Laurens County Council approves multiple economic development measures, including $350 million 'Project Sunshine' inducement

Laurens County Council on March 9 moved forward with a package of economic development approvals that staff said will support several manufacturing and industrial expansions and bring hundreds of jobs to the county.

Council approved a resolution (2026‑07) authorizing an inducement agreement and gave first reading to Ordinance 106, a companion measure for ‘‘Project Sunshine,’’ which staff described as a manufacturing project using an existing spec building at Hunter Industrial Park. Mr. Coleman told the council Project Sunshine would be about a $350 million investment with roughly 564 jobs. "It will be the third largest project we've ever had in Laurens County," he said.

The council also approved on third and final reading ordinance 1000 for Project Palmetto, which staff said represents a $19.6 million expansion and 57 jobs for Shamrock Technologies; company representatives Craig Collins and Rob Kale attended the meeting. Ordinance 1002 (Project Basil), described as an amendment to an existing industry agreement, was also approved on third reading. On second reading, council approved ordinance 10004 (Project Oracle) — described as a $120.8 million investment expected to create about 277 jobs — and approved ordinance 105 to amend the applicable industrial park to include Project Oracle.

Separately, the council approved on second reading ordinance 103, which creates an administrative procedure for closing county roads when all property owners on a road agree; the measure passed 6‑1 with Councilman Filson recorded in opposition after members asked whether the draft should limit the set of owners required to consent.

Why it matters: The approvals clear the way for incentives and zoning arrangements that staff say will be used to recruit and support private investment and job creation in the county’s industrial parks. The largest project announced, Project Sunshine, would be the county’s biggest in dollar terms and is being advanced via an inducement resolution followed by ordinance consideration.

Details of votes and next steps: Council approved the inducement resolution and gave first reading to Project Sunshine; staff said a fuller ordinance vote will follow. Several other ordinances (1000, 1002, 10004, 105) cleared the council on their respective readings during the meeting. For items approved on preliminary or second reading, additional readings or ministerial steps remain before full finalization. For ordinance 103 the record shows a 6‑1 second‑reading vote; the council did not amend the language limiting consenting property owners during the meeting.

Council members and staff did not provide full mover/second attribution in the public record for each motion. Where staff provided figures, we attribute them to the county’s economic development presenter and to company representatives present at the hearing. The council will return to several items for additional readings as required by ordinance procedure.

Ending: The approvals mark a major push by Laurens County to expand manufacturing and industrial jobs. Some items (notably Project Sunshine and other second‑reading measures) will return for later procedural steps and possible incentive agreements.