GEORGETOWN COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW) -- For nearly 300 years, Georgetown County's port of entry helped fuel South Carolina's coastal economy, standing as a symbol of the state's powerful maritime commerce market.
But since the last cargo ship came through in 2016, the 40-acre site has fallen into disrepair. County leaders said a recent site assessment put remediation costs at around $13.6 million.
Since taking over control of the land in 2023, officials have made its redevelopment a top priority -- made even more critical with the closures of International Paper and Liberty Steel.
On Monday, the county said it would open a six-week window to solicit proposals for the port's redevelopment with the hope of one day creating a waterfront tourism and economic powerhouse.
"The port is one of our c