Beaufort mayor: City should buy commerce park

BEAUFORT, S.C. (AP) — The mayor of Beaufort is suggesting the city buy a 170-acre business park foreclosed on last year.

The Beaufort Gazette reports (http://bit.ly/GE879V) that Mayor Billy Keyserling (KY-ser-ling) says the purchase should be linked to two conditions. He wants support from other local governments to attract businesses. He also wants local schools to provide worker training.

A group called the Lowcountry Economic Network bought the park five years ago, intending to pay off debts as it sold parcels to businesses. But much of that business never materialized, the network folded and a bank bought the property out of foreclosure in December.

Keyserling has been talking with the owners about a price less than $2 million but he did not mention a specific amount.

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Information from: The Beaufort Gazette, http://www.beaufortgazette.com