County Commission Approves Industrial Park Land Sale to CleanHealth

By: Shelia Mader

The Jackson County Board of Commissioners approved the sale of five acres in Endeavor Industrial Park to support a new economic development project tied to the healthcare industry.

Economic Development Director Darwin Gilmore presented the proposal, describing the project as a “highly regulated, safe, and clean” operation that will serve healthcare providers with a needed solution. The company, identified as CleanHealth, is expected to locate near the proposed Project Blue Sky site for efficiency in utilities and infrastructure.

The board approved a non-binding memorandum of understanding (MOU) outlining the terms. Under the agreement, the county will sell the land for $5,000 per acre and assist with infrastructure such as ingress and egress where grant funding is available.

The contract reads, “The County will sell five acres to CleanHealth for $5,000 per acre in Endeavor Industrial Park and support the development of ingress and egress with grant funding where applicable and available. The County will reserve five acres adjacent and provide CleanHealth first right of refusal for their expansion purposes prior to transacting the land.”

The MOU includes performance timelines to ensure the project moves forward. Company representatives will have approximately 24 months to begin construction after permitting. If those benchmarks are not met, the agreement includes provisions to prevent the property from remaining unused.

Commissioners discussed adding stronger protections in the final binding agreement, including a potential clause allowing the county to repurchase the property if the company does not proceed. County officials indicated those terms would be addressed in a later, more detailed contract.

Gilmore said the project is expected to create a minimum of 12 jobs, with earlier estimates closer to 18. Positions are expected to range from average to above-average wages, with some higher-skill roles tied to an automated manufacturing process.

George Gay, chair of the Economic Development Council, voiced support for the project, noting the company is expanding into the region and already has a presence in healthcare facilities. He said its location in Jackson County could help attract additional healthcare-related businesses.

The site is located off Kynesville Road near Mashburn Road, adjacent to the county’s planned spec building.

The motion to approve the land sale passed unanimously.