Construction of a new $2 million, 40,000-square-foot pre-engineered metal shell building at Richmond County Industrial Park on the I-73/I-74 corridor is underway. The project, part of Richmond County’s shell-building program, is the sixth building constructed for this initiative. The goal is to attract manufacturers and businesses to help stimulate economic development in the area.

As each building is sold, funds have been reinvested into constructing the next building, contributing further to our community’s economic growth. Shell buildings are gifts that keep on giving to our community.

Economic developers use shell buildings to entice industry and manufacturing prospects to the area because they can quickly start operations. The first five buildings are fully occupied and have created 401 jobs, producing over $27 million in labor income and $165 million in economic output. The sixth building is slated to be completed in December. As each building is sold, funds have been reinvested into constructing the next building, contributing further to our community’s economic growth. Shell buildings are gifts that keep on giving to our community.

Pee Electric funded the loan for this project by utilizing the USDA Rural Development’s Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant (REDLG) program, which offers financial assistance to entities like Pee Dee Electric.

“We are proud to play a part in this project, which we are confident will continue to attract new manufacturers and businesses to the area and create employment opportunities in Richmond County,” said Donnie Spivey, CEO of Pee Dee Electric. “Having shell buildings in place means businesses can avoid the time and expense of building from the ground up, making the county a more attractive option for companies looking to relocate or expand.”