West Columbia businessman Joe Taylor has died.

Taylor developed many properties in West Columbia. His office is in West Columbia in a building he renovated on State Street. He was the CEO of Southland Capital Partners, a development firm.

“He thought a lot of West Columbia,” said former West Columbia Mayor Bobby Horton. “He was a friend to us. It’s sad to hear of his passing.”

State Rep. Micah Caskey, who shared an office building with Taylor, said he was shocked on Thursday morning to learn of Taylor’s passing.

“He had faced (health) challenges in the past, but always overcame them,” Caskey said. “His passing is truly a tragic loss to his family and South Carolina.” Caskey also said Taylor saw a lot of potential in West Columbia and worked to develop that potential.

Taylor was involved in projects ranging from an office building on Meeting Street to a residential development on Center Street.

Taylor and his father founded Southland Log Homes and later sold the enterprise.

Taylor was also a Columbia City Councilman, elected in Dist. 4 in 2021. He served as commerce secretary under Gov. Mark Sanford from 2005 to 2011.

Taylor led the team that recruited the largest economic development project in state history and the national economic development deal of the year in 2009, The Boeing Company’s selection of Charleston, South Carolina, and the national economic development deal of the year in 2010.