Capacity crowd told of economic development ahead

Inside the cafetorium of the new Seneca Middle School, about 200 people heard Oconee’s economic development recruiter predict announcements of new investments in the county are not far away.  Jamie Gilbert of Oconee Economic Alliance says three pending announcements go before the county council this week and the county is one of four finalists for a project, the decision on which is to be made next month.  And then there’s the matter of 148 acres on the Sandifer Boulevard, just west of Wal-Mart.  It is to be a shopping center, and Gilbert believes the official announcement will be made some time this year.  He also predicts that the anchor stores of the shopping center will be of such quality that no longer will Oconeeans have to drive to Greenville or Anderson.