Fielding a unified economic development team has helped Union County gain national recognition for attracting new industry, according to an official with the Upstate Alliance.

In 2008, $2.019 billion in capital investment generating more than 6,100 jobs was announced in the Upstate, according to Richard K. Blackwell director of investment and public relations for the Alliance. Nearly 11 percent of that investment or $221.5 million was in Union County. Blackwell said this was due to just three projects:

• Osage Bio Fuels’ $161.5 million ethanol production facility in Carlisle which will generate 75 new jobs.

• LSP Automotive’s $45 million expansion of its production facility off U.S. 176 which will generate 61 new jobs.

• Sloan Construction’s $15 million liquid asphalt storage plant on S.C. 18 which will generate 20 new jobs.

Blackwell said the announcements helped Union County be ranked as the 14th most attractive “micropolitan” area for economic development in America by Site Selection magazine, a national publication that focuses on economic development and corporate real estate issues.

A micropolitan area is a largely rural county with a city of between 10,000 and 50,000 people at its core. Of the 3,141 counties in the United States, 694 are designated as micropolitan areas by the U.S. Census Bureau.

Blackwell said Union County’s ranking is due largely to the cooperation on economic development issues by local and state agencies and other organizations.

“One thing that Union’s doing is the collaboration that’s taking part between the city and county, the Chamber of Commerce, the development board, State Department of Commerce and the Upstate Alliance,” he said. “Economic development is a team sport and it takes all of those entities working together to leverage the assets in the area to capitalize on new business investment.”

Blackwell said the announcements are a sign that even in the midst of an economic downturn, Union County remains attractive to industry.

“Granted the jobs aren’t here yet,” he said. “But the good news is they are coming.”

Development board director Andrena Powell-Baker welcomed the news, saying it shows what can happen when local, state and other agencies work together.

“I’m just thrilled that we were listed among the top 20 counties; that’s very exciting for us,” she said. “I think it is important that our citizens know that good, positive things are happening in Union County from an economic development perspective. I think us being in the Top 20 demonstrates how people before me and in local government have all worked effectively and collaboratively with the Department of Commerce and the Upstate Alliance.”