MARION COUNTY -- Marion County Administrator Tim Harper says 2013 is looking to be a much better year for the county.
"This coming 2013, we really feel like it's going to be a big year for Marion County," said Harper.
The county has struggled to regain the 1,000 jobs it lost in 2000 when candy maker Russell Stover closed.
"We also had Sara Lee, Heritage, Raytex, Fabric Resources. And shortly after that a few years was Blumenthal. So Marion County got hit big time all at the same time with a lot of closures," Harper said.
Companies have expanded in Marion County since then, but it hasn't been enough to make a dent in the unemployment rate. Marion County has led the state in unemployment nearly every month for the past 13 years.
Harper's hoping the county's new spec building off of Highway 501 will attract major industries to the area.
He says a special venture with Dillon and Marlboro counties, called Project Toolshed, could create up to 200 jobs. He's hoping to make an official announcement about the venture in the coming weeks.
"We got a couple of projects that we're working on hard. We may have some announcements in the next couple of months."
Another major project could really boost economic development for Marion County, but Harper says it's too early to discuss any details.
