PICKENS — TaylorMade Golf Company, one of the tenants of the Pickens County Commerce Park, is anticipating a $8 million expansion.
In April 2013, county officials announced that TaylorMade Golf Company would be building a facility in the commerce park, located in Liberty, and Alliance Pickens executive director Ray Farley said the company has built a “state-of-the-art facility” in Pickens County.
“We are fortunate — really fortunate — that TaylorMade’s ambitious marketing program and quality program … has resulted in a golf ball that is rapidly being accepted worldwide as perhaps the second-best golf ball now in the marketplace, going against the Titleist brand,” Farley said. “That ball is made only in this community.”
The company’s golf balls have been used to win “all major PGA and LPGA titles from the Masters to the British Open to the U.S. Open,” he said.
“Because of the growth, the company has strong anticipation of adding another manufacturing line in the building, for which they will need more staff,” Farley said.
As part of that expansion, company officials requested that county council extend its fee-in-lieu-of-tax agreement with TaylorMade for another five years.
Companies that invest at least $2.5 million in South Carolina may negotiate for FILOT agreements, according to the Department of Revenue. Such agreements allow companies to save money on property taxes.
The five-year investment period of the original FILOT agreement was set to expire Dec. 31, according to a resolution read by council chairman Roy Costner during a recent special called council meeting.
The extension will allow TaylorMade “to conclude an anticipated $8 million expansion of the project,” the resolution said.
“They’re investing $8 million, creating more jobs,” Costner said. “All we’re doing is giving them an extension for that five years for that $8 million investment.”
The resolution states that council finds the project directly and indirectly substantially benefits the county, the taxing entities within the county and the residents of Pickens County “due to the investment created by the company, which contributes to the tax base and economic welfare of the county.”
Council unanimously approved the extension. Councilman Trey Whitehurst was not at the meeting.
The extension, if not renewed again, will expire on Dec. 31, 2023.
Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
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