By CINDY BISHOP
cindy.bishop@gaflnews.com
ABBEVILLE — For a number of years, growth in this small community has been a bit staggered. But if 2006 was any indication, then Abbeville may be on the verge of a major growth spurt.
Mayor Gene Tomberlin said one of the biggest ventures in his city last year was the construction and opening of the town’s grocery store, the Piglet, which is located on Highway 280 West, just past the Wilcox County Sheriff’s Office.
“That was the single most important thing the people here wanted,” he said. “It’s turned out to be a good thing. Our community is pleased with it. You know, a small community will support a business like this, but when bigger chain stores come in, it’s hard for us.”
He said Abbeville, which serves as the county seat, now has a Downtown Development Authority and is looking at ways to get grant money to revamp many of the downtown businesses.
“We have a new feed and seed store which is a block from the red light and we’re looking at a new building supply store going in sometime next year,” he added. “We’re also looking for some sort of healthcare facility, but we’ve got to find a hospital to sponsor that.”
He said Abbeville also has a 40-acre industrial park that’s ready to go for a new business — if they can find one, Tomberlin said.
“We just hope we can find someone to go in there that will hopefully in a couple of years give us some more employment opportunities and offer competitive jobs and salaries,” he added.
Abbeville’s Police Department recently committed to another year of working with the South Central Drug Task Force, which has taken numerous criminals and drug dealers off the streets during the past year.
“We’re also researching to see...but we think we’ve got the lowest crime rate in the state,” he said. “We’ve also finished our state-of-the-art three bay fire station and soon hope to have an open house to let the community see what we’ve got. We’re excited about that.”
