By Dan McCue
Staff Writer

CaroLinks may no longer be a player in the explosion of distribution centers and commerce parks being built near the intersection of Interstate 95 and Interstate 26, but a vestige of its involvement in the area will come to pass, according to officials at the Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College.

The college, which awards two-year associate degrees in arts, science and applied science, is moving ahead with its plan to build a school of transportation and logistics on its campus.

The OCTech Transportation and Logistics Center is being paid for in large part by a $1.5 million grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration. CaroLinks, which recently sold its land options in Orangeburg to Dubai-based Jafza International, was one of the original 16 recognized beneficiaries of the Financial Assistance Award, which is being used to cover construction costs.

“That fact that CaroLinks is no longer a beneficiary does not affect EDA’s commitment to this investment at all,” said H. Philip Paradice Jr., director of the Economic Development Administration’s Atlanta Region.

“In fact, the college kept us well-informed during the options sale process, and it is our understanding that the new owner of the property is expected to create even greater amounts of private investment and jobs,” Paradice said.

Anne Crook, president of the technical college, said the bestowal of the grant was based on documentation of 500 jobs to be created in the Orangeburg area over the next three years.

She said that CaroLinks approached the technical college as the grant application process was under way and that the Charleston-based startup enthusiastically agreed to supply a letter in support of the grant.

“We were told that we could double our job estimate and that they would have a rather large capital investment,” Crook said. 

Technical college officials, Crook said, have had one meeting thus far with representatives from Jafza International, which is now in the planning phase of what Chuck Heath, the company’s managing director, said would be a $600 million investment that creates between 8,000 and 10,000 jobs.

“We talked briefly about training and we were asked to send additional information about

training to their consultants,” she said. “We expect to meet with persons from the company in the next few weeks.”

Crook said based on her own research and on statements Jafza International officials have made, she expects the county will need the facility that is already under design. 

“I would anticipate additional facility needs, but cannot give details until we meet with company officials to hear of their needs,” she said. “As always, all South Carolina technical colleges and ReadySC stand ready to train an adequate and appropriate work force for economic development in our state. Certainly, we would expect any necessary financial resources to become available to us.”

Among those watching the developments in Orangeburg with interest is Patrick Barber, president of the Charleston Motor Carriers Association.

“The program has its merits, but, like most of my competitors, I cannot hire driving school graduates with no experience,” said Barber, who heard a presentation on the planned program at a recent meeting of the S.C. Trucking Association board of directors.

“Unless a company is self-insured and willing to take the risk, there is not much hope of placement,” he said.

Dan McCue is a staff writer for the Business Journal. E-mail him at dmccue@setcommedia.com.

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