Jafza South Carolina has selected a firm with strong ties to South Carolina and Dubai to guide the development of its $600 million logistics and distribution park in Santee.
As the project manager, Applied Technology and Management Inc. will provide program management and development support services for the first phase of the 1,300-acre logistics, distribution and manufacturing center.
In that role, ATM will be responsible for assisting Jafza with environmental, land, market and business planning, as well as transportation and engineering studies. It will help guide the development of a master plan for the project, including ide.jpgying consultants to help with developing a market assessment.
"We have a good, solid year of work ahead of us," said Tony Maglione, ATM vice president and program manager for the Jafza project. Construction could begin in late 2009.
Jafza says its project could create 8,000 to 10,000 jobs over the next decade and attract private investment of around $1.2 billion.
Jafza South Carolina is a subsidiary of Jafza International, a Dubai-based logistics company.
"This project is the cornerstone of Jafza's venture into the United States," said Chuck Heath, Jafza senior vice president.
"One critical element is to make South Carolina part of a wider network of logistics and distribution parks," he said.
ATM says protecting the environment will be a top priority for the project, which will include baseball fields and public parks as well as nature trails.
"Jafza's entry into the United States is a unique opportunity that benefits not only Orangeburg, South Carolina, but the Southeastern U.S. as a whole," said ATM President and CEO Tom Schanze. "Jafza's vision will create numerous business opportunities for job creation not just in the logistics and manufacturing arena, but also in engineering and operational support businesses."
ATM is an engineering, design and consulting firm based in Florida. It's largest office is in Charleston.
The company has staff of 15 working in Dubai on a number of projects, including marina design. It has worked with Jafza in the past. ATM's clients range from the Port of Charleston to the Orangeburg County town of Elloree.