In October 2001, Pee Dee Touchstone Energy Commerce City, a $750 million commercial/industrial park covering 714 acres, opened in Florence, S.C.

The industrial park came about because Robert Williams, Jr., president and CEO of Pee Dee Electric, was concerned that college graduates were leaving the area for jobs in other locations. Pee Dee Electric is a Touchstone Energy cooperative located in Darlington, S.C.

Planning for the complex started in 1998, and it opened last year.

The park features permit-ready sites, along with infrastructure for sewer, water and power. There are already two tenants at the park. The City of Florence has its water treatment plant there, and Crenlo Inc., a construction equipment manufacturer, is also at the site.

The water treatment plant was a major boost for the economy of the region. The plant will process 55 million gallons of water per day, which should satisfy the needs of the area for 25 years.

The utility has said that any profits earned from the complex will go back to the community.