By Betsy Finklea
Dillon County Administrator Tony Clyburn has named his new Director of Economic Development.
Clay Young, the former Dillon County Administrator, has accepted the position and will begin in early February.
Clyburn said that Young’s experience with economic development and grant writing along with his network and connections with the S.C. Department of Commerce makes him a great fit. Clyburn said Young is someone who will allow Dillon County to move in a forward direction.
“I am excited about the opportunity to come back to Dillon County as economic developer. Dillon County has tremendous opportunity for development with the Inland Port and the infrastructure, ” said new Economic Development Director Clay Young. ” There are great opportunities for individual, community, and residential development.”
“Clay Young will be an asset to our county as economic developer. He has the right kind of experience and a knowledge of Dillon County that will be instrumental in helping our county grow and progress,” said Chairman Stevie Grice.
Young has most recently worked with the Pee Dee Regional Council of Governments, where he has worked with a number of counties in securing grants and other duties.
Young has over 25 years of experience having served as county administrator for the counties of Dillon, Hampton, and Kershaw, and as city manager of the cities of Hanahan and Chester.
Young has served as the finance director for the counties of Chester and Lancaster and worked for the low country Council of Governments as Economic Development Coordinator. He has also worked as an adjunct instructor for Limestone College, Coker College, and other colleges in the state for more than 15 years. Young has numerous professional affiliations. In 2016, Young was named the Dillon County Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year.
Young was an instrumental player in the expansion of Harbor Freight Tools and in bringing Wyman-Gordon and Inland Port Dillon.