Santee Cooper recently loaned $1.5 million to the Marion County Development Commission that will be used toward the construction of a speculative building at the Marion County Industrial Park.

Work on the 101,522 square-foot structure began late last year. The Santee Cooper loan joins five other funding sources for the building. The 495-acre park, which has four firms in operation, is located outside the City of Marion on U.S. Highway 501, one-half mile from U.S. Highway 76.

“By constructing this building, we are positioning ourselves to provide a qualified prospect an attractive opportunity to locate here,” said Dr. Julie M. Norman, executive director of the Marion County Development Commission. “Working toward providing good jobs for our citizens will continue to be at the forefront of our efforts and those of our partners, and this is a prime example of that.”

“Santee Cooper is confident that investing in an economic development project at a proven site will yield dividends to Marion County and the Pee Dee area of our state,” said Pamela Williams, Santee Cooper’s senior vice president of corporate services.