CHAPIN, S.C. — According to the county's economic development department, Lexington County's Business and Technology Park in Chapin has been sitting empty since January 2018.
The county said this project was nearly $15 million of Lexington County tax money.
Cars have been driving by, but not into, the Chapin Business and Technology Park at Brighton for the past six years.
The site is marketed to be a central location for businesses right next to I-26, with water, natural gas, wastewater, electricity and internet already installed. That's according to the Lexington County Economic Development Department's brochure on the county website.
The 220-acre site constructed in late 2013 still has no tenants.
Lexington County's $16 million project was made up of $14.9 million in tax dollars, as well as grants and utility tax credit funds.
The county's economic development department said they've marketed the site at $65,000 to $70,000 per acre.
"Currently, there are multiple prospects that are considering the park and are consulting with our Economic Development Department," a statement from Lexington County said.
But the county couldn't elaborate further when asked how many prospects there were.
"Parks are concentrated business areas like a mall, and so what you want to do is have businesses that work together, are related in this area and benefit the community in terms of work force, tax base and related businesses like grocery stores, gas stations," said Steven McClung, School of Business dean at Newberry College.
McClung said business parks are different to market than a standard business.
"The trick sometimes for the municipalities is to fill up the park, in other words market the park well enough that businesses coming in understand the advantage," McClung said.
He added that the benefits of a business park are that it can bring in dozens of jobs, a niche and sophisticated workforce, and support surrounding grocery stores, housing options and gas stations.
"You have to let people know you're here, you have to let people know the value of moving into your town and you have to let people know that you're available and the opportunity is there, otherwise the park sits empty and that's the last thing you want," McClung said.
When asked about the next steps, Lexington County's economic development department said it would continue to market this park until it was full of tenants.