Funding energizes high-tech park

The U.S. Energy Department is giving a $5 million boost to the South Carolina

Advanced Technology Park, a high-technology and industrial park facility

being developed next to DOE's Savannah River Site.

The department is releasing $5 million in community transition assistance,

which will go toward constructing the infrastructure and other improvements

in ongoing work to prepare the site for development. The first phase of

the work is expected to cost $11 million.

"Maintaining DOE facilities and improving infrastructure is important,"

Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham announced Aug. 9. "But it is also important

to ensure the economic viability of communities surrounding DOE facilities

and to maintain good partnerships with citizens in South Carolina."

The funding was secured through a reprogramming action in Congress that

garnered bipartisan support. Companies that have expressed interest in locating

to the 1,600-acre industrial park are expected to create 627 jobs and invest

nearly $187 million there.

Firms currently at the industrial park include the anchor tenant, Swiss-owned

Kronotex USA Inc., and Ohio-based Aerospace Design and Fabrication, which

has a NASA contract related to the International Space Station.