Extension of International Drive at Aspen Business Park
Post Date:04/14/2026 5:56 PMRock Hill was awarded a $3.75 million grant from the SC Department of Commerce to help fund the extension of International Drive in Aspen Business Park. This project represents a significant economic development opportunity and serves a vital role in bringing new industrial sites to market while offering local firms a place to grow.
Road construction is expected to begin in the fall of 2026 and will take up to a year to complete. With a total estimated cost of $8.4 million, contributions from the City of Rock Hill, Rock Hill Economic Development Corporation (RHEDC), Childress Klein, York County, Comporium and AT&T complete funding of the project.
“This investment marks a significant step forward for our community and continues the legacy of success we’ve demonstrated with other business parks,” Mayor John Gettys said. “It ensures Rock Hill remains a community where businesses can thrive, stimulates our local economy, and creates new job opportunities for our residents. Businesses who choose Rock Hill benefit from direct access to a highly skilled labor force of more than 1.6 million people.”
International Drive will complete an important traffic connection, extending from the current business park entrance at the intersection of Celanese and Museum Rd, punching through to Heckle Blvd. At over 215 acres, Aspen is currently home to SouthWood and C-A-T Resources, which have added over $20 million in capital investment and 260 jobs. At buildout, the site is expected to have up to 10 buildings offering 1.9 million square feet of space, bringing an estimated 1,300 jobs and $220 million in capital investment.
The initial investment of Rock Hill Coca-Cola Bottling Co. and Action Stainless, located on Mauldin Drive, set the stage for what has become Aspen Business Park. W.M. Mauldin bought the Coca-Cola bottling franchise in 1906. Through continued growth, his grandson Fred Faircloth III, then general manager, developed the location on Mauldin Drive, a $2 million, 30,000-square-foot facility that opened in 2002. Most recently, in 2025, the company invested over $2.7 million to add a 17,000 square-foot expansion. Gettys added, “For over a century, the foresight and commitment of the Mauldin/Faircloth family helped define Rock Hill’s business and community spirit, beginning an effective public/private partnership that endures to this day.”
RHEDC Board Chair Robert Alexander highlighted the impact that the International Drive extension will have on the economic growth of Rock Hill, saying, “Improving infrastructure at Aspen Business Park positions Rock Hill to attract high quality employers and support the expansion of existing firms. Working together on the funding for this project from various entities expands our capacity to attract new industry and drive meaningful economic growth for Rock Hill and York County.”
The business park has sites available for a variety of industrial needs, including parcels for sale, privately-owned parcels for build-to-suit projects, and speculative shell buildings available for lease.
“Aspen Business Park offers, flexible industrial opportunities that today’s companies are seeking,” Chris Daly, Industrial Partner with Childress Klein said. “With sites that can accommodate a wide range of industrial tenants, the completion of International Drive provides increased connectivity and positions the park to attract new prospects and support the evolving needs of this area’s business community.”
Tom Audette, Vice Chairman of York County Council, commented, “York County values the partnership that made this infrastructure investment at Aspen Business Park possible. Projects like the International Drive extension help position our community for future job creation and private investment. We look forward to working with our partners as the project continues to take shape.” Return to full list >>
