By Stan Welch
Powdersville is a community synonymous with growth, having seen a population increase of more than thirty per cent in the last ten years. So it should come as no surprise that there are significant signs of growth once again in the area.
The groundbreaking for the Easley Baptist Medical Center of Powdersville this week is one of several indications that business is picking back up. The proposed $8 million facility will offer a variety of medical services, including walk-in and urgent care seven days a week.
There will also be diagnostics including a CT scanner, x-ray ability and labs for testing. There will also be surgical specialists available at the 32,500 square foot facility. Construction is expected to be complete by next January. The site is adjacent to the new WalMart SuperCenter, behind the existing CVS Pharmacy.
Dyke Spence, director of the Powdersville Water District, said that while the WalMart store will place a significant demand on the District’s water lines in the area, the decision to increase an existing six inch line to eight inches when McNeely Road was moved recently appears to have been sufficient. “We are waiting to hear from them but it looks like we will be able to meet their needs with the existing infrastructure.”
District Six County Councilman Ken Waters said, “This is a tremendous step forward for the District and for Powdersville.I really believe that the ice is starting to break and things are about to start happening again in Anderson County. “
Spence said that while those are the two largest projects in the works, they are certainly not the only ones. He reports that three major players in the convenience store industry are all coming to Powdersville.
QuikTrip, which has moved aggressively into the Upstate and Anderson County areas recently, has purchased the old Hardee’s site on I-85, according to Spence, while Hickory Point is building a new and larger store behind their existing site on Highway 153. Spinx is reportedly building right across the highway from Hickory Point.
“We always get things in threes,” laughed Spence. “We got three pharmacies at the same time too.”
