By: Thomas Sherrill, 新闻记者
合乐888在线登录注册, director of the Columbus County Economic Development Commission, 与Jay Memula对话, 正确的, of Jay Technologies about the future layout of a facility where soils will be mixed with specialty additives in the agri-business and horticulture industry. At left is Les High, chair of the Columbus Jobs Foundation, which owns the industrial park.
Raleigh-based agricultural businessman Sadanand “Jay” Memula has purchased a 30-acre tract of land in the Southeastern Regional Industrial Park with a multi-year plan to build a center for the manufacture of soil additives for horticultural products.
“这意味着合乐888在线登录注册。,” Columbus County Economic Development Director Gary 拉尼尔说, adding that the company is a good fit with the local agricultural heritage and existing economy.
“This is the first sale of property for a new business we’ve had at the park since 2013, when MaxPro window tinting bought the Committee of 100 shell building,” said Columbus Jobs Foundation Chair Les High, 他也是 新闻记者的出版商. “With Memula’s unique business plan based on extensive experience, 高说, “we believe the company is poised for growth.”
For Memula, the decision to go into business in Columbus County was a long time coming.
“这条线总是一个移动的目标,姆穆拉说。, who recounts his conversations with Lanier going back several years. “I was contacting the different regions because of proximity to Wilmington and Charleston [S.C.]”
“It’s similar to many economic development projects, that they just sometimes take time for everything to come together,拉尼尔说.
The purchase is part of a long-term plan that includes an operational facility at the old Fair Bluff Armory. 在Fair Bluff, Jay Technologies is manufacturing bacteria-killing materials that go into hand sanitizers and cleaning agents.
“He really needed a building he could start up in, and we were able to find out the armory building in Fair Bluff was on a state surplus list and help get him in contact with the 正确的 folks to be able to purchase that building,拉尼尔说. The Fair Bluff space gives Memula both office and lab space.
最终, the plan is to have research and development at the future Southeastern Regional Industrial Park facility, then move into manufacturing “in two to three years,姆穆拉说。.
The sale of the 30-acre tract finalized last week, Memula said. Financial details of the property sale were not immediately available.
“We are trying to clear the land first, probably in the next six months,姆穆拉说。.
Memula said he will make his agricultural soil additives to sell directly to large farmers. Lanier called Memula one of the smartest men he’s ever met and noted his extensive background in horticulture.
“If he starts a business up and starts to get some good traction, there’s no telling how far he can take a business,拉尼尔说.
最初, Memula plans on adding at least 10–12 jobs in Fair Bluff, then hiring additional workers once in a completed Industrial Park facility.
“As far as jobs, we have to review all the details,姆穆拉说。.
“Hopefully he’ll get to be a big success, because the more product he can sell, the more people he’s going to need to hire,拉尼尔说.
Memula could have chosen to establish Jay Technologies in Chatham County, 他拥有土地的地方, 拉尼尔说. But the economic developer credited his long-term relationship with Memula as the reason for landing the project in Columbus County.
拉尼尔说 he will need to talk with the county commissioners about potentially providing an incentive package for Jay Technologies once more details about the company’s local investment are clear.
“I know our Economic Development Commission board has recommended that we move forward with an incentive package,拉尼尔说.
“Incentives are always things that people are looking at, because it’s a big investment to establish a business and buy buildings and renovate buildings,拉尼尔说. If neighboring states and counties offer incentives and Columbus County doesn’t do the same, 他说, 这使得经济发展变得困难.
The Columbus County Commissioners are “extremely supportive” of economic development and job creation, 拉尼尔说.
“They’ve told me many times, ‘We need the jobs; do what it takes,’拉尼尔说.