Just one day after unanimously approving a rezoning request to allow a new hospital to be built on U.S. 74 in Wadesboro, county officials took a huge step toward building an agri-civic center in Anson.
On Wednesday afternoon, Anson County Board of Commissioners Chair Anna Baucom presented a check to Bernie Hodges, CEO and president of Wade Manufacturing, to purchase 31.06 acres of land off U.S. 74 East. The acquisition of the land is a first step toward locating an agri-civic center on the property, County Manager Lawrence Gatewood said.
“About five years ago, I was at a meeting at the Ag Extension Center to talk about building an agri-civic center someday,” Baucom said. “And now it’s happening.”
She thanked Hodges and Wade Manufacturing for making the land, located on Morven Freight Line Road, available to the county. “Cotton means a lot to us,” Hodges said. “And it means a lot to us to be able to work with the county on this land.”
Wade Manufacturing has been in existence since 1923, Hodges said, and has provided countless jobs to people in Anson County. Both Baucom and Gatewood had family members who worked at the mill when they were growing up. “My dad worked there and through him, I learned the value of hard work, dedication and the importance of showing up on time,” Gatewood said.
Anson County Cooperative Extension director Janine Rywak said everyone she’s come in contact with is really excited about the possibility of an agri-civic center in Anson County. “Not just the ag community, but the community in general,” she said. “I think the people in this county are very excited to have a nice facility.”
With the acquisition of land, Gatewood said the project is on schedule for design and site development over the next two years, with construction starting in 2016.
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