Leland’s economic development committee has formed a five-member task force to call attention to the 630-acre Leland Industrial Park.
 
The task force is in the initial in the preliminary stages of forming its plan, but it’s one of the economic committee’s primary initiatives for 2018, said Gary Vidmar, economic and community development director for the town of Leland.
 
“We believe there is a number of very successful, world-class manufacturing companies operating in that park, and we’d like to see more information about those companies broadcasted to this area. It’s kind of a hidden gem right now,” Vidmar said.
 
The park, located around Industrial Boulevard just off Mt. Misery Road, is not officially in the corporate limits of the town, but Vidmar said the committee feels it’s still important for the town to support “because many of the employees live, shop and dine in Leland.”
 
The committee aims to work together with the county’s new economic development board and Brunswick Community College to expand on its businesses relationships at the park, he said.
 
“We all win at the end of the day by doing that,” Vidmar said.
 
The Brunswick County Board of Commissioners in late November approved $8,750 in funding to match a state grant that will help fund the construction of ITI Technologies’ manufacturing facility. The new company has plans to locate its facility in an existing building at the park and create 35 full-time jobs.
 
“We’re expecting more interest particularly due to the completion of I-140 and the proximity of a new interchange right up the road,” Vidmar said. “We’re hoping this is an example of what will continue to occur and attract interest from other tenants and purchasers of available property in that park.”