Saluda County Council took a clear step this week toward bringing new investment and jobs to the community by giving first reading to an ordinance that would allow the county to offer a fee-in-lieu-of-taxes (FILOT) arrangement for a project still known only as Project Big Show. The action, taken on October 12, signals the county’s willingness to partner with a company considering establishing or expanding facilities here, provided the project moves forward as expected.
Under the terms outlined in the ordinance, the company anticipates investing at least $28.4 million in the county and creating 200 new full-time jobs. In return, the county has indicated it is prepared to offer a package of standard economic-development incentives commonly used across South Carolina. These include a negotiated FILOT that would fix the assessment ratio at 6 percent and lock in the millage rate in effect as of June 30, 2026. The arrangement would apply for up to 30 years on each qualifying portion of the investment.
The ordinance also contemplates placing the project in a multi-county industrial or business park and providing special source revenue credits equal to 30 percent of each fee payment. Those credits are intended to help offset the company’s spending on infrastructure and other improvements that serve the site and the broader county.
Council members emphasized that the project would not create any direct debt or liability for the county or its taxpayers. Instead, the incentives are structured so that the company pays a reduced but still meaningful fee based on the value of its investment, while the county gains a larger tax base and new employment opportunities over time.
Chairman James L. Moore underscored that the project is neither a data center nor a solar farm, framing the ordinance as a deliberate effort to attract a different kind of opportunity that can keep more local residents working close to home and strengthen the overall economy.
First reading of the ordinance is an early procedural step. It is not a final or binding agreement. Contract negotiations for any deal remain separate and are conducted in private. A subsequent ordinance, following further readings and public process, will still be required before any binding FILOT and incentive agreement can be executed. That next step will give the public and the council another opportunity to review the specific terms once they are more fully developed.
For residents, the practical meaning is straightforward. If the company proceeds, Saluda County stands to gain a substantial new private investment and hundreds of jobs without taking on new debt. The council’s action shows a deliberate effort to position the county for growth while protecting the public’s financial interests.
Further details about the company and the precise nature of the project are expected to emerge only if and when a final agreement is reached and the parties are ready to announce it publicly. Until then, the first reading of the ordinance stands as evidence that county leaders are actively working to expand local opportunity.
