Economic development was the topic of discussion at the Cayce-West-Columbia Chamber Business Breakfast, Tuesday, at Stone River in West Columbia.

BJ Unthank, City of West Columbia Economic Development Director, and Lexington County Joint Municipal Water and Sewer Commission CEO Jay Nicholson spoke about infrastructure and economic development.

They said lots of planning and coordination are required to promote and support growth in Lexington County.

“To be No. 1, you have to deal with No. 2,” Unthank said, in reference to a new sewer line.

Unthank was talking about the recent installation, by the City of West Columbia, of a sewer line on 378, to spur development. He said providing infrastructure will bring interest from commercial developers that people want.

Unthank also said the City of West Columbia just added another capacity of 13.5 million gallons a day at the Lake Murray water plant because expanded water supply is imperative to economic growth.

Nicholson said to recruit business and industry the county must always have excess water and sewer capacity and cash in the bank so that investors will have confidence in the competency of the water-sewer system.

Dr. Justin Nutter, Superintendent of Lexington School District Four, said he expects the size of his district to double in the next 5 years.

There are currently around 3,600 students in District 4, that consists of seven schools. Nutter said more residential property is being developed and the district must plan for growth now. Todd Sease of Jumper Carter Sease Architects said it three years to build a new school once plans to build are finalized.

Dr. Brenda Hafner, Lexington Two superintendent, said with the building of the Scout EV plant in Richland County, there is a need for an EV trained workforce, so curriculum to train students has been added at the Lexington Two Innovation Center in Cayce.

Cayce City Councilman Hunter Sox and Cayce Mayor Pro-Tem Tim James (C-WC Chamber President and CEO) spoke about the $615,000 beautification project on Airport Boulevard in Cayce. Sox said it’s important that visitors leaving Columbia Metropolitan Airport get an aesthetically pleasing impression of Cayce.