(Correction note: an earlier version of this article referred to crypto mining as one of the industries the proposed White Oak technology park is intended to attract. This was an error, and has been corrected.)
During its monthly meeting Wednesday morning, the Economic Development Authority of Columbia County (EDACC) discussed the prospect of launching sustainability initiatives for White Oak industrial park in Appling.
The initiative developed through one of the EDACC board’s committees and would entail the integration of eco-friendly practices in managing the White Oak property. This has already included the installation of low-level LED streetlights and the construction of energy-efficient buildings, green spaces and drought-resistant landscaping.
“In putting together initiatives for sustainability, I looked throughout what industrial parks throughout the nation have been doing,” said Anita Patel, project manager with EDACC. “What they’re focused on, and some of the benchmarks that were out there.”
The sustainability project would also include water conservation systems, such as rainwater harvesting and greywater recycling; pedestrian-friendly pathways, electric vehicle charging stations and promoting carpools; the use of sustainable building materials such as wood, bamboo or recycled steel; and using building designs to withstand climate change.
EDACC Executive Director Cheney Eldridge noted that the park has also implemented some of the water conservation strategies to protect wetlands at the park.
“This board parceled off the wetlands that are out at White Oak so that when someone purchased a parcel, they would not even be able to impact any of those protected waterways,” said Eldridge. “Of course, it certainly helps an industry to not have to have that cost. But I think the intention from this organization was more so, so that we could be the ones to protect that natural asset that we have.”
Ultimately the board decided the initiatives should be workshopped in a committee before voting on the sustainability tenets and a resolution the EDACC would follow.
Before Masters week, EDACC submitted its request to rezone a portion of the park for the development of a subdivision within it devoted to tech industries, such as data storage and cybersecurity.
Eldridge underscored that the Authority’s mission in seeking this expansion to expand the county’s tax base alongside high-end employment opportunities.
“When we look at a project in general, we’re always trying to see what makes the most sense for the county,” she said. “We’re not looking for jobs just for jobs sake. We’re really looking for high skilled, high wage jobs that can make a difference in life.”
Columbia County School Superintendent Steven Flynt was in attendance, and offered a broad update on the school district, emphasizing its relationship to prospective workforce development efforts. Among Flynt’s highlights were that the district has topped pre-COVID stats in student achievement.
“Other school districts are still battling what they call learning loss. We not only kind of surpass that, but we’re one of the top in the state in almost every category,” Flynt said, noting that the district now has the fourth lowest costs per pupil out of 180 school districts in Georgia. “You can’t get the achievement on one side and the finance on the other side, if you look across the state… we’re in a great place right now.”
Skyler Andrews is a reporter covering business for The Augusta Press. Reach him at skyler@theaugustapress.com.
