Cherokee County Development Board

🚨 This is a BIG deal for Cherokee County. 🚨

Through months of focused work and negotiation by Cherokee County, SC Council and the Cherokee County Development Board, three of our strongest long-standing partners, AT&T, Duke Energy, and Piedmont Natural Gas, have committed $200,000 each for a combined $600,000 investment in the Spartanburg Community College Spark Center - Cherokee. This level of private sector support does not just happen. It is earned through trust, partnership, and a shared belief in Cherokee County’s future.

Duke Energy and Piedmont Natural Gas presented their support early last year, and on February 5, 2026, AT&T made it official with a check presentation to County Council Chairman Tim Spencer and SCC President Dr. Michael Mikota.

It is important to note that this support did not start or stop here. AT&T, Duke Energy, and Piedmont Natural Gas have been active champions of Cherokee County for years, contributing millions of dollars to advance economic development. Projects including the funding for the CLARI wastewater extension, recovery funds to help local manufacturers recover from Helene, and funds for water, wastewater and electrical studies to help local infrastructure meet the demands for tomorrow. And the list goes on.

This dedication to our county represent a powerful investment in our children, workforce training, and our ability to recruit and retain quality industrial projects.

Thank you to AT&T, Duke Energy, and Piedmont Natural Gas for being true partners in progress. This is what collaboration looks like, and the Spark Center - Cherokee is proof that when public and private partners work together, big things happen.

🌞 Cherokee County, SC, it’s official — Project Oranges has been revealed! 🌞

We are proud to welcome First Solar, a 100% American-owned industry leader and the only U.S.-headquartered company among the world’s top ten solar producers not operating in China.

This project is an incredible win for Cherokee County — one that will make a long-lasting impact on our workforce, our economy, and our community’s future.

💼 600 new jobs coming to CCC85 Industrial Park
💵 High starting wages of $21.60/hour (with many positions paying even more!)
🏭 Expansion to a 1.3 million sq. ft. facility plus a 560,000 sq. ft. distribution center
🌱 Clean operations — assembling solar panels with no toxic chemical processes
💰 More new tax revenue every year for Cherokee County

This is the kind of project that changes the trajectory of a community. It means high-quality jobs for our residents, competitive wages that raise the standard of living, and millions in recurring revenue to help fund services, schools, and infrastructure for years to come.

The official announcement was made live on Fox Business News’ “Mornings with Maria,” placing Cherokee County on the national stage as a rising economic powerhouse.

We would like to thank the Cherokee County Council, Colliers International | South Carolina, BPW, Cherokee County Permitting, S.C. Department of Commerce and the many others who worked so hard to help ensure this project was a success.

We’re proud of the teamwork, preparation, and dedication that helped bring First Solar here — and even more proud of what this means for the people of Cherokee County.

The future is bright. ⚡🌞

🌟 **Update: Big News Coming to Cherokee County — This Friday!** 🌟

The major announcement originally planned for Thursday has been moved to Friday, and trust us — it’ll be worth the wait! 🙌

Tune in to Fox Business News – “Mornings with Maria” this Friday to see the official announcement live as Cherokee County takes the national stage! 📺🇺🇸

Then check out The Gaffney Ledger’s Friday edition and the The Cherokee Chronicle's Tuesday edition for the full story and all the exciting details about this incredible new investment coming right here to our community.

Big things are happening in Cherokee County — stay tuned! 💪🌞