year effort. Vice Chairman (speaker referenced in the meeting) called the announcement "a big deal" for the county, and Chair closed his remarks by saying, "Tomorrow, Greenwood grows greater."
Because the presentation was first reading only, council did not vote on a final infrastructure agreement. Bateman said staff will return with detailed reimbursement terms and any draft infrastructure-credit agreement for formal consideration at subsequent readings.
What happens next: county staff will bring ordinance language and any draft infrastructure-credit agreement back for second and third readings; council will take a formal vote only after receiving the detailed terms and legal documents.
Sources: James Bateman, Greenwood County Economic Development Director (presentation to Greenwood County Council, April 21, 2026).
