Orangeburg Council to Weigh Old City Gym Sale and Ferrara Agreement

Orangeburg City Council will take its first vote on November 3 on selling the Old City Gym and will discuss an economic development agreement with Ferrara behind closed doors, Yahoo reported. The meeting begins at 6 p.m. at 933 Middleton St.

Orangeburg's Old City Gym Ordinance

Council will hold first reading of an ordinance to sell about 1.64 acres at 1420 N. Broughton St., the property known as the Old City Gym and the former National Guard Armory. The agenda does not name a buyer or price.

Council will also hold a public hearing and second reading on annexing three properties into the city: 999 Fulton St. SE and 445 and 348 Sprinkle Ave. Other items include second reading of an ordinance to lease property at Orangeburg Municipal Airport and second reading of an ordinance updating the city's election rules to match Act No. 213 of 2026, which the governor signed May 19 and some parts of which take effect January 1, 2027.

Third reading is scheduled for an ordinance renaming the city's Service Department the Maintenance Department, combining departments and moving budgeted money to match. The agenda also lists an announcement of an artificial intelligence and data center policy forum on November 19, hosted by state Rep. Gilda Cobb-Hunter, a code enforcement and building permits update and a presentation on upcoming holiday events.

Ferrara's Closed-Session Agreement

Council will go into executive session, which is closed to the public, to discuss three items the agenda lists as "Economic Development – Ferrara Agreement," Park Street and "DORA." The agenda cites contract negotiations, a proposed property sale and legal advice as the reasons.

The agenda does not describe the Ferrara agreement. Ferrara, the maker of Nerds, Laffy Taffy and Jelly Belly, announced in April that it will build a $675 million plant in Orangeburg County, at Highway 21 and Rowesville Road, with 1,000 jobs projected over 10 years, according to the South Carolina Department of Commerce. The 750,000-square-foot plant is expected to start its first production lines in early 2029 and fully open later that year, according to the company.

In a previous statement, the city welcomed the project and said it looks forward to "a strong and lasting partnership with Ferrara."

"The $675 million investment, just from a property tax standpoint, really gives us a boost and a shot in the arm," Ty Davenport, executive director of the Orangeburg County Development Commission, told WLTX in April.

Ferrara's Orangeburg Investment at a Glance

According to akta.pro company records, Ferrara announced in April 2026 a $675 million, 750,000-square-foot greenfield manufacturing facility in Orangeburg County, South Carolina, expected to be operational in the first quarter of 2029, with South Carolina authorizing $85 million in economic development bonds. The same records describe the project as Ferrara's first South Carolina operation, with 1,000 manufacturing and corporate jobs projected over the next 10 years.

Ferrara is a privately held, Ferrero-affiliated U.S. sugar confectionery manufacturer founded in 1908 and headquartered in Chicago, producing more than 30 branded candy products in 40+ countries.

Ferrara's Path to the Orangeburg Plant

Ferrara announced in May 2026 a $675 million investment to build a 750,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Orangeburg County, South Carolina, marking the company's largest single facility investment and its first operation in the state, IndustrialSage reported. In June 2026, foodnavigator.com reported that Ferrara is accelerating growth through a strategy combining product innovation, acquisitions and international market expansion targeting Europe, Australia and South Korea.

What Comes Next for Orangeburg

Council's first reading of the Old City Gym sale ordinance and its executive session on the Ferrara agreement are scheduled for the November 3 meeting. The artificial intelligence and data center policy forum hosted by Cobb-Hunter is announced for November 19.