Thursday marked what Kershaw County Council Chairman Julian Burns called an “inflection point” for the county as he, other members of council and other officials cut the ribbon on the Heritage Pointe spec building.

“Inflection means you can put an exclamation point on what we’re about to do,” Burns said inside the 50,000-square-foot building.

With only its four walls, some posts, small windows, ceiling grids and only a small concrete pad near the entrance, it was cold enough inside the spec building to allow people to see their own breath. Burns explained prior to the beginning of the ceremony that the county left the floor unfinished so that prospective industries can decide for themselves how they want flooring installed.

According to the Kershaw County Economic Development Office’s website, the county is marketing the Heritage Pointe spec building at $2.6 million. It is expandable up to 200,000 square feet and sits on a 26-acre site. The walls are made of tilt-up concrete while the roof material consists of steel sheets. The building’s height at its center is 36 feet and features fluorescent lights, six dock doors and one drive-in door.

Burns was the only speaker Thursday, with many of his comments reiterating points made during an economic development summit held earlier in the week.

“Success is driven just like Dabo Sweeney said, by a constant look at how we perform and getting ready for the next one. Last week’s field goal or touchdown won’t win the next week’s football game,” Burns said. “We’re only two years into this effort. Let’s take a pause and look at this building as a healthy habit of self examination to learn what we have done gradually and then suddenly,” Burns said.

That concept -- that success in economic development happens gradually and then comes suddenly -- was one Burns repeated as he continued, calling the spec building the “first fruit” of the county’s labors in that regard.

“So, what about the future?” he asked. “The signals continue to be to hold steady. We know that industry comes and industry grows when the citizens of the county invest in themselves, invest in products like this building, invest in transportation, invest in schools and infrastructure and our workforce.

“I remember what Didi (Caldwell) and Nelson Lindsay said on Tuesday night: We’re on the right track. Hold steady as you go, and if anything, let’s be more aggressive.”

Burns said that, as of Thursday, there had been seven corporate visits to the Heritage Pointe spec building, with another scheduled for the following day.

Shortly afterward, everyone gathered outside for an official ribbon cutting.